Our North American correspondent, Nancy Coverstone, from Brunswick, Maine, has shared this fascinating correspondence with us and we hope readers will share our pleasure in reading it. We hope to add some pictures in due course.
Dear Mr. Stott,
I am writing to you in your role as chair of the town Conservation Commission. I got your email address from the wonderful article you wrote for the Times Record in May, “Trees are friends and gifts.”
I live at [redacted], in the big Federal “mansion” that is now in apartments. It is near the corner of Union and Oak, just one block behind Morning Glory. I moved into town in 2014, although I’ve lived in the area since 1979. I have a walkable life, and the trees in public places, such as Maine Street, are my experience of our community forest.
I ask you to see that, please, the new trees on Maine Street be watered regularly. Not only were the trees on the street friends, as are the new ones, I have human friends, who work in the stores on Maine St. One of those friends has begun to water the tree in front of the store on the days she works. She says the tree-gators have been dry for weeks. We just had a conversation about it. All the trees look stressed, she told me, but she thought perhaps she could help the one by the store. She has been doing a bucket in the mornings, which she estimates to be two gallons. I don’t think that is enough. After all, the arborist wisdom is to water new trees, for five years, one inch a week for the growing season (e.g. until the ground freezes) unless provided by natural rainfall. She plans to do another 2 gallons in the afternoons.
Seeing the treegators on all the trees, it would be reasonable to assume they are being watered. This appears to not be true. Your article was an eloquent, lyrical even, tribute to the trees in our community forest. I was shocked. This attitude towards our trees has not been my experience at all, living here in town. I thought, I want to live in your reality! This is my attempt to make it so.
If the town would just water the trees according to best practices, Maine Street, in time, will be lovely again instead of barren, harsh. Even the old buildings have lost much of their charm. All the cost for the trees and installation is wasted by this neglect. Rather than optional amenities, trees are a vital part of our infrastructure to be managed as such.
In the article, you asked if I had a favorite tree. I did. It was the big old oak in front of the bank on the corner of Maine and Cumberland. I would take a book to the bench, sit in its shade and read. The air felt cool, the breeze moved its leaves, birds were amongst its branches. There were quiet smiles of greeting with people passing by. That oak was a presence. I was surprised the town had the temerity to cut it down. The excuse that it had to be removed for handicapped accessibility does not pass muster.
With proper care, street trees are viable. Please, ensure these are given a chance to become part of our community. Nancy Coverstone
Dear Nancy,
Thank you for your good note, and for your attention to the new trees…as well as the old ones in the past. I’m not often along Maine Street, and so I’d not seen what you clearly have. I’ve sent on notes about this to our Environmental Planner and to our Town Arborist asking them to look into this. I’ve worked a lot with both Ashley Charleson and Dennis Wilson, and each has been responsive. I’ll let you know what I learn. wherever they are, trees are a miracle in place. A greener Maine St. in the future would/will surely be a better one.
Best,
Sandy
Dear Sandy,
Thank you for responding to my concerns. And yes, well said: trees are a miracle in place!
My tree watering friend emailed me this morning to say that they had filled the gators yesterday. Either your staff are very responsive; or perhaps it was telepathy, in which case that is also being responsive.
I look forward to hearing from you about consistent watering plans. I was so happy to read about the tree ordinance, and hope it passed and will be expanded. Once the intent is present, opportunities and actions present themselves.
Best wishes,
Nancy