“He's an old friend," he said, speaking with passion,
While gazing up at ‘his’ tree just before Christmas.
“I love that tree, there's no question.
And I feel so proud that we kept him for so long.”
The speaker’s name is Frank Knight
And, he is one hundred and one years old
He has been a most valiant knight to ‘his’ tree
For at least half a century, defending it quite bold
‘His’ tree is a wondrously old and massive Elm tree
Which has been around, since the American Revolution
Mr. Knight spent years treating it for Dutch Elm Disease
Never allowing it to be cut down, always finding a solution
Under this knight’s very diligent care, over the past 50-years
His friend’s branches have attained a height well over 100-feet
A neighbor eventually named this noble knight’s friend, ‘Herbie’
But now, no longer able to defend it, Mr. Knight has accepted defeat
In these dark days of winter, both the knight and his tree, face mortality
A decision has been made by those in power to now chop down his friend
My heart breaks for both this valiant knight, and his 240-year old Elm tree
And, I salute Mr. Frank Knight, who fought the good fight, until the very end
For well over half a century, Frank Knight diligently nursed ‘his’ tree, spraying it for pests and pruning away the dreaded fungus, even as his town's many other elms perished by the dozens. And, as he succeeded, this stately tree's branches reached well over 110-feet skyward; its leaves rustled brilliantly in so many summer breezes off the river; its heart and soul sheltered so many grateful birds; and its heavy limbs shouldered so many heavy winter snowfalls.
And his tree, nicknamed Herbie, is now acclaimed to be the tallest and the oldest elm in New England; it has survived 14 bouts of Dutch Elm Disease in all, thanks to Mr. Knight's very steadfast care.
But now, the wretched Dutch Elm Disease ravages it again, and old Herbie is now too weak to fight back. And Knight sadly realizes that there is nothing else he can do to save the friend he has so valiantly watched over, for the past five decades.
Herbie, estimated to be at least 240-years old, will be cut down Jan. 18th. And Knight, consulted by tree experts and town officials who made the decision, is very sadly resigned to the fact that its end has finally come.
“I had always hoped that Herbie would out-live me.”
Mr. Frank Knight,
Noble Knight of The Elm
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Some yrs ago i lived in a house that had many tall Gum tree's around it and in front of it. One was the straightest Gum I have ever seen, but councils deemed all the gums to be unsafe, which sadly they are if they become brittle and all their limbs drop onto house rootops, Many ppl have been hurt of killed for this reason here. So, i made a bargain with the treeloppers who came to cut them all down. I wanted the trunks all cut into rounds, and all the leaves for garden mulch..Not any part was to be taken off the property. They did this for me, and for some years I enjoyed the rounds as stools and made two others into a table..the garden flourished with the mulch, and the aroma permeated the air for many many months after...
If they could recycle this wondrous Elm the same way somehow, so that though it dosent stand tall anymore, but yet it's presence is felt, that would be satisfaction. Perhaps a bench could be made of the tree trunk and limbs, and a plaque placed upon it to commemorate its long standing... I hope so, and Blessings to you Ed for telling us of this situation. Love Ch'erie
Much peace, love and light,
Amber "V"
fee
Love.
sis tiger lily
For no cost at all, but the cost of unnesessary pain, what a sad, sad, story. Bless you Ed! Jasmin Horst
how utterly sad...
I see so many blow-down woods
it breaks my heart...
there is such beauty & tenderness to many souls
& Mr. Frank Knight surely is an embraceful soul
I hope Herbie can be made into garden borders?
Or bird houses? Surely some beautiful clocks?
Animal scultures? Platforms of feeders?
Much Love & Blessings
Vickie
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :( *tears!*
Wonderful tribute to Mr. Knight
The Buzzard
Anna
A moving story, children should be told about it, and maybe start to have respect for nature.
Georg
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.