Editorials / Opinion

Cutting of tree is unfortunate

Kevin Wells from The Davey Tree Expert Company works with a crew at removing a 50-year-old Chinese pine tree which has been in the middle of the Bruce Baker-John Olerud Clyde Hill neighborhood tree controversy. The tree blocks John Olerud’s view of downtown Seattle and Lake Washington.

At a time when cities are passing ordinances to preserve trees, it is indeed disconcerting to see such a magnificent tree cut down for the edification of a neighbor [“Olerud neighbors’ beloved pine cut down, but it may live on in new form,” NWWednesday, Feb. 20].

Fortunately, there are people locally, nationally and internationally who will go to great lengths to save a tree. How prophetic the observation made by William Blake in:

The tree, which moves some to tears of joy, is in the eyes of others is only a green thing which stands in the way. Some see nature as all ridicule and deformity, and some scarce see nature at all. But by the eyes of a person of imagination, nature is imagination itself.

–Olaf K. Ribeiro, Bainbridge Island