Tallahassee's Trees

MY VIEW - Without a doubt trees are a good thing. They provide clean air, habitat for birds and other animals, they offer shade, and compliment landscapes. Kids even sometimes use them for recreation. But what happens when trees go bad? When they obstruct the view of your favorite landscape or one's roots grow under the roads. When a huge branch falls through the roof of your car, or a storm knocks one over into your living room?

Uniquely, Tallahassee is an urban forest, a city built within a mass of trees -- HUGE trees. Old Trees. Very beautiful trees.

But have you looked at a tree that has been so terribly altered because its roots cross the power lines? Not many things sadder than seeing a tree with half of its body missing. Personally, I would rather put the poor creatures out of their misery than force them to live a life with amputated limbs (no pun intended).

Often I wonder, "do they call Tallahassee beautiful because of the way trees compliment our built environment or because of the way they hide it?"

I'm not saying we should remove or stop planting trees but we should take time to ask ourselves if we are using their powers for good or evil.

Trees cover and hide stately historic mansions and obstruct views of downtown but seem to avoid messy junk yards and blighted eye soars.

I'm purposely going to avoid specifics in this piece but I welcome you to use your imagination of what areas I might be talking about.

Trees canopy over heavily traveled roads creating that beautiful natural canopy tunnel so many of us love, but they cover other roads and drop limbs and cause electrical blackouts after storms.

I may joke about the trees, but I seriously question the judgement in the placement of certain types trees throughout our community. The muscular variety tend to protect and hide the things that make Tallahassee... Tallahassee (Capitol, Governor's Mansion, Universities, Historic Sites, Museums,  most local Neighborhoods) while the leaving their skinniest friends to stand guard in front of our "Anytown USA stuff" (big box stores, car lots, industrial warehouses, repair shops, etc).

We've all heard, "there's nothing special about Tallahassee", "nothing special to see there", "that place is plain", "Trashahassee" -- well some people take it too far... But you get the idea.

I partially blame the trees for the misconceptions that people have about our community -- they may be responsible for keeping the best of Tallahassee a secret.

The other share of the blame belongs to us for not using our resources and voices to guide the placement of trees -- and say to would-be doubters, "there's more to Tallahassee than you think... look behind the trees!"

Have you had a memorable moment with a tree? A discovery of something you once never noticed until you looked a little closer, or an obstacle to overcome imposed by one? Trees are a part of the true Tallahassee experience and there are many stories to tell... please feel free to use the comment box to share your stories with us.