Beauty From a Distance

Trees provide shade, beauty, and oxygen. But it's possible to have too much of a good thing.

I first noticed the monkey pod tree 40 years ago. Minimal trimming has allowed it to grow into a giant that has almost completely covered the middle house in the lane.

But that's not the worst of it. When a monkey pod tree drops its seeds the pods break open, covering the ground with a black sticky substance that attracts birds and insects. (During his childhood your humble observer avoided playing on fields with monkey pod trees during that time of the year.) I can't imagine what the poor owner of the all-but-hidden house has to contend with, but the longer he puts off dealing with the problem the more expensive it will be. Meanwhile, we who live at a distance from the tree admire its beauty. © 2014 Stephen Yuen