18 Mar Mom Warns – BEWARE of Falling Limbs – trees need extra love now!

Over Spring Break we had an impromptu gathering of three families at our house. Five adults were throwing together a quick dinner and relaxing on the back deck while six kids were playing in the back yard. The kids were building castles in the sandbox and taking turns pushing each other in the tree swings, and generally all getting along very well.

I was setting some food on the table with my back to the play action when I heard the sickening crack of the limb that fell to the ground with a tremendous thud. I spun around to see that my 2 year old son Branson was still in the kiddie swing laying on the ground with his head just a few feet from the large limb (nearly 23 inches in circumference) that fell. My friend who witnessed the incident said she watched the whole thing, as if in slow motion… Branson was on the forward motion of the swing and as the limb came down it basically laid him on the ground, without even a heavy jolt. We are so blessed that none of the kids or adults were harmed as ALL 12 of us were within about 15 feet of it. I ran and pulled Branson out of the swing and held him as tight as he would let me walking around the yard and reassuring him and myself that he was OK. All three of the mothers kept giving each other supportive touches of comfort throughout the rest of the meal.

I was quite shaken by the incident and even had a hard time falling asleep that night. I wanted to warn all my friends, especially parents to check out your trees and give them lots of extra love. I had gotten up with a ladder to check out the ropes on those swings just last month. The ropes were fine but the tree was severely drought stricken. After we completely gave up on our back yard/lawn last summer we pretty much stopped watering back there. The trees have been suffering. I pledge right now to be a better tree steward.

Let our harrowing incident be a warning to you and PLEASE see this previous blog on Helping our Urban Forest in Times of Drought and take action. Seriously. Please. 

And make sure your swings are only in safe places. And hug your kids. And know that life is fragile and appreciate every day… ok, enough blubbering mom talk.  Peace.