The magic and (almost) menace of trees

 TREES ARE SUCH A SPECIAL PART of the good life, you'd wonder why they are also the source of so much trouble between neighbours.

Let me tell you of a tree that is even more astounding, more absolutely stunning, in the spring than my cherry at its blooming loveliest. It's a much admired, (much envied), and well-grown tree in the garden of a neighbour.

The leaves suggest his tree might be a copper beech, but that's the plant masquerading because it is obviously very much more extravert than any beech. Indisputably it is beautiful.

How ironic that it should be the source of considerable neighbourly grouchiness - though so far just on my side of the fence, which nearly crumbled under the weight of the blossoming beauty.

Continues on the blogs for my ocean adventure book, Sailing to Purgatory, at SailingToPurgatory.com