Out of limbo. Cameras, please.
The famous Sunset Boulevard scene (Image: http://www.allposters.com)
It was just like that intense movie star in Sunset Boulevard.
Ignored for so long, Abandoned to the fates.
Long time friends gone. Forgotten by once attentive acquaintances
What? Waking like Sleeping Beauty?
“Now? Oh, Is it time for my close-up?”
Pampered and prepared. (Probably shaking a few squirrels out of her hair)
An aging beauty ascends before adoring fans and paparazzi.
(Talk about saving face.)
The Ultimate Lifestyle Lift!
Footloose tree.
Wait! Don’t flee!
OK. humor me.
One final obsessive amazement of this feat.
These videos show an engineering marvel.
Heavy lifting is an understatement:
Click here to watch them loft her high.
The Ghirardi Compton Oak surprised.
Ghirardi Compton Oak prepared for her triumphant march
Next, the rotund Grand Dame escorted – with her anxious attendants pacing.
Click here to watch the procession and installation of the tree.
Steadily assisted with patience and determination – to see her safely arrive to her new abode.
With surprising willingness, she eagerly glides forward.
A brand new stage! (with a few photo memories of the past)
Adventurous. Flexible. Able to adapt to new surroundings.
All planks for success – especially at an advanced age.
Fell free to stretch out and dig in tree!
Rest a bit, then maybe some thoughts about an Annual Ghirardi Oak Tree Celebration in your honor.
Ghirardi children, their home – and that oak?
A celebration of protecting the past for the future?
But that later.
For now, rest, tree.
Just be content to be.
Watch the videos – really.
Humans are so capable when they want to be.
Very cool.
What do you mean overly dramatic?
(Image: http://www.amazon.com)
Promise this is the last episode.
Regularly scheduled blogging nails it on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays
Mostly predictable (not),
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
Related posts:
- “Bored? Sappy story. It’s moving.” (Tree not cut, but saved. Evicted, though)
- “Heat arresting development. Treed” (progress of move)
- “Update: Ghirardi Compton Oak Landed” (Tree arrives home. photos)
Quite a story. The machinery seems as tender as the humans, and as the tree, patiently letting herself be taken care of….
Probably driving people crazy with this tree. But it is such a drama. Love your observations. (hope you are having a nice summer) Thanks to lugging those thoughts this way.
No, you’re not driving us crazy! We enjoy seeing more of the details.
Whew, feeling better now. Thanks (now it just has to get through hurricane season)
I’m interested in this story. You may remember the post I did with the pics of the trees that were so thoughtfully “cared for” in my neighborhood. I was sick about the cutting down of the 100+ year old Live Oaks that became Dead as a door nail Oaks due to careless construction methods and eventual strangulation/drowning. I hope the effort and expense of this project doesn’t end in loss a year from now. Hopefully Ghirardi Oaks have better luck withstanding drama/trauma.
Construction is always a threat. (I do remember your pictures) Even parking under the tree to put truck in the shade can harm trees in distress. We’ve had a big die-off of trees from the drought last summer – weakened trees are still crashing down during storms. This is the worst time of year to move a tree, but it was now or never. It has an irrigation system, now. People are concerned and keeping an eye on it. If we can skip the hurricanes this season, it would be nice. Thanks for climbing over to chat.
Home sweet home!
All quiet on the tree roots now. Thanks for barking softly!
Saw this quote and hope in this instance God only has to account for relocation rather than fools … “God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches, and a thousand tempests and floods. But he cannot save them from fools.” ~ John Muir
He’s one of my favorites. Glad you sent that one over. Thanks
I like that old picture of the Ghirardi family. I wonder if that is “the” tree in the background? How cool if it is
Glad the tree is safe in the ground. Am hoping it takes to the new home and flourishes.
The farmhouse was moved to the historical park with other buildings. I think it’s the tree, but have to confirm that. Nice rain showers again today – rain water is best! YEA. Thanks for swinging over
We are all ‘rooting’ for this tree’s survival!
Hope it’s happy and not pine-ing for home. Will relay your encouragement to the tree. Thanks
That us indeed the tree in the background of the photo and the smallest child is my dad. The girl in the center in the back is Dorothy Ludwig, who grew up in the house and the other’s are cousins (Fillippas).
I’m just now finding these posts, so apologies for the length of time without a reply, thank you for helping to spread this story among so many more who might not otherwise have heard it.
Thank you so much for providing information and confirmation of the photo. The picture added reality and meaning to a simple tree.
This tree is important – even more so because it is documented in photos and not just stories. There were many who were not going to let it go down without a fight. It was just amazing to see that huge tree move and slide into place. What a relief.
I still drive over and walk up to check on it. Worried through hurricane season (is there a plan to stake it down to heavy equipment to support it during storms?) Hoping in for tree-appropriate weather (irrigation is fine, but rain always welcomed by leaves).
So far so good.
I climbed big heritage/homestead trees as a kid – would like others to have the chance to know the giants – it makes a difference to how they see nature when grown.
Thanks to your family to planting this one years ago – and sharing it with the city now. It’s become the celebrity it deserves to be.
Thanks again for stopping to chat.
(“Shoreacres” also has a beautiful post on the tree – she’s in the comment sections and you can click through to her blog)