One of our locally prized red spruces died an inglorious death earlier in the week. Pounding rain, high winds, and ground-thawing temperatures got it rocking uncontrollably; one of its sways went too far and the 85-footer blew down, ripping an almost 20-foot-diameter root plate from the ground. It splayed in an ungraceful, seemingly embarrassing, position across a trail used by local hikers and wildlife.
Although we have thousands of big spruce and firs here, seeing one go always is saddening. Red Spruces are very slow growing. They often reach a length of 130 feet and, sometimes, 150 feet. This red spruce probably was a sapling in the 1930s and still was a youngster when it went down. The species can live for 250 to 450 years, depending on conditions, according to experts.
Fortunately, Kyle Chick and his assistant from Blue Hill Tree Service & Arboriculture were working nearby; they came by Wednesday (January 15) and opened a passage in the trail, during which the tree’s large root plate sprang back into its original position.
Here’s an image of the opened trail yesterday as the snow started falling:
(Brooklin, Maine)