I look out and my eyes are met with the golden leaves from the Lombardy Poplars I planted as little sticks now 40 plus feet tall. The ancient poplar ( maybe a populous nigra ) or even one of the varieties that traveled with western movement from the East. It's a monster and every wind storm the huge branches come crashing down. While American arborists would have it cut down because of some of the branches showing fungus. While traveling in Japan and seeing ancient ancient ancient prunus ( flowering cherry trees) hit by typhoons, fungal growth in the branches, even a few where it seemed unreal they were alive because of the hollowing out way into the deepest part of the pith- they don't cut out their trees! The prune hard, they wrap in burlap, and the treasure the 100s of years some of these trees have existed. This big ol' sentinel has created some new sapling s around its base and I'm going to cut, root out, and continue this gorgeous gift from Mother Nature. I'm pretty sure my owls are happy we aren't into cutting out these glorious giants too!