A Funeral for a Maple Tree

A visit from the city arborist and a closer look at a foreign tree

The posting appeared on the maple one afternoon. “This gentle giant is retiring,” it read. That’s the way that the City of Pittsburgh’s Forestry Division likes to put it. It means that they’re getting ready to cut down the tree.

This Norway maple has towered in front of our house since we moved in and – judging by the looks of it – it’s been here for the…