A few short weeks ago we saw our neighbor outside, hacking away at the beautiful tree situated on the corner where our lots meet. (In this pic it's the tree sitting directly behind the potted patio tree) He and his friend just kept on clipping, sawing, trimming, until we began to wonder if they were taking it allll the way down...

I was a little nervous because it's a tree that makes a statement in the spring and summer, so full and lush with a carpet of leaves colored a deep maroon. It would be a pity not to have it out there, dominating among the other humble landscaping components surrounding it.

But then I remembered that my neighbor is quite an arborist and he wouldn't be removing the tree unless it was diseased or seriously damaging something and besides that, he's a neurosurgeon, so I figured he probably knew what he was doing with his cutting instruments :) and I went back to being occupied with whatever I was doing before I had noticed them working.

When I was outside the other day snapping pics of everything 'snow' and 'ice' I saw this pitiful sight. How embarrassed he must feel at his nakedness. All his lovely, long branches covered with leaves - GONE! Just nubby little stumps left. Here he sits, left entirely unprotected from the elements. Sigh.

You may feel the same. In the dead of winter, exposed to the harsh, cold winds whipping about, the snow and ice pelting you day and night, the cold winter rain slapping you on every side, NO sign of new life and growth. Painful. If you didn't know better it would seem hopeless.

We've all been there. PRUNED. But science defies our dark side and reminds us that pruning a tree only enhances its future growth and as warm weather approaches, this awkward, ugly sight will soon be transformed and he will take our breath away!

Hang on, spring is coming sooner than you know!