----------------------photo by Elaine A. Russell
...is that you never see eye to eye.
Since moving here in 1995, we have always had that "one special" neighbor who can be a pain. Now.. that particular title has changed from neighbor to neighbor over the years.. and for the most part, my neighbors have been pretty good.
For the past 2 years we have had a new neighbor adjacent to our back yard. He has had this never ending quest for us to remove all our trees. In particular, this huge clump of cottonwood trees that is shading his back yard. Little does he know that if we were to take out these trees.. he would never be able to even use his back yard for the sun.
All the trees in our yard were here when we bought the house in 95. In fact, we removed about 10 trees and bushes that were left for dead from the previous owner. The ones we kept, we have kept clean and healthy. Our yard is the biggest in the neighborhood, and everyone comments on how nice it is that we have so many mature trees in the area.
Well. Last year we spent over $4000 rebuilding most of the concrete wall that goes between our houses. The old wall was cracked; and he was convinced it was going to fall. (the contractor dis-agreed). But.. we re-built most of the wall and re-did the stucco so that it mostly matched. We leveled our yard, trimmed some of the trees, etc.
Now, mind you. That was improvement for our yard in general as well. But we did it to make him happy.
NOW. Said neighbor is saying that another part of the wall is cracked ( and it is... but it is not structural) .. and he wants the trees removed NOW. Why ? Because the trees occasionally drop twigs that "ruin" his yard, and the roots of the trees won't allow him to properly grow grass in his back yard. Now... of course, his inability to grow grass has nothing to do with the fact that he has a dead pine tree in his yard, or the fact that this is a desert... and the dirt in our yards over here are SAND. naw.....argh.
I know. Long rant. I just wish everyone understood how important trees are here in the desert. .. and not focused so much on some imaginary, perfect lawn with perfectly green water-sucking grass. I love grass... but sometimes it just isn't meant to be.
...barefoot in the backyard.... warm grass and moss under my toes...
...snowdrops blooming in a neghbor's front yard...
...a childhood friend's house (also a "station" on the historic Underground RailRoad)...
...white birch at the local Patterson Cancer Center... 
...views from a typical barn in the area...