Summer Snowmageddon 2014 (split from Weather)

[calgarygringo]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

That basically means cutting pretty much the whole thing right down to the ground in my case. I only have two or three branches that were not damaged. I actually pruned the lilacs heavily this spring because the previous owner of the house had done no pruning and the bushes were extremely overgrown. I had to remove two of the four bushes because they were all over the place and starting to damage the fence.

I have really large ones and cut them right down on purpose every 2-3 years. They grow like weeds as mentioned and will be right up there again in a year or 2. Mine survived but are ready for another chop down as they must be 12-15 feet high now.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

One of my lilac bushes was destroyed by the snow. If I cut off the branches at the breaks will the bush grow back over time or should I just dig it up and plant something new?

NSFW!

That's either a huge lilac bush, or it could be that your house is much smaller than I would expect for a Calgary geologist.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Slava

That's either a huge lilac bush, or it could be that your house is much smaller than I would expect for a Calgary geologist.

That is the sin bin for either my kids or myself when we do something stupid.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Slava

That's either a huge lilac bush, or it could be that your house is much smaller than I would expect for a Calgary geologist.

[Drury18]

Finally was safe to survey some of the damage. These are the two "branches" that fell off the city tree in front of my house. I'm now on a wait list to have them cleared because I can't move them at all due to size and weight but they are blocking the sidewalk and house entrance.





The damage on the tree is even worse as they both split off and I have bare, stripped wood on a good chunk of the tree. I'm thinking it might be cut down which is a shame as it's a very mature, 30ish foot popular tree.

[V]

A lot of EPCOR crews were sent south to help out restoring power and getting things back to normal.

I feel bad for you guys, if there's one thing Calgary can't really afford to lose it's big beautiful trees.

[Knalus]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Good to know. Do you know if it makes any difference if I cut it down to the ground now (fall) or in the spring?

I cut mine down in July, as they were clogging the walkway, and the blossoms had fallen off.

[pylon]

I live in Windsor Park on 57th Ave, and it is very sad what has happened.

50+ year old trees just absolutely destroyed. This is a disaster for the mature communities with some of these beautiful old trees. I would estimate 50% or more of them have to be taken down. And the beautiful little tree tunnel that lined a good portion of our street is all but gone.

Although this may have a small monetary cost, compared to something like the floods, there is a huge intangible loss that will be impossible to calculate in this mess.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by pylon

I live in Windsor Park on 57th Ave, and it is very sad what has happened.

50+ year old trees just absolutely destroyed. This is a disaster for the mature communities with some of these beautiful old trees. I would estimate 50% or more of them have to be taken down. And the beautiful little tree tunnel that lined a good portion of our street is all but gone.

Although this may have a small monetary cost, compared to something like the floods, there is a huge intangible loss that will be impossible to calculate in this mess.

Agreed.

My parents have 50 year old trees that just got almost destroyed.

[Daradon]

Wow, how did everyone here become tree huggers all of a sudden?

I don't disagree with any of it, I just remember so many arguments and slams the other way on other topics.

It's amazing what we miss, or realize what we need, when it's truly gone.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

I'm no arbourist, but all my trees that have droopy limbs now - will they go back to a more vertical position? Or is this permanent?

(that's what he said)...

[Daradon]

The worst may need to be pruned. Check for cracks and breaks. But others will pop back into shape. Maybe not this year though, you'll have to wait for a growing season I imagine.

Someone here can probably help even better.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Wow, how did everyone here become tree huggers all of a sudden?

I don't disagree with any of it, I just remember so many arguments and slams the other way on other topics.

It's amazing what we miss, or realize what we need, when it's truly gone.

You don't have to be a hardcore, granola munching, dread lock sporting, tree spiking environmentalist to appreciate the aesthetic and natural value of some nice trees in your neighborhood.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by pylon

You don't have to be a hardcore, granola munching, dread lock sporting, tree spiking environmentalist to appreciate the aesthetic and natural value of some nice trees in your neighborhood.

Exactly. That's my point. I think some of the arguments against environmentalists and writing them off as 'tree huggers' are incredibly short sighted, misinformed, and not even true to the self of the people making them.

An incident like this proves that. People like trees. Trees are important. And the "dirty hippie-tree hugging' view of environmentalists is incorrect. You don't need to be a stinky hippie to see the value in trees and the environment in general and arguments going directly to that image when arguing environmental issues doesn't help the conversation. It's a cop out, often because the person using the 'tree hugger' terminology can't make a real point.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Exactly. That's my point. I think some of the arguments against environmentalists and writing them off as 'tree huggers' are incredibly short sighted, misinformed, and not even true to the self of the people making them.

An incident like this proves that. People like trees. Trees are important. And the "dirty hippie-tree hugging' view of environmentalists is incorrect. You don't need to be a stinky hippie to see the value in trees and the environment in general and arguments going directly to that image when arguing environmental issues doesn't help the conversation. It's a cop out, often because the person using the 'tree hugger' terminology can't make a real point.

Lol. Like when you couldn't make a real point with the Occupy thing?

What a goofy thing to bring up. People are sad that their trees are broken, and you see it as an opportunity to randomly insinuate that people are environmental posers.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Exactly. That's my point. I think some of the arguments against environmentalists and writing them off as 'tree huggers' are incredibly short sighted, misinformed, and not even true to the self of the people making them.

An incident like this proves that. People like trees. Trees are important. And the "dirty hippie-tree hugging' view of environmentalists is incorrect. You don't need to be a stinky hippie to see the value in trees and the environment in general and arguments going directly to that image when arguing environmental issues doesn't help the conversation. It's a cop out, often because the person using the 'tree hugger' terminology can't make a real point.

I think we are on entirely different pages.

I think you can have a balance. You have to have a balance if you want iPhones, Cars, 3200 square foot houses etc. I am not a tree hugger, and I also don't think we should burn down Banff National Park and make it a giant parking lot.

If environmentalists want to be true to their mission, then they have to give up every single modern nicety and live in the woods using nothing but the land and their wits to survive. Anything less and they are hypocrites.

I am just upset some nice old trees on my street, and around the city got destroyed, and it will take decades for some of these communities to recover their canopies. I think you read way too much into my comment.

[Daradon]

Wow, old thread to bring up.

I mentioned to a few people, I forget if I did in the actual thread, that I was off base in that argument. As well, I agreed with a lot of what was being said on the other side of that argument, IE the people weren't organized, going about it the wrong way, etc (and a few of those I DID mention in the thread if I recall) just that I was trying to explore the other side of the argument. Lastly I got a little worked up in that thread because of personal issues in my life, and not only took some of the arguments against me too hard, but wasn't able to correctly defend some of my positions or questions. I just wasn't in the headspace. I shouldn't have even gotten in the conversation. It was, at it's beginning, only an attempt to see the other side, and then I got sucked into a bad debate, and performed very poorly.

In short, I was wrong. And as I mentioned, I know I've spoken to a few people about it, if it never came up in the thread itself.

However, if that's the only thread or argument you want to call me out on, I'm very proud. Not only is it a very old thread and argument, but I've been here for over 10 years now. We're all allowed some mistakes and misfires. As well, we are allowed to have different positions from each other.

In this case I do wonder about the whole NIMBY or reverse NIMBY thinking. That people only care about something when it happens to them. A tree is felled or a river is poisoned in your backyard and it's a tragedy. It happens on the other side of the world, meh who cares. An environmental issue you can see, and everyone is all worked up. One you can't see? Oh, it's probably just environmentalists and scientists lying to us cause they want to keep their budgets and make our lives difficult.

The tone of this thread just surprises me. And the funny thing is I like it, I agree with it. I just wish it would carry over to other similar issues just as important.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by pylon

I think we are on entirely different pages.

I think you can have a balance. You have to have a balance if you want iPhones, Cars, 3200 square foot houses etc. I am not a tree hugger, and I also don't think we should burn down Banff National Park and make it a giant parking lot.

If environmentalists want to be true to their mission, then they have to give up every single modern nicety and live in the woods using nothing but the land and their wits to survive. Anything less and they are hypocrites.

I am just upset some nice old trees on my street, and around the city got destroyed, and it will take decades for some of these communities to recover their canopies. I think you read way too much into my comment.

See that's the disconnect. You don't. All environmentalists are asking for IS balance. Besides the crazy nuts who want to give the earth to the animals, all environmentalists want is balance. Your cherry picking the worst of the worst. And every group has those.

The thing is, and very accredited scientists have told us this... we are not in balance right now. We need to fix a few things. If we don't, we are facing very serious trouble.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Wow, old thread to bring up.

I mentioned to a few people, I forget if I did in the actual thread, that I was off base in that argument. As well, I agreed with a lot of what was being said on the other side of that argument, IE the people weren't organized, going about it the wrong way, etc (and a few of those I DID mention in the thread if I recall) just that I was trying to explore the other side of the argument. Lastly I got a little worked up in that thread because of personal issues in my life, and not only took some of the arguments against me too hard, but wasn't able to correctly defend some of my positions or questions. I just wasn't in the headspace. I shouldn't have even gotten in the conversation. It was, at it's beginning, only an attempt to see the other side, and then I got sucked into a bad debate, and performed very poorly.

In short, I was wrong. And as I mentioned, I know I've spoken to a few people about it, if it never came up in the thread itself.

However, if that's the only thread or argument you want to call me out on, I'm very proud. Not only is it a very old thread and argument, but I've been here for over 10 years now. We're all allowed some mistakes and misfires. As well, we are allowed to have different positions from each other.

In this case I do wonder about the whole NIMBY or reverse NIMBY thinking. That people only care about something when it happens to them. A tree is felled or a river is poisoned in your backyard and it's a tragedy. It happens on the other side of the world, meh who cares. An environmental issue you can see, and everyone is all worked up. One you can't see? Oh, it's probably just environmentalists and scientists lying to us cause they want to keep their budgets and make our lives difficult.

The tone of this thread just surprises me. And the funny thing is I like it, I agree with it. I just wish it would carry over to other similar issues just as important.

Sorry, didn't mean to pick a scab. I said it as an example of a random, uncalled for diss. Sorta like you saying "wow, when did everyone become tree huggers", in a thread that's all about how the snow heavily damaged thousands of trees in our city.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Daradon

In this case I do wonder about the whole NIMBY or reverse NIMBY thinking. That people only care about something when it happens to them. A tree is felled or a river is poisoned in your backyard and it's a tragedy. It happens on the other side of the world, meh who cares. An environmental issue you can see, and everyone is all worked up. One you can't see? Oh, it's probably just environmentalists and scientists lying to us cause they want to keep their budgets and make our lives difficult.

Again, I am not an environmentalist, yet I cringe, when I see the rain forests be obliterated, China un-apologetically poisoning their rivers and air for no other reason but profit, and Sharks being yanked from the Ocean and dismembered by the millions so someone can impress their wedding guests. This list goes on and on. Just because it doesn't happen in my back yard, doesn't mean it doesn't revolt me.

Unfortunately, I still have Pylon's bills to pay, and pylon's life to live, and until I am a billionaire philanthropist, expressing my disgust is all I am realistically able to do to really make a difference. As much as people think changing their facebook picture or signing an online petition helps... unless you have massive money and influence, unfortunately nothing you do, will help or change anything..... just like the Occupy Movement.