When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard.

What my kids see are flowers for Mom and blowing white fluff you can wish on.

When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me, I see a smelly, dirty person who probably wants money and I look away.

What my kids see is someone smiling at them and they smile back.

When I hear music I love, I know I can’t carry a tune, so I sit self-consciously and listen.

What my kids hear is the beat and move to it. They sing the words and if they don’t know them, they make up their own.

When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself against it. I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk.

What my kids feel is they close their eyes, spread their arms and fly with it, until they fall to the ground laughing.

When I pray, I say thee and thou and grant me this, give me that.

What my kids pray is “Hi God! Thanks for my toys and my friends.”

When I see a mud puddle I step around it. I see muddy shoes and dirty carpets.

What my kids see are dams to build, rivers to cross, and worms to play with.

I wonder if we are given kids to teach or to learn from?

Every year trees cause incredible damage to people and property. In the most tragic of situations, trees even cause death. This occurred when a tree fell into a house and killed a woman. What makes this incident particularly sad is that it could have been prevented. Authorities believe the tree fell due to decay at the base of the tree. Apparently a large portion of the tree broke off during previous years, leaving an exposed gap at the bottom of the trunk, which led to rot. When a storm blew through the area, the base gave way and the tree collapsed. Had the deterioration been identified earlier, and had the tree been removed under controlled circumstances, this tragedy could have been prevented.
In order to prevent tree-related damage, it is essential that you identify potential problems early, before they turn into actual problems. As a homeowner or as somebody who oversees property where trees are present, it is very important that you regularly assess the health of your trees. As much as we all love and appreciate trees, they can be dangerous. Here are a few issues to watch out for:

• Are there dead trees on your property? For dead trees, it is a matter of “when” they will fall, not “if.” Dead trees are especially dangerous if located near a home, office complex, or area where people are often present.
• Are there trees with dead branches? Dead branches will eventually fall, and when they do, they have the potential to punch holes in roofs, dent cars, break sheds, or hurt people.
• Are there any branches hanging in trees? In our industry, we have a special term for hanging branches: “widowmakers” You get the idea.
• Are there trees with holes or rot at the base? If so, there is a good chance that the base of the tree is weak, which means it has the potential to fall and cause damage at any time.
• Are mushrooms, cracks, splits, or any other indicators of a dead or dying tree present along the base of the trunk? If so, this is a tree that should be removed.
• Do you have a tree where branches regularly fall? Not only are the falling branches themselves a hazard, but this could be an indicator of a larger problem.
• Do you have trees that lean strongly in one direction? In conjunction with the lean, are there roots lifting out of the ground on the back side of the tree? If so, this tree should be carefully assessed, particularly if it is leaning towards a house, office, garage, sidewalk, etc. Are there large branches with open, old, or rotting wounds? A branch like this has a high likelihood of falling.

These are just a few of the many potential problems to look for as you assess your trees. If you do not feel comfortable doing this yourself, or if you simply do not have the time, call Grandiflora Services and ask us to give your property an evaluation.

Do you have a tree that looks like this? It’s called a girdled root and it can be a serious problem for the tree and ultimately for you as well. Have no fear-we can help. Give us a call to discuss the options.

Have you been to Mercer Arboretum? It’s located in Spring Texas near FM 1960 and Aldine Westfield, about 6 miles east of I-45. The garden is known all over the world, and we have it in our back yard. I love suggesting people go there to get great ideas for their landscape. Take a bottle of water, a camera and your time. Here is a link to their website: http://www.hcp4.net/mercer/

Photo: Have you been to Mercer Arboretum? It’s located in Spring near FM 1960 and Aldine Westfield, about 6 miles east of I-45. The garden is known all over the world, and we have it in our back yard. I love suggesting people go there to get great ideas for their landscape. Take a bottle of water, a camera and your time. Here is a link to their website:http://www.hcp4.net/mercer/

The time is coming in southeast Texas that the need for and the use of rainwater harvesting is going to be huge. The Texas Agrilife Extension Service, http://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/, a division of the Texas A&M system, has really endorsed this as a well needed fixture in the life of Texans. The system that is installed does not have to be expensive or fancy, a simple rain barrel is a great beginning. You will find that your plants love the water and its quality far more than “city water”. Most of the water that comes from a tap has been purified to the point for human consumption that there is very little nutritional value for plants. For a more extensive system, my recommendation is to hire a qualified professional to design and install it for you. ARCSA, the American Rainwater Catchment System Association, http://www.arcsa.org/, certifies professionals to do the bigger and more expensive systems. You can go onto their website to find a certified professional in your area.