Elm tree

There is an old elm tree growing between our house and the neighbor's house.

This tree is beautiful. It's branches are like an umbrella, giving deep shade on summer days and even some cover from the rain. Ive seen so many birds in the branches - woodpeckers, thrushes, nuthatches, robins, cardinals, blackbirds, finches,warblers,and of course, the sparrows. The squirrels race up  and down and use it as a  pathway to their home in the hole they've made under the gutter. One day I saw a racoon sleeping on the edge of the roof.

Most of the biggest branches are on our side of the fence.

The trouble is it's  wrecking our roof.

After years of pounding and scraping the roof, it suceeded in ripping off one of the little vents on top. We learned this the hard way when a hole appeared  in the ceiling.The roofers told us there's more damage than this.

The tree guys removed  the branches hanging on and over the roof.

It's very different. This picture was taken on a cloudy day, but now when the sun he sun shines, it's really intense in the backyard.The squrrels can still get to their home. They've found another route - along the electrical wires.