What the heck did this? [Warning: Graphic photos]!

[Bruce]

12 foot diameter??? How does one cut that down without a double handle logger saw or a LOT of chopping with an axe??

 

[Wehner Homestead]

What year does 12 ft diameter come out to? I’m on a cell phone and can’t get my head around figuring that capably at the moment.

 

[Bruce]

I think "older than before the first eucalyptus was imported from Australia".
The rough answer is 365 years, started growing in 1653. Which we know is impossible since they were first introduced in the 1850's.

If there was an error claiming a 12' diameter and he meant circumference the tree would be about 116 years old which IS quite possible.

 

[soarwitheagles]

People tell us that tree was the largest in our neighborhood. How to cut?

10 feet up from the ground, the tree trunk was only 8 ft. diameter. That is where the tree was cut. The larger part of the trunk and stump is still there. I will do my best to take some pics and show it to you. Most of the other trees on this job we did were over 4 ft. diameter. Under normal circumstances, according to the formula, these 4ft. diameter trees are about 110-120 years old.

And now the part I forgot to mention...and I quote:

Eucalyptus grow so fast in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 though 11 that you can't use the standard formula for determining a tree's age based on its diameter.

And we are in zone 9b...so I suppose it is impossible to determine the age of these eucs other than analyzing the historical data.

BTW, here is where I found the formula:

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/determine-age-eucalyptus-trees-circumference-69036.html

Hope this helps!

BTW #2 In parts of our forest, many of the trees are smaller diameter than the 12"-18" I quoted earlier. Yet you visit other areas of the forest and sure enough, we have the 3 ft. diameter trees.

I have been told they were planted in the early 1900's.

Quite a story too...

Here's a good historical article that focuses mostly on the southern California adventure with the eucalyptus tree.

https://www.kcet.org/shows/lost-la/who-eucalyptized-southern-california

Enjoy!

PSS And here is a very sad story from southern cal regarding a large blue gum within city limits that was not monitored carefully...OUCH!

https://www.ocregister.com/2013/08/27/newport-pays-1-million-to-family-of-woman-killed-by-tree/

Gotta be careful around the blue gum...every year we have 20+ trees fall and many more large limbs break and fall...

 

[Bruce]

Man talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time

 

[Bossroo]

We have some friends that own a farm about 50 miles from Soars. When their 5 foot diamater Euk. fell during a wind storm- it crushed and totaled their brand new car and split their house in half.

 

[Bruce]

Seems like maybe their safe lifespan is something under 100 years.

 

[Baymule]

Sure is pretty colored wood. Reminds me of the red cedar we have growing on our place.

 

[soarwitheagles]

Man talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time

Well, always dwelling on the brighter side of things...it happened so quickly she probably didn't feel a thing.

Seems like maybe their safe lifespan is something under 100 years.

They aren't safe when they achieve heights of 30 ft. or more...wanna know why? Even in the summer time, large 8"-20" diameter branches will suddenly crack so loud it sounds like a rifle shot, and then they fall to the ground. Such breakages are known to horticulturists as "sudden limb failure" or "summer branch drop." The causes are not fully understood.

Here's what some of the "experts" at UC Davis say about it...

"For some reason, this often happens in hot, calm weather in the afternoon, or after such weather," said Richard Harris, a professor emeritus of landscape horticulture at UC Davis and one of the few acknowledged experts on the phenomenon.

"We believe it [sudden limb failure] has something to do with moisture content. But we don't really understand it because the most common time for it to happen is in the afternoon when large branches can be many pounds lighter than in the morning, when they are filled with moisture."

Such accidents kill an average of one person a year in California and injure many more, according to Allison Berry, assistant professor of environmental agriculture at UC Davis, who is coordinating a three-year study of the problem.

And this is why I always say 10 Hail Mary's and 25 Our Father's before going out into the forest! Ok, not really, but I do ask the Lord to protect me...

Sure is pretty colored wood. Reminds me of the red cedar we have growing on our place.

Bay, I totally agree! Wish we had more of that cedar here! It grows abundantly about 50 miles from us up in the Sierra's...and the cedar sure smells wonderful!