Carleton's the kind of place where last week we received an email from Facilities about the imminent removal of a mammoth tree on the edge of the Bald Spot, the open space at the center of the main part of campus. It was infected with Dutch elm disease that resisted treatment and threatened other elms around campus. It's the titan at the center of this photo.
A team of workers took it down on Monday. It was fitting that it took several men, a couple trucks, a lot of heavy equipment, and all day to cut the tree down.
Walking along the opposite side of the Bald Spot today, I was amazed to see the massive hole this trimming created.
This stump - about four feet in diameter - is all that's left now, and I'm sure the stump-chippers are on the way. I counted rings for a few seconds, and got up to 60 without a problem, so I'll bet this tree was about half as old as the college.
