XXI. Every, Single Tree Counts

"It goes without saying how important these trees are to the residents; tree removal affects more than just one neighborhood. It affects the overall sense and feel of Dover Bay PUD. They exhibit multiple colors of green with brilliant fall yellows and oranges. For many the appeal is subliminal. One doesn’t know why, just that setting is eye appealing." Ralph Sletager

Our trees not only count, but they were also counted. Did you know that Dover Bay's developer inventoried every, single tree before development and building ever began?

Ralph Sletager was focused on conservation of the natural surroundings. He wanted as few trees as possible removed to preserve the beauty of our environment, ensure important soil retention, provide the much desired shade for humans and animals and to protect wildlife habitat corridors. The place is a true wonder of conservation for our kids, families, friends and pets. Ralph explained how he did it:

"We surveyed the trees by species with a 9 inch trunk. We then created homesites designed to retain them. We adjusted lot lines when necessary to save them.  It was a priority. Our thinking was that it takes 30 minutes to cut them down, but 50- 100+ years for them to grow that large."

And, in a letter to Parkside residents who wanted to remove some tall cottonwoods ( Populous balsamiferous ssp. trichocarpa), Ralph expressed his concern this way...

"One day in early spring, the sweet fragrance of cottonwood buds will fill the air. The large pointed buds of black cottonwoods are filled with a sticky, reddish substance that emits a sweet resinous fragrance. Summer is on the way.

"Parkside has removed several trees and has yet to replace all of them. If a removed tree was an integral part of the home and provides shade and scaling the replacement tree needs to be in the exact location and of the same size and mature tree if possible. The stump should be dug out.

"We are fortunate in this area to have an abundance of native trees, of varying varieties, both evergreen and deciduous.

1. Removing the Cottonwood trees without replacing like size trees in exact locations will change the aesthetics dramatically, and especially when they are fully foliated.

2. The Cottonwood tree removal will affect property values, thus reducing home and neighborhood value.

3. The trees now provide scale and the existing mature trees de-scale the neighborhood allowing clustered home density.

4. They provide shade in Summer and allow the suns warmth in the Winter.

5. We surveyed the trees and positioned homes based on tree groups and location also providing additional building setbacks to save trees.

6. The trees need to be maintained, not removed, because you will never achieve the overall aesthetic and scale they now provide.

7. Maintenance includes liming any dead wood, some root pruning, if required, and litter removal.

8. They provide a traffic buffer for the homeowners.

9. They provide curb appeal to the passerby.

10. As Dover Bay transitioned from a more native environment to community neighborhood these trees are one of the benefits, because they are mature, their scale exceed the existing and proposed home roof lines, thus creating a descaling of the building massing an overall sense of place and community aesthetic.

11. Only when a tree dies should it then be removed, and replaced, but you will never replace

    the scale and presence of that tree and its impact to the home and neighborhood!

12. In Dover Bay any new trees should be of a similar ornamental character of these native varieties or pure native varieties.

13. It goes without saying how important these trees are to the residents of Parkside, but the tree removal affects more than just the Parkside neighborhood and more than the Parkside Bungalow owner. It affects the overall sense and feel of Dover Bay PUD.

14. They exhibit multiple colors of green with brilliant fall yellows and oranges.

15. For many the appeal is subliminal. One doesn’t know why, just that setting is eye appealing. The Cottonwoods are part of the “All”

Ralph then added the following poem to explain his point:

Each and All

By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Little thinks, in the field, yon red-cloaked clown,

Of thee from the hill-top looking down;

The heifer that lows in the upland farm,

Far-heard, lows not thine ear to charm;

The sexton, tolling his bell at noon,

Deems not that great Napoleon

Stops his horse, and lists with delight,

Whilst his files sweep round yon Alpine height;

Nor knowest thou what argument

Thy life to thy neighbor's creed has lent.

All are needed by each one;

Nothing is fair or good alone.

I thought the sparrow's note from heaven,

Singing at dawn on the alder bough;

I brought him home, in his nest, at even;

He sings the song, but it pleases not now,

For I did not bring home the river and sky; —

He sang to my ear, — they sang to my eye.

The delicate shells lay on the shore;

The bubbles of the latest wave

Fresh pearls to their enamel gave;

And the bellowing of the savage sea

Greeted their safe escape to me.

I wiped away the weeds and foam,

I fetched my sea-born treasures home;

But the poor, unsightly, noisome things

Had left their beauty on the shore,

With the sun, and the sand, and the wild uproar.

The lover watched his graceful maid,

As 'mid the virgin train she stayed,

Nor knew her beauty's best attire

Was woven still by the snow-white choir.

At last she came to his hermitage,

Like the bird from the woodlands to the cage; —

The gay enchantment was undone,

A gentle wife, but fairy none.

Then I said, "I covet truth;

Beauty is unripe childhood's cheat;

I leave it behind with the games of youth:" —

As I spoke, beneath my feet

The ground-pine curled its pretty wreath,

Running over the club-moss burrs;

I inhaled the violet's breath;

Around me stood the oaks and firs;

Pine-cones and acorns lay on the ground;

Over me soared the eternal sky,

Full of light and of deity;

Again I saw, again I heard,

The rolling river, the morning bird; —

Beauty through my senses stole;

I yielded myself to the perfect whole.