Yearn to Wander

Elm Log Receptacle

Some of us remember the Elm tree canopies that graced our residential streets in the mid-1950s. They were Gothic-like halls of shade in the summer. But Dutch Elm Disease (DED) killed ours and many more. We lost that marvelous shade on a hot summer day, and the sense of serenity they offered.

Early in the Twentieth Century, Elm trees were planted in single rows along many residential parkways across North America and beyond. As the trees grew vase-like, their tops arched over streets intertwining in the middle to create the vaulted canopies. I hadn't seen any in many years until last summer we came upon one in Grand Forks, ND. I stopped, choked up, and just marveled in the beauty and memories.

In Edmonton, Alberta and other Canadian cities, many residential streets in older neighborhoods are still graced with these beautiful canopies. Why? DED has been slow to take over here, partly because municipalities have intense public awareness campaigns to control its spread. One such campaign is the request not to burn or transport Elm logs, especially with bark, as they could be infested with the Elm bark beetle which is the major transmission vector. On the prairies, signs stand at the outskirts of many towns requesting residents and visitors not to burn or transport Elm logs. At the Alberta border, receptacles are provided so travelers can deposit their Elm logs. It seems to help, since we saw many Elm canopies on this trip -- a continuing beautiful sight.

Afterthought: does this mean we shouldn't transport or burn Pine logs, or any other tree, infested with a bark beetle?