West Side Stories
A Tosa resident for almost 20 years, Karen is a mom and freelance writer, addicted to playing tennis. When not on the tennis court, she spends the fall and winter in the stands at Green Bay Packer and Marquette basketball games.
Karen is the author of “Grab a Bite,” a dining out column and the former community columnist for the Wauwatosa NOW newspaper.
Tree Stumps and Vigorous Lawns
Dear City of Wauwatosa,
Recently, the card shown below was left on my front walk. I believe that it was supposed to be left on my front door but the seasonal winds must have blown it away.
Anyway, I learned a couple of things from this card:
First, Wauwatosa has a “Parks
and Forestry Division,” which definitely makes our city seem WAY leafier than
it already is. Parks, sure. Forests – cool!
Secondly, Wauwatosa has been designated as a “TREE CITY USA”
since 1982. This would explain the Parks and Forestry Division. It also makes
me wonder if this was a barren tundra in pre-1982 days.
In any case, you left this card after grinding down the stump of a tree that
you recently removed in the “city right of way” outside my house. Several weeks
ago, you left a similar card (that one also landed far from the front door)
stating that you were removing a tree because it was blocking power lines. On
that card, you said that you would be replacing the tree with a lilac tree. I
guess your plans changed.
The new card has given me instructions on how to “establish a vigorous lawn,”
which is, apparently, the new plan for my “right of way.” You removed the tree
stump, seeded the area and left this card for me. The instructions tell me
to “water the seeded area lightly and regularly, twice a day or more if
rainfall is inadequate.”
Um, I have to tell you, it’s probably not gonna happen. First, the newly
planted vigorous lawn is in an area that never has been and never will be
watered. I don’t have hoses that reach that far or watering cans that large. Secondly,
today, it’s going to be 45 degrees outside. I’m not watering anything outside
today and I seriously doubt that you are either. So I’m resorting to praying
for “adequate rainfall.”
My potentially “vigorous lawn” has now become a magnet for dogs and their
owners. As you can see, at least one pet has ventured across it, perhaps adding
their own fertilization. I guess we’ll see.
I don’t mean to diminish your efforts to “keep street trees healthy, safe and
attractive” but when you do these things in April, in Wisconsin, you can’t expect 100% compliance.
Nevertheless, thanks for pointing out our TREE
CITY USA status and for advocating for
our leafy friends. I’ll do my best to work toward a vigorous lawn, but not at
the expense of freezing my butt off.
Sincerely,
Karen
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