The demise of birch cousins

In Star Trek 2, Captain Kirk declares, "How we deal with death is just as important as how we deal with life." Two dying birches on the south hill were taken down recently, with both saws burning a tank for the cutting. The splitting work began this morning, perhaps continuing tomorrow if expected rain is late. Losing two really pretty trees is tough, but both will burn beautifully. Thankfully, neither species is anywhere close to extinction here.