Two (welcome) signs acknowledge a tree's value

From half a block away, the fragrance of a mighty catalpa tree beckons.

I am walking on Carleton Ave. in Champlain Park, and as I approach the catalpa, I cringe. Construction fences and temporary street signs alert me to the possibility of trouble. Our neighbourhood cannot afford to lose this beautiful, fragrant tree.

Sure enough, a bungalow has been torn down and excavation is underway.

But today, there's good news. The owner of this property and the City of Ottawa have erected a protective fence around the tree's trunk and there are TWO signs (the official city sign on the far right) and a handmade sign (on the far left) announcing a tree protection zone.

I breathe in the tree's heady perfume and smile. It's good to know that this tree's value is being acknowledged and that this care by humans for another living thing will enhance and help to sustain an important life in our urban enclave.