20080210 Tulip Poplar's Demise

Early on the morning of June 11, 2006 (around 5:30a), we heard a loud noise and subsequently found that the house was hit by lightning. A tall, perhaps 70', tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera, one of the tallest growing native U.S. trees, it's not a poplar but is in the magnolia family; "tulip" comes from the shape of its flowers) tree just outside my study took a big hit; we could smell the singed wood for several days, as I recall. About a year and a half later on Sunday February 10, 2008, sometime while we were out between 1p and 4p, the strong winds with gusts up to 47 miles per hour we were having blew the tree down! We were so lucky - the tree didn't hit my (or my neighbor's) house, but came to rest on a stand of trees between the homes. Those trees were somewhat damaged, but I think the net loss will be just the tulip poplar and one elm. Coincidentally, we were pruning our apple trees on Saturday - thank heavens the poplar wasn't felled while we were working very close to it!