A few years ago an illness destroyed most of the Dutch elms in Montreal. We had the oldest and biggest one in our neighborhood and it had to be taken down after it split in half and tore down the utility post. Across the street there was one elm that seemed to resist the epidemic. It stood erect for another 15 years. Unfortunately this summer it became obvious that it was dying. And because it was dangerous for the house next to it it too was taken down. Judging by the rings in the bark this tree was probably over 50 years old…it took so long to grow yet got taken down in one day…
