a blight.

Something has come into our back yard and killed two of our three large water oaks.  Within only a few weeks - two, three at most - they went from being alive and full of bright foliage to shriveled up with the bark peeling, turning red.  It started with just a part of one tree's leaves withering to a dark, olive green - and then a second patch - then a third.  Before I knew it both trees looked as if they did in December, leaves dead yet still clinging on through the cold, though it was the first of July.

At present, the third water oak in the cluster seems to be holding his own.  Our live oak in the center of the yard, beautiful and sprawling, housing my orchids, seems dandy as well.

I am desperately sad to see them (and their glorious shade) go.

However, at this point, desperate to see them go I am.
For I am afraid of this blight, or whatever caused their quick demise, spreading to the other trees.

The process though, to remove them, has turned out to take longer than their deaths.