Your excellent article and the thoughtful responses it evoked do so much to honor the stewardship of planting trees for future generations and enjoying the trees planted by others, sometimes in the distant past. In the 40 years I have lived in this old farmhouse, I have lost several mature old trees that once provided enough shade to make air conditioning unnecessary. They included two English walnuts (male and female so there were lots of nuts each fall) and four enormous Norway maples. I replaced them mostly with scarlet oaks whose shade will be enjoyed by future residents, but not me. Trees do indeed remind me that I am just a steward of this place, tasked with the responsibility of making it as welcoming as possible for future generations, as you have emphasized.
