Poem for Alex Shigo
- Thread starter deercatcher
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treevet
Addicted to ArboristSite
Iam not in possession of the quality or quantity of insight to decipher this piece of work and won t pretend to but the feelings and intentions are not lost on this arborist. I sincerely have a void in my gut from the unexpected loss of this giant/genius of a man who was a mentor to me beyond the care of trees. I can see Al up there with his mycorr-riser(shovel) and microscope showing God what a great job he did. I feel so sorry for any arborist who did not have the chance to meet and get to know a little of him. "Mature people complete things", "Learn until it hurts", etc.,etc.
treevet
Addicted to ArboristSite
Just curious, Shigo has been teed up 2 times here by me and deercatcher w responses from treemachine and treeseer and maybe a few others. Do people not know who he is? Do people dislike him? No disdain or animosity just bewilderment. Maybe he will be a cult hero years after his death.
DonnyO
ArboristSite Operative
maybe he already is a hero and its too soon for this kind of thing.................
personally I never met the man or attended any of his seminars, Im sure in the arborculture field he will be missed. out of respect may god bless him and those he left behind, however I also think he would of wanted those who thirst for knowledge to search for a new mentor.
LXT..............................................
LXT..............................................
underwor
ArboristSite Operative
I did attend one of his seminars in NH about 5 years ago. Drove from ND, so got to see some interesting country also. I have visited with Alex on several occasions dating back to 1989. A very interesting and passionate man when talking about trees. A cookie of wood was basis for an hour of interesting observation and learning. It is amazing the story it could tell when read by the right person. He will be missed.
rebelman
ArboristSite Operative
Sometimes I'm wanting to trace old wounds in a tree I removed, and thinking I need to cut a longitudinal section like Alex used too for photos in his book A new tree biology, which I read several times, even the chemistry section, and I think what hard work that is, and how he spent a lifetime doing it, and I'm in awe. God, he must have been able to put an edge on a chain. We at Arboristsite need to remember one point he made often. Discussions about trees should be open and honest, not an attemp to one up, or get the last word.
treevet
Addicted to ArboristSite
I couldn t agree more. You could not feel uncomfortable in a group around Al. The only stupid question was the unasked one. People that knew him day to day thought of him as the ultimate teacher. A know it all or one upper was always subtly one upped by him. In the Boone seminar we studied effects of wounding and tree's reaction w compartmentalization directions.It was a week long. He stopped doing this later in his career. Began to be astounded what a weapon a lawnmower and weed wacker can be in the wrong hands (not to mention the inept pruner). It was an expensive school but well worth it. Everyone had their own microscope. They fed us the best imaginable food. Walks in the woods were casual and fun w kidding but also life changing. Most seminars I ve been to w the laboratory types I cannot even remember their names and they make it obvious they won t remember yours while condescending if gracing you w their away time at all. Al knew your name and was teaching you and not just a mass group. I m fortunate to have a wife that worked for the airlines and could follow him around a bit flying for free.
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