Diminished Majesty

You remember that I started my very first post with this giant - the thoongu moonji maram = sleepyhead tree or Rain Tree. It has provided character to our neighborhood, shelter to dozens of birds, squirrels, and monkeys, and shade to everyone around (there's usually a 10 degree F difference between standing out in the open and under a tree!)

Today, our neighbors, who have completed the renovation of their home, decided to trim - more like an army buzz cut - its branches. The Rain tree's giant branches reached out over their water tank, and terrace, causing problems. They were muttering about its roots tearing up their paved walkways, but mercifully, decided against cutting the tree down. (The tree is right on the property line, making for a sticky situation, should there be an issue.)

Here are some pictures of the process:




Check out the tree outside the window. It helped create such wonderful light, that our photographer friend, who took professional pictures of Arjun, wanted the shoot in this very room!








IIT monkeys passing through our neighborhood. Two moms and their babies (rambunctious, and so human!) hanging out on the neighbor's overhead water tank.








One mother was much more cautious and stayed on the bigger branches, while the other mom allowed her little one to wander off and explore a path to our terrace. One could watch them for hours!
While we think that they are way too adept to fall off the tree, Ramesh says that many IIT monkeys do fall, and because they fall on concrete pavements, and not in to forest canopies, they actually do break a limb or two.







No cranes, no equipment. Just a hack-job, with a hand saw, and some rope to belay the branch.












A job well done! Firewood for the workers' family.











Not quite the concrete jungle that one might expect - but definitely on the way to one. [Don't miss the blue building!]










Bye! Got to go curtain shopping!