For the love of trees, I tip my hat to this man: 101-year-old Frank Knight. He took care of an elm tree, Herbie, for over half a century. Carefully pruning away fungus and ridding the tree of pests, he helped Herbie fight against Dutch elm disease 14 different times which initially sickened the tree in the 1950’s.
Herbie is estimated to be about two and half times the age of Frank, making the tree about 240-years-old. Herbie’s canopy reaches 120 feet wide and 110 feet high. The trunk is a little over 20 feet in circumference.
Known as the tallest and oldest tree in New England, this Yarmouth, Maine tree can stand proud for overcoming the pitfalls that many trees faced when Dutch elm disease made its appearance. Tree warden Frank Knight calls Herbie his old friend and is proud of saving this tree from the disease that ravaged so many others at the time.
Now the time has come that Frank has to say good-bye to his old friend.
Herbie, hit again by Dutch elm disease, doesn’t have the strength to overcome it this time. Frank has accepted the fact and after discussing the situation with other tree experts, Herbie is slated to come down January 18th.
Frank thought Herbie would outlive him.
“His time has come and mine is about due, too.” Knight stated. “Nothing is forever. I don’t want anybody to grieve when I go. Just be glad I could do what I did while I was here.”
And we are.