Felling the Tree of Peace

So this pine tree bad boy came down with a thud yesterday.  Mainers doing Maine things.  This ninety foot pine tree was mostly dead, dropping crispy pine needles all over the lawn, clogging the lawn mower.  Their carpet of acidic needles actually kills the grass and anything under it, thereby the mighty pine avoids competition from the surrounding deciduous giants all fighting for sky time.  Sadly, the top was full of life and smelled heavenly as I walked around the tree carefully felled right when it was supposed to land.  So sorry you majestic beast I murmured to myself as I took a breath in of her citrusy fragrance filling my lungs.  Prior to the felling, my husband assured me, "I'll try to miss that front garden."  My step-son laughed, "I can't promise anything."  Husband at the tractor wheel, stepson chopping a notch on this side of the tree and then that led to the tractor pulling the tree down.  I have a love affair with trees, growing up in the woods in Washington state and now living the life amongst the woodlands of Maine.  They make me feel safe.  This majestic white pine tree beauty is the state tree of Maine, native to North America.  The whoopee pie is our state treat which makes no sense.  But I nod my head to the twelve hundred pond moose as our state animal.  The Maine Coon cat is our state cat.  State cat?  Anyway, the white pine was dubbed the Tree of Peace by the Iroquois, when a man named Deanawidah created the "great peace" between five Native American nations.  The Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca were waring tribes brought together under the symbol of the White Pine, called the, "tree of the great long leaves."  The cluster of five needles on each branch symbolizes their unity. Who knew the Indians used the pine tree needles for sewing, the resin as cement and the pinecones as decoration?  I think I might reconsider going to the pharmacy in the coming summer months.  Herbpathy.com tells me pine tar can be used to treat tapeworms and dandruff.  An extract of inner bark can treat respiratory ills and diarrhea.  Bark tea will treat my raging headache after watching the morning news.  Thank goodness that beauteous symbol of peace and unity that smells like a woodsy heaven has multiple family members still standing around our yard.