The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

The hackberry tree row in our north shelter belt has been present for 80-some years if counting growth rings is worth anything. Hackberries are durable, drought resistant and rather tenacious. Unfortunately over the last decade, storms and annual drought have taken a toll on them, leaving just two out of five once healthy trees. It’s always sad to lose trees, especially in this area and climate. Every tree comes at a cost, however, and for most that means finding less fancy, more slowly growing trees that are disease resistant water saving.

It is easy to underestimate the value of the...