Tree in a box

We have a huge cottonwood tree out in front of our house — "Old Tree Trunk," Kay used to call it once upon a long time ago.  It's technically on the neighbor's property, but we're the ones who benefit from it shading the whole front of the house during the summer.

The wooden box that it was set up in has been falling apart for the last few years, pushed outward by the tree. I'd chatted with the neighbors about doing something about it, and informally offering to pitch in (given how much interest we have in it), but this week they went ahead and acted on their own, replacing the wood box with a new one that should last a number of years. 

Of greater concern is that the big cottonwoods in the area — all about 35 years old — are beginning to die off. Old Tree Trunk is still looking pretty healthy, knock on wood (so to speak) but nothing lasts forever …