Emerald ash borer evokes bad memories of Dutch elm disease and massive urban clear cuts; St. Paul, MN

Joe Soucheray: Emerald ash borer punches hole in the canopy - TwinCities.com: "Updated: 05/16/2009 09:20:40 PM CDT
They came for one of my elm trees in 1977 or 1978. I can't remember. It might have been 1976. It was devastating. I claim to have never had a relationship with a tree, but I was particularly appreciative of that stately old elm, which could shade most of the front yard and two cars parked on the street, Scheffer.
First, they came with a can of the dreaded spray paint. It was bad news if your tree got a squirt of paint. Sometimes they came with a can of paint but didn't use it and it was like a reprieve, like the governor called at one minute to midnight. They came again. I lobbied, but to no avail. I might even have said the knee-jerk words we find ourselves uttering in Minnesota in times of animal and plant crisis: 'Isn't there somebody at the U ... ?'
Then they came with the tape, the caution tape that identifies crime scenes and keeps people at their distance."