On Sunday morning, April 19, 2020, a mighty and underestimated severe thunderstorm blew across Coosa and Tallapoosa counties and other select portions of Central Alabama. In an instant, numerous home landscapes; a campground; backyards; front yards; orchards; forest settings;and roadsides were abruptly uprooted, transformed and damaged. A powerful straight-line wind punched the area and broke tree limbs; pushed over mighty and massive oaks,;snapped historic pines with ease; flattened generational pecan trees; and scarred the natural landscape. Luckily, only a few houses and buildings were badly damaged by the storm, but many beautiful shaded home landscapes were abruptly changed.

Now that the chainsaws are silent and much of the debris has been cleaned up and hauled away, attention turns to evaluating the yard and property. The obvious realization after such a storm event is that what once may have been a shady lot is now in full sun with the trees gone.  Such drastic changes, indeed, will have long-term effects.