Update on the maple trees.
So, DH left to go pick up a call-in order this afternoon. He passed our neighbor. I love DH--he just got out of his truck, and said, "Hey, M___! What's up with the trees?" I could never have gotten away with that without sounding like a Gladys Cravitz.
So he explained that they were, in fact, all diseased. He planted those trees himself 31 years ago. He called the University of Vermont to see if he could save them, but they were beyond saving, and he told DH "It's breaking my heart."
But he's already bought 20 replacement trees and he's planting them next year. He's 70 years old. He'll be lucky to see them mature. All of a sudden I love this guy.
Lesson learned: never judge.