Storms

We had storms here yesterday afternoon.  They were not particularly big but they did seem savage.  I was watching them on the BOM.  I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to storms.  Here I am 60 something and I have never liked them, and I guess never will. 
To me it is no wonder the Mongolians disliked thunderstorms so much and saw them as a bad sign.  I am not into the superstition associated with them, but I am in awe of the power on display.
These storms had lightning strikes close by.  I count after every time I see lightning to determine how far away it is.  The closest strike was around 1.5 miles but boy was the thunder loud.  Even strikes – even far away, had an ominous rumble associated with it.
It is not so much the lightning that concerns me but what it can do to nearby trees.  I remember one being struck near where I lived (less than 100 meters away from the house I was in) and the tree was ruined for life as it were.  The chemist nearby did not like storms either.  He said transformers being stuck reminded him of the troubles when he lived in Northern Ireland.
We only have one large tree on the property these day.  We got rid of others as most were too close to the fence.  I was informed one had been struck by lightning in days gone by and it fell where our shed now stands.
The tree we have left is regarded as “a tree of significance.”  That was news to us but recently we had a tree surgeon look at it.  He informed us that any tree with a trunk greater than I think it was 74 centimeters is regarded as significant.  Ours was larger than that, but he informed us it was in good health and just some lower branches needed cutting off.  Stuff I can do.
He did recommend some stuff we got for the roots.  We spread it on the surface, and it seeps down to the roots.  It seems to have worked as the tree looks happy and healthy.
I love the tree but do not want it toppling over.  So I watch it closely in storms.