New trees in the market square

The central square in Saint-Aignan was renovated last summer. Mostly what they did was take out the old trees, tear up the asphalt, and rebuild the water, sewer, and electric lines. Then, of course, they re-paved the square in old-fashioned cobbles. When they finished, the square felt very bare. The planned new trees would not be planted until the fall.

Two of the new trees in the market square. They're barely visible in the center of the image.

Well, now the new trees are in. They are very young trees, barely taller than a man, and it will be a few years before they even begin to cast some shade in summer. All together there are seven trees in the square. I'm not sure what species they are, but once they leaf out this spring I should be able to tell.

It's strange when these renovations are done. I'm used to France seeming so old, with huge old trees lining the avenues and shading the public squares. I forget that all those old-looking places were new once, that they've likely been renovated once or twice over the centuries, and with young trees. I suppose I'm fortunate to see what the square looks like "as new." The shock of the bare and new will wear off over time, to be sure.

In twenty years, it might look old again.