The tree in front of the Rengerts' house had to go, but its owners were reluctant to relinquish it completely.

Julie Rengert said it took her three years to let go of the tree, which was at least 60 feet high and overshadowed their house on Glenhurst Street in Maple Ridge.

But the house needed a new roof and the moss and needles from the cedar dea-dora were making a mess.

Their friend, driftwood artist Bruce Rothe, told them if they left a six-foot high stump, he'd try to create something out of it.

It took Rothe two days to carve the owl, and he was amazed at its smell, which reminded him more of peaches than an evergreen.

The result is an owl, carved with a chain saw and finished with grinders and a propane torch.

"When I get down to the details... that's when I really enjoy [it]," Rothe said.

Rothe has been carving driftwood pieces in his retirement but he also likes to work on larger pieces like this creation.

mrantanen@mrtimes.com