The Caney River loops through Bartlesville, and the cottonwoods along it stand tall enough to be seen from the far side of town. Tate's Tree Service of Bartlesville works both sides of that river — tree removal where a bank has undercut a root plate, tree trimming and pruning through the older neighborhoods where the shade is as much a part of the address as the house. Green-up here happens fast in April, and so does the weather; storm damage cleanup after a night of straight-line wind is a matter of clearing driveways before the school bus route runs. There is honest pride in a cut that leaves no tear in the bark and a lawn that shows no sign of the bucket truck. A well-pruned tree looks like it was never touched, only luckier than its neighbors.