wondering

I wonder if a tree is felled on Riverside Drive

 if their number is retired

 or 

reassigned to a sapling?  

What, you ask, 

made me wonder 

or 

even think about such an 

esoteric or is it existential thought?  

During our walk Sunday 

as we strolled down Riverside Drive

 on the Park side 

I noticed this

I walked closer to see who was nailing things to a living tree

It was a numbered disc

No. 437 is near 83rd Street 

its not between  No. 436 or No. 438, 

I believe - 

dont hold me to this my brain is leaking and I am not as annoyingly positive as I once was

 - it was next to No. 439

Trees are branded, but why?

What are you wondering about this Wednesday?

Edited to add:  I Googled tree tags and while there was nothing specific about Riverside Drive's trees, I found this .. click here