The bug we had eats at the roots as well as the heartwood.

The tree folks took one look at it and said that it *might* stay up for another year or so, but tht a good wind will knock it down. It was in horrible shape, with frass and dirt all in the bottom. They had eaten at the roots.

They offered me a good price, I lowballed em, and they settled for midway, but ended up giving me the lowball price after all was said and done (it was less work than they expected.)

Josie and I spent hours cutting up branches, and got about 1/2 way through them all, before my back said "enough."

Then on Sunday night, there was a CRACK when our milk man pulled away, and he hit a low-hanging cherry tree branch on a neighbors tree, cracking it along the bias. we cut that down as well, so now we have some cherry for the smoker as well as apple. Cool!