One [massive] tree down

Along the curb in front of our house was a huge tree (not sure what kind of tree). It was an old tree, with huge hollow spots in it. You can see one hole about half way up in this picture, but there was one twice as large on the other side, closer to the ground. It had brittle-looking branches overhanging the street and near the house. It seemed like a dangerous tree - one good storm might have knocked half the branches off.



So we called the city in January (since it's on the curb, it belongs to them) to ask to have it cut down. They agreed, and said it would be cut down in March. Well, one day in mid March, I had parked Seth's car in the street (to get to my car which was behind his in the driveway). And, wouldn't you know it, there was a wind storm before I got back home, and branches fell down, onto Seth's car. It must have hit his car pretty hard because it dented the metal right above the door.

Thankfully, the city had their contractors out last week to cut the tree down. They came Wednesday and left this:



then came back yesterday and ground the stump. Now we have a huge pile of wood chips in our front yard:

The tree-cutters said that after the organic material decomposes, it will settle down a lot, but that it could take about a season for that to happen.

The city said that they'll plant a new tree, which is awesome. I'd like to pick a big, wide-leafed shade tree, to match the others on the street. I just have to pick which kind of tree now. and move on to all the other trees you see in the yard....