Gnu, you are so funny...

I'm glad to hear no one was hurt. Spaw, I read your post aloud to the DH. It was very informative.

Bobert says it is a priority to get the tree off the flowerbed. There's the difference between me and him. He does it right. I would just leave the tree there and put up a little sign that says "Ground-dwelling Woodpecker Habitat."

Bobert, maybe you can make some money selling firewood.   

By pure luck, we planted a crab-apple tree in our yard 35 years ago. It turns out that the oak and the crab-apple are the strongest trees. We have had storms where huge trees come crashing down, occasionally killing people. All the crab-apple does is shed a few dry twigs.

However, we have to have it sprayed against cedar-apple rust to the tune of $175 a year.