Z -- we had a healthy-looking, heavily-leafed hickory tree maybe over a hundred years old snap off at ground level in a moderate wind. Thank God it missed the swingset. Anyway, all of the broken roots have rotten centers. The bark nearest the bottom fell away to expose soft rot in the trunk -- it looks like dry rot.

I started inspecting the other trees in the yard, and it looks like all of them are dying. Tiny bore holes in the bark, sick-looking bark -- not healthy, doesn't look attached well, and I think they are already lost. We outside of the yard area, this is forest here. Lots of trees may already be affected.

What state entity do I report this to? I don't think we can save the trees, but we've lost many different types of trees at various ages all over the hills in an area at least 12 miles across, according to my neighbors. We have even cedars dying.

-- helen (yeah@it's.weird), May 19, 2002

Answers

Do not report this to a state entity. Lucky for you, I have a Ph.D. in this field, and can charge all of my expenses to the taxpayers. It's probably just beetle kill, but since I am an expert I can probably turn this into a huge research project and milk it for a few years. Hope you live in a nice area with classy restaurants, I'm not going to make a lot of trips out there unless it's worth my while. Let me know where it is and I'll see if I can squeeze it into my busy schedule. I'm very much in demand these days you know. ;<<<))

Best Wishes,,,,,,,

Z

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), May 20, 2002.

This is just so tragic.

-- (Joyce Kilmer @ my.treehouse), May 20, 2002.

Well, since the response wasn't me, I assume that the question wasn't from Helen.

If it is Helen and she wants a response she will email. The description makes no sense so I assume it is a joke.

Worst Wishes ;<))),,,,,

Z

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), May 20, 2002.