Kirk; The tree that appears to be leaning is an English Walnut, this tree went over during our recent ice storm. The tree was undermined of soil on the northside and had rotted roots to the south. Sure did bleed well anybody for Walnut syrup
The second tree is an Incense Cedar, suddenly (so my clients tell me) died in September. This is where the beetle came from. I am still in the process of id, my first thought is a 'Buprestid' in this pic it looks green like an emerald ash borer. But the actual color is a royal metallic blue with jet black on the remaining body. The pic directly above the beetle pic is the remains of a live flathead borer grub I smashed getting out of the adjacent hole. The beetle is either the adult of this grub or possibly a beneficial that feeds on him. Still researching.
Since there is still numerous live grubs in tree sections .......the utilization is still being determined. Initially one or more was going to halve for benches.
Choclate coating of course