Katrina: The fact that you are seeing some infection in this old pruning cut is not a good thing. Also, what you are seeing I would guess is a fungal fruiting body, and it is my understanding that these do not develop unless the fungus is well established. BUT, BUT, BUT, there are many kinds of fungus that can infect pruning cuts, and some of these grow smaller than others and put out fruiting bodies very quickly. So, this infection may not be deep. Also, fungal infections sometimes develop in old pruning cuts and do not progress into the wood of the trunk of the tree--after the callus closes the wound they die or do not progress any further. O'Hara briefly notes some research findings in his article about this. I can report one experience I had with a very large and tall tuliptree that was in my yard where I used to live. This was a tree well over 100 feet tall and about 2 1/2 feet in diameter. I noticed a place about 25 feet up where a large old branch had broken off many years before and it had an incomplete covering with callus. Because I was in a neighborhood with houses close together, I was afraid and the risk of huge damage if this tree was blown over or broken with the wind, I did not really trust any arborists opinion--what if he was wrong? People could be killed, a house destroyed. So I had the tree taken down. As it turned out, the tree was still surprisingly sound and did not at that time have a great risk of breaking at that point. That does not say that some problem could have progressed in the future, but the tree was, after all, basically OK. My recommendation. If you can get up on a ladder and do a close inspection of this yourself (assuming you can do this securely, poke into the area and see what kind of softening of the wood has occurred. If there is a fungal fruiting body that you can collect and put in a jar, do that--it can be identified. And it may not be too late to treat the area with copper fungicide as I have been recommending. If the wood still seems fairly sound--not turned to some kind of soft mass, I would say it may not be too late. And for a first treatment on an area like this I would paint it twice so you get a good "soak in." If the callus later closes the wound the copper fungicide that will at that point be under the callus may have some effect on stopping or reducing the infection. If you want to hire an arborist that may be a good idea. But I am not sure how much training they have in identifying specific species of fungal rot pathogens, and I am not sure that methods they have to determine the exact extent of a fungal infection. Maybe some arborist can give me some information here in this forum about this. In any case, I would examine the area carefully yourself so you will know exactly what the arborist is talking about and you can decide if it makes sense based on your own observations. And you will know what kinds of questions you can ask. Anyway, to sum up, I think there is a good chance your tree will be OK. --Spruce

Hi DTA, I'm also in NYC, would say come on over to the NY Cactus & Succulent society (which reconvenes meetings next month) on the upper east side. We often have Sans. leaves being given away for a buck or 2. You might like to join, or contact me privately, & perhaps you could come check out a single mtg. as my guest. Most of my less common Sans. have come from this group as one of our members (recently deceased) had a great & unusual collection of them. I myself don't know of places to purchase them.

Join the club :-)

I am about to move forward myself with some GE appliances -have been researching for some time and want to make my decisions this week. Here is where I am at: GE Monogram 42" SxS- I do not want to bend over and mess around with a low pull out freezer- I hate all of the bending. Other choice is a 42" Sub Zero but I think it just does not make sense to pay the extra. Of all of the 42" I liked the new GE the best. GE Monogram double ovens and warming drawer- I have double ovens now and have always loved them. I need two- especially around holidays and do not like one under a stove top. This was my easiest decision. I was also considering Thermadore. I LOVE the sliding racks of the GE- nothing could compare!!! GE Monogram 36" 5 burner cooktop- I am torn between this and a 36" Dacor Renaissance. I happen to like the look and surface of the Dacor much better but I like the fact that the Monogram has all burners that simmer- and less confusing BTU variations. I am not a pro cook- so felt no need for a rangetop- anything will be MUCH better than what I have. I am also looking forward to storing the pots and pans in drawers below. Hood -I have no idea. architect suggested a pro type- will have cabinet overhead. I am looking at GE Monogram as well as a Zephyr Tempest 1 or a Wolf. I actually need to look at this website tonight and figure this out. At any rate I am going with a 36" (not the extra 3" that some suggest) Basic Microwave- I am looking at the smaller GE model. I am not even considering the Advantium- seems cool... and to cook a piece of salmon in no time flat- WOW...but decided to stick with the double ovens and get a basic microwave. I have two kids and we use a microwave all of the time for popcorn, reheating etc. etc. It is easy for them and for me. Everyone suggested that I just get a double oven set up with one convection and a second covection/microwave combo but I want my two basic ovens and a separate simple micro. I cannot really help with your decision so this is just food for thought. If anyone has thoughts on my hood, cooktop dilemma let me know!