"I would like to make the house look less dour and more balanced. I'm not sure how to accomplish that. Should I take out the tallish shrub/tree thing that is pictured (at the right edge of the porch, next to the front door)?" Take it out. It is not helping. It is hurting. Some colorful annuals in that spot would look a lot better. The yard has a generally unkempt and ragged look. Trim. Get rid of weeds. Remove unhelpful plants. If you want privacy on the porch, why not intentionally create a pretty screen instead of using spindly azaleas in a way that says "elderly and struggling"?There are umpteen ways to make something nice that screens. I would not line the walk with anything but the lawn on one side and groundcover on the other. Just weed the groundcover for improved appearance.

Never heard of a fungus taking out pear leaves in a dry climate. There must be something else going on. What percent of the leaf area has been lost? I don't think the fruit will make much difference. If all the leaves die the tree will be gone either way. You need a better explanation in my opinion.

I'll add a couple of things I learned over the years using a chain saw. Don't cut on a very windy day, yes the wind can catch the top of a tree and send it in the wrong direction--even with the notch. Have an escape route to move away from the tree before you saw. In other words make sure you have a clear area to get to quickly in case the tree was to fall back toward you. If your only experience is cutting up logs and not cutting down trees, you might want to get someone to help that has experience in felling trees. Felling trees requires a litle more knowledge than simply bucking them and is a little more dangerous. Size up the tree by looking up at the top and seeing where the weight is concentrated or which way the tree is naturally leaning. Usually you throw the tree in the direction of the lean, but if that is not possible due to the fact it might fall on your house or get caught up in another tree, you can rope it. Tie a rope up as high as you can get it in the tree to be cut down. Wrap the other end around a tree in the direction you want your tree to fall. Pull the end back toward the side you will be sawing on and tie it to your truck hitch. Pull the rope tight by driving the tree ever so slightly forward and keep the tension on the rope. With the notch on the felling side, the tension of the rope pulling the tree in the direction you want it to go, start sawing the tree. About half way through the cut, pull the truck up slightly to increase the tensin. The gap of the cut should be wider which would indicate the tree will fall in the direction you want it. Cut into the tree again until it is about through. Pull the truck foward and the tree should fall where you want it. If you only understand a little of this or none of it, hire someone to cut your trees. If you lack confidence in doing the job, don't do it. Saving a little money is not worth injury. The term "widow maker" is sometimes used to describe a tree that is dangerous to take down. I had one of these and I hired two men to take it down. I sawed it up myself. Even after watching the job, I probably would not attempt to take down a "widow maker" with a chain saw. I would hire the tree guy with his bucket truck.

Ken, as I drove home after the storm and saw massive damage I was reminded repeatedly of many of your posts...almost went back to take pics just for you to see. But I'm in a "lack of knowledge" time with a new computer and new camera so no photo posts for awhile. The tree missed the side wall of an above ground pool so the house wall was safe. My wording was misleading. We might have figured pool damage to be a blessing, too, as it is very old and the kids have moved out of state, and we aren't around as much in the summer so we have debated what to do with it. The only tree of size near the house is the last of a row of medium sized spruce. Took out the others year by year and brought them to Christmas tree recyling in many pieces. Yes, they had been Christmas trees with outdoor lighting, but they never would have fit inside when we cut them! We plan to take the last one out this Christmas...partly in response to things you have written. I'm half tempted to cut that last one now while I have an easy disposal site but a million and one other garden jobs are calling. It is located where the prevailing storm winds would blow it away from the house so we, perhaps foolishly, feel we can continue our multi-year removal plan. And it is on a side away from high use rooms like bedrooms. Probably not a good idea to gamble with changing winds for much longer. A kayak buddy told a story of terror about falling trees that also convinced me to remove trees. He and his wife went to bed early on a stormy night and a few minutes later a huge tree smashed through the roof and the trunk crushed the sofa where they would have normally watched the news. Wasn't even their tree and eventually, after much negotiating, they received an insurance settlement from the guilty party and used the $$ to move to a tree-safe place. Fortunately, we don't have neighbors' trees to worry about. So yes, everyone....LISTEN TO KEN....HE IS A WISE MAN....LOL