Last week the old basswood tree was hit by lighting and the whole side was blown out. The wood ducks were gone but it may have killed a few squirrels. We thought it was a bomb. It shook our whole house. We walked out to the road to see what had happened and all we could see was a storm way off in the distance. It took a few days before we realized it was the tree that had been hit. The tree is still standing but I don't know for how long.

It's really to bad the birds and animals loved that old tree.

It was about 70 ft. tall.

Basswood are also called American Linden. They grow well to zone 2 so their good for way up the north. Old hallow trees like ours make great place for wildlife.

They are used for carving but also for furniture, veneer, drawing boards and tongue dpressors.

Honey from the linden flower is the best there is.

The old tree has stood there all summer and looking worse everyday. We have decided we have to get someone here to take it down. I'm going to try and film it when they come. By cutting it down in the winter there shouldn't be anything living in it. Maybe a squirrel but no little ones. It's a danger to all of us now and each day the split is getting bigger.

Couple birds that loved our old tree.