Tree ID.

This is a tree in my front yard. We are looking at having half of it cut because the crotch is a little split and it's hanging over our power lines. It has these buds with the leaves. And happy 4'th!

 

I first thought a flowering crab but the bark doesn't look right.

 

That looks to be a variety of flowering pear tree. Note how upright it is.

 

We have a ton of mulberry here but I don't think it's a mulberry. Just curious what it is for the firewood. I'm keeping it either way because once dry it will heat.

 

Maybe? Is that decent firewood?

 

That does look very similar.

 

I looked this up.
"The wood from Bradford Pear trees is suitable as firewood. These trees usually have poor structure and tend to break quite often in windy conditions, especially in snow and ice. The wood isn't the best in terms of heating value, but it certainly burns fine as long as you season it before burning. ".
Also, the wood is beautiful for small wood projects. Makes beautiful bowls.

 

You were dead on. It's a Bradford Pear.
I guess I was dead on wanting to get it cut too. Severe storm today took it out along with our cable to the house. I'll post some pics of the firewood when I get it cut up and the rest dropped.

 

Just so you know, they are short lived, and yours has reached a very mature life. From here on in, that tree is high risk.
Time to plant a replacement tree. Lots to choose from!

 

Well the storm part of the work for ya
That's odd you put up a pic ,3 days later it comes down

 

I'm going to have it dropped as soon as I can now. Should give me a decent amount of wood to add to the stacks. That stuff has a weird texture but from everything I've read, once it dries it's pretty decent firewood.

 

Got what was already down limbed and bucked. When I split the first round from the trunk about 100 large ants came out. They had a nice tunnel bored so I shot it with raid and am letting it sit for a day before I split the rest.

 

So, the takeaway here, is to take a pic of a tree you want down and it'll fall in a storm.
Where's my camera?

 

Pear is about the same as apple. Good for smoking too.

 

I have burned lots of Callery Pear/Bradford Pear because they tend to break in storms and end up on the side of the road. It is very good firewood.