This is the sign that helped alert people to the extreme danger of a tree which was deemed "hazardous" by the City of Tallahassee Arborist and also deemed an "imminent danger" by the Leon county Extension Agent /Forestry.  The sign is no longer in place, as the tree has been taken down.  I hope someone benefits from the firewood.    

"Trees have about them something beautiful and attractive even to the fancy, since they cannot change their places, are witnesses of all the changes that take place around them; and as some reach a great age, they become, as it were, historical monuments, and like ourselves they have a life, growing and passing away, --not being inanimate and unvarying like the fields and rivers. One sees them passing through various stages, and at last step by step approaching death, which makes them look still more like ourselves." -- Wilhelm von Humboldt

August 26, 2011...This dangerous tree has been made safe.  All trees have a natural life span.  We miss their beauty and majesty when they must go.  Thank you to the owner for taking the responsible action, however painful the loss of such a once-grand tree.  

Many older, deteriorating trees are hazardous solely due to their location near children, buildings and families within a city.  We must all recognize that for such in-town locations, additional vigilance and a stricter gauge of "safe" must be used.  A tree in a non-urban forest is not likely to drop a 90,000 pound load of wet hardwood on someone because someone will probably not be under such a tree very often.  Within town, however, when a home is beneath a tree, and the home is occupied by a family all the time, risk is multiplied a thousandfold or more.  

The owner of a dangerous tree is not exempt from the duty to maintain safe premises.  A documented hazardous tree does not come under the "act of God" protection of a tree suddenly knocked over by a tornado or storm.  A documented, hazardous tree is a known danger for which their are professional solutions.  Failure to address the hazards is negligent behavior, answerable as is all negligent behavior.

When you have a tree suffering from any of the ills that brings them down, it's time to take action.  Many times, a tree can be trimmed back significantly to reduce danger, and be maintained for many years.  A good, professional tree surgeon can offer sound advice.

In Leon County, we have an excellent county forester who can offer advice on the denizens of our urban forest.  I recommend you contact him for any tree questions:

Stanton Rosenthal,  Extension Agent/Forestry

UF/Leon County Extension
615 Paul Russell Rd.
Tallahassee FL 32301-7099

phone (850) 606-5202
FAX (850) 606-5201
http://leon.ifas.ufl.edu/




Some additional photos: