To mourn the loss of a tree.

When we bought our house more than 30 years ago there were two mature apricot trees. We have done our best most years to care for them, though some times we didn't.
One of the trees started to decline. Then it had a section that looked healthy and seem to be growing very well. Unfortunately a plum tree was growing next to the apricot, so close it intertwined. when it started to set fruit I realized what happened. The plums were terrible, so we cut it down,  Pruned the apricot, fertilized it tried to keep it watered. After 2 years I decided to cut it down. It was down to one living section. I'm the one to make the decision, I will plant a new tree, but for some reason it makes me very sad. It's been such an amazing delicious tree.

It's deep winter now here in northern Minnesota and I've been able to take a few cross-country ski trips on the frozen river near our house.  Like the Red River that flows north to Winnipeg, Manitoba, nearly all of the rivers in this flat valley meander in a pronounced snake-like pattern, leaving densely wooded oxbows very impracticle for plowing and planting.  We've come to call one of these oxbows the 'Oak Grove' after the few massive burr oak trees that have remained uncut and unfelled by the high winds.  One can't help but revere their size and longevity in a region where most trees are done in a few decades.  This year I noticed several large limbs broken on one of them and felt a similar sadness....  They were like the elders of the grove, assisting oak and non-oak alike on getting their start in the tree community in that oxbow.  This one sentinel may finally be on its way out...and it feels appropriate to mourn that passing.

Is it too late to try to find some pencil thick branches that can be grafted onto another tree in spring?

They can be grafted onto a plum or peach, take lots of cuttings. I am an inexperienced grafter but get a one in six success rate on the majority of the grafts I’ve done.

Or scrabble around the base of the tree for any of last seasons windfalls and plant the stones?

The stone grown trees may not be identical but will certainly be very close to the parent and may even be more delicious.

Unfortunately I mentioned it to my son, and in a very short time he had to tree cut down and the trunk dug out. It was very fast. Maybe one of the reasons it affected me so.  No chance to change my mind.    

I thought about trying to grow a seedling, but the only volunteers were the ones that grew very close to the trunk. I think they are called root saplings, or something like that, and I believe the don't grow a productive tree. I'm not clear on any of that.  I decided to buy a bare root, and start a new.

I have never grafted. The one section still alive shot straight up and was quite thick. I don't know if it was a good candidate for my first try.

Thanks for sharing your story, and suggestions. It's nice to know there are like minded people who also understand the loss of an old and valuable friend, even if it's a tree.

Circle of life...whether it is a tree (or something more active) everything living comes to an end.
If possible a nice thing to do would be make use of the wood in some way. It's been part of your life for so long it's nice to have a story behind objects.  If possible, something visible like a bowl or a coat stand, but using the wood in the garden will return the nutrients of the wood back to the soil. Hugel?

Great idea Nancy.  I was going to cut it into sections to make some Christmas deer. My son and I made one for the Santa picture display at my work 2025. It was a big hit and I got several offers to buy it. (I gave it to a co-worker who adores Christmas) I may still use some of the wood for that, but I like the idea of something for my home. I will have to think about that.
Nothing will go to waist. I'm a crazy plant lady, and always building just one more raised bed. ( I've got to stop saying that, everyone knows it's a lie) I always fill the beds hugel style. I'm sure some will end up in a bed. I do have a little chipper that works great for small stuff.