Year of seasons cut short

The little maple tree in  the front yard is enjoying it's last morning.  We had the tree guy over this weekend, and the little maple tree is split at the crown and rotting all the way down the inside.  And her branches are interferring with power lines.  Today they will take her down, rather than wait for her to die and fall over in the next good storm.  We are thinking of replacing her with birches.

So what tree shall I follow now for a year of seasons?  Our backyard walnut?

The neighbor's tree?

Or shall I document the rebirth of the old apple tree?  This is the one that had grown tall and was dropping fruit onto the porch roof, making a sound like artilliary fire.  Very hard on the nerves of our neighbor who is a military vetern.  We are going to encourage low-hanging fruit.