The lilac tree has been unhealthy and declining for several years now and these were it's final flowers. I posted earlier about this tree and my plan to tend to it this year. Sadly it turns out after having someone more knowledgeable than I look at it there was no real hope for it. The flower clusters have been smaller and smaller each year and last year a good portion blew over as the roots had rotted out.
The wood had become infested with the lilac/ash borer which meant it would ultimately die. It was only a matter of time. The decision was made with my neighbors to cut it down to prevent the spread of the insects. Most of the ash trees in our city have fallen victim to a relative of this insect - the european ash borer which rode into our country on an infected wood pallet. There are many other lilac trees around and to protect them this one was cut down.
