The wood of a cherry tree is very brittle, and a winter ice storm shattered it. The robins were probably sad, too. Sweet cherries are the big, wine-red type you find in the supermarkets. Our climate is too harsh to grow them here. The Bing is known for its sweet, rounded flavor with a hint of wine.
Sweet cherries grow in the mountain states where winters are less brutal.
Sour or pie cherries are grown in Wisconsin and Michigan, where winters are colder and longer. Especially renown for cherry production is Door County in Wisconsin. The best sour-cherry variety is Montmorency, believed to have been developed in France. While the fruit is on the tart side, it can be eaten out of hand. They are self-pollinating, unlike sweet cherries.