Identification: white growth on cherry tree branches

Wondering if this growth is a fungus? If not, does this look like a disease?

 

Welcome to the Pacific No. W. It's just lichen and won't harm the tree. Google "Lichen on fruit trees" and you'll get all kinds of info. A (bad adjective) Californian once informed me that the reason Wash St. was known as the "Evergreen State" was because of all the mold, moss, and such. ;)) barb

 

well that's good news. thank you.