A lot of bad things can be found in the DC swamp. The city has been infested with feckless politicians, lobbyists, and innumerable entities that exist only because of our government’s opulence.
A more wretched hive of scum and villainy cannot be found in America. But while the clowns in Congress may be shaming our forefathers, what DC does have is incredible history everywhere you look. It’s a huge reason that tourists flock to the capitol each year, but unfortunately, there’s one small piece of history at the White House that’s about to be tossed in the dustbin.
As reported at the New York Post, a 200-year-old tree that was planted on the White House’s South Lawn by Andrew Jackson himself will be getting the ax, as it’s too damaged and decayed to remain.
First Lady Melania Trump issued the final order to remove the so-called Jackson Magnolia, which our nation’s seventh president planted in memory of his late wife, Rachel. He did so in the aftermath of the contentious 1828 election, which Jackson blamed for his wife’s death.
Just to be clear, Melania didn’t make the decision on her own or on a whim. It was recommended by the US National Arboretum, which found “the overall architecture and structure of the tree is greatly compromised and the tree is completely dependent on the artificial support.”
The group also pointed out that “Without the extensive cabling system, the tree would have fallen years ago. Presently, and very concerning, the cabling system is failing on the east trunk, as a cable has pulled through the very thin layer of wood that remains. It is difficult to predict when and how many more will fail.”
The myth surrounding the tree is that Jackson used a sprout from his wife’s favorite tree on their Hermitage, Tennessee farm. It’s lived a long life and seen countless Easter Egg hunts and White House dinners, but all good things must come to an end.
For decades, the tree has visibly been on the decline, which was compounded by poor care. In 1970, a growth on the trunk broke off, and the remaining hole was filled with cement. The procedure was supposed to keep rot from occurring, but modern horticulturalists say that the practice is no longer considered viable and is thus no longer used.
Now, the trunk is so rotted, that no more cables can even be added to help prop it up. Therefore, the safest and most prudent option according to the Arboretum is to chop it down.
“In addition, the high winds resulting from frequent helicopter landings complicates the future of the limb. It may fail in an unpredictable way,” the Arboretum report states.
Later this week, the tree will be removed, and along with it, a tiny piece of unique, presidential history.
Source: New York Post