White House to remove historic Jackson Magnolia

[mystery-ak]

White House to remove historic Jackson Magnolia
by Melissa Quinn | Dec 26, 2017, 10:08 AM



The Jackson Magnolia that’s been in place behind the White House since the 1800s will be cut down, according to a report.

The historic magnolia extends from the ground floor of the White House and past the second-level executive residence. But first lady Melania Trump decided the tree should be removed after reviewing historical documents and professional information that indicated its structure is “greatly compromised,” a White House official told CNN.

Specialists with the U.S. National Arboretum assessed the tree, which will be cut down later this week.

more
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/white-house-to-remove-historic-jackson-magnolia/article/2644365

[Frank Cannon]

LOL. Blaming the First Lady for deciding to get rid of a past it's prime tree. Whatever.

[berdie]

I always hate to see a tree like that cut down. But given that magnolias have a life span of about 100 years, they have done an incredible job of keeping it alive this long. As the article stated...maybe they can take one of it's saplings for replanting.

I always grieve when one of the giant old trees on my property comes down.

[Cyber Liberty]

"Greatly compromised structure" means the tree is collapsing from its own weight, as deciduous trees are generally wont to do.  As the story mentions, saplings from the tree have already been planted elsewhere, and a tree from that same species is going to replace it.

It looks pretty gnarly and decrepit in the pictures shown.

[Right_in_Virginia]

No bias in this headline   

Melania Trump Orders Removal of Near-200-Year-Old Tree From White House
Newsweek, Dec 26, 2017

<snip>

A White House official told CNN that the First Lady made the decision after reviewing and assessing professional information and historical documents. "Mrs. Trump personally reviewed the reports from the United States National Arboretum and spoke at length with her staff about exploring every option before making the decision to remove a portion of the Magnolia tree," Trump's communications director, Stephanie Grisham, told CNN. "After reviewing the reports, she trusted that every effort had been made to preserve the historic tree and was concerned about the safety of visitors and members of the press who are often standing right in front of the tree during Marine One lifts."

The tree was about to fall and experts recommended its removal. Mrs. Trump, according to Grisham, has requested to preserve the wood from the tree.

The tree is expected to be removed later this week. White House groundskeepers were prepared for the tree’s demise, however, and offshoots of the original Jackson Magnolia have been growing nearby. The offshoots are around eight to 10 feet tall and will be planted in the original tree's place, according to CNN.


More: http://www.newsweek.com/melania-trump-orders-removal-near-200-year-old-tree-white-house-759120

[Cyber Liberty]

I had a Eucalyptus cut down because it got too big and was threatening my neighbor's house, as well as my own.  No tears were shed, although I did like the shade it provided on the house.  In fact, of all the trees I had on my property when I moved in 20 years ago are gone, except for one.  Got rid of most of the shrubbery, too, and replaced it with plants that require almost no water.  "Xeriscaping," quite popular here in Phoenix.

[berdie]

When I moved into my house in 1989, there was a big old blue spruce in the back yard.  The yard wasn't that big and the tree just about took over every square inch of the yard.  A few years later, the tree developed some kind of a rot.  I contacted an expert who told me the tree could not be saved, so I had it cut down. 

My next door neighbor got all in a lather when the tree was cut down.  She was mad because some of the branches extended into her yard and provided some shade for that end of her house in the summer.  I told her the tree had to come down, but you would think I had killed a helpless animal the way she carried on.  I thought she was going to call the local humane society.  I told her maybe she should plant her own tree -- she had room on her property for one -- but I guess she had enjoyed mine for free and she didn't want to spend the money for her own tree.

It's ok to be a little sentimental about a tree, especially if you planted it -- perhaps to mark a life event such as the birth of your first child.  But sometimes it's just not practical to keep a tree going when it's obviously rotting away.   It could fall over on its own and maybe injure or kill someone. This article is a hit piece designed to unfairly paint Mrs. Trump as a monster when there is no justification for it.

I must be a little slow today. I completely missed the hit at Melania. The media is in overdrive, as usual.

[edpc]

My next door neighbor got all in a lather when the tree was cut down.  She was mad because some of the branches extended into her yard and provided some shade for that end of her house in the summer.

Rand Paul had a similar dispute with his neighbor.  Keep your eyes peeled when cutting the grass.

[Silver Pines]

She's having a tree removed because it might very well topple over on somebody.  Big deal.  We had tree on our property cut down because it was in danger of falling on our house the next time a storm came along.  I guess she should leave it up and let someone get killed.

[Cyber Liberty]

She's having a tree removed because it might very well topple over on somebody.  Big deal.  We had tree on our property cut down because it was in danger of falling on our house the next time a storm came along.  I guess she should leave it up and let someone get killed.

I didn't see anybody at the story complaining about it, other than the fact Melania is the one ordering its removal.  I'd think the Dems would be happy to see anything bearing Old Hickory's name being destroyed, even though he's considered the co-founder of their Party.

There won't be marches in the street to save this tree.

[Frank Cannon]

I didn't see anybody at the story complaining about it, other than the fact Melania is the one ordering its removal. 

It's written as though this was her flippant decision.

[Cyber Liberty]

It's written as though this was her flippant decision.

It wouldn't be a Washington Examiner article if it didn't contain some element of Trump-hate.  This is an example of one of their long reaches to get there.

[RoosGirl]

That bitch!

[cato potatoe]

The official Jackson Magnolia has been in the background for numerous historic events, from state arrival ceremonies and Easter Egg Rolls, to thousands of photo ops, social and athletic activities, and countless Marine One departures and arrivals. Ironically, the tree stands directly behind where the press is currently penned during these occasions, now perilously close to the weakened giant.

Marine One does kick up quite a breeze.  I guess Melania weighed her options, and thought it better to be labeled a tree butcher than to let Donald murder the press with his helicopter.

[Silver Pines]

I didn't see anybody at the story complaining about it, other than the fact Melania is the one ordering its removal.  I'd think the Dems would be happy to see anything bearing Old Hickory's name being destroyed, even though he's considered the co-founder of their Party.

There won't be marches in the street to save this tree.

@Cyber Liberty

Yeah, that's what I meant---the vaguely snarky tone of the article that implies Melania is to blame.

[Cyber Liberty]

@Cyber Liberty

Yeah, that's what I meant---the vaguely snarky tone of the article that implies Melania is to blame.

You betcha.  Those pr*cks in the press just can't help themselves.

(Where are all the people who say you are a hater now, when you are defending his wife from bullshit?)

[RoosGirl]

You betcha.  Those pr*cks in the press just can't help themselves.

(Where are all the people who say you are a hater now, when you are defending his wife from bullshit?)

That is typical.  I don't know about @CatherineofAragon but I am used to that nonsense of theirs.

[Silver Pines]

You betcha.  Those pr*cks in the press just can't help themselves.

(Where are all the people who say you are a hater now, when you are defending his wife from bullshit?)

@Cyber Liberty

Same place I expected them to be---quiet.   

[Silver Pines]

That is typical.  I don't know about @CatherineofAragon but I am used to that nonsense of theirs.

@RoosGirl

Ohhh, yeah.

[Oceander]

Is magnolia wood good for furniture or the like?

[Silver Pines]

https://www.woodmagazine.com/materials-guide/lumber/wood-species-2/magnolia

Had some weird problems with the link, but anyway, apparently magnolia is good for woodworking and furniture.

@Oceander

[Oceander]

https://www.woodmagazine.com/materials-guide/lumber/wood-species-2/magnolia

Had some weird problems with the link, but anyway, apparently magnolia is good for woodworking and furniture.

@Oceander

Thanks.  It’d be really cool if they commissioned some furniture for the White House to be made from the tree; that would maintain the historical continuity while removing a serious safety hazard. 

[Silver Pines]

Thanks.  It’d be really cool if they commissioned some furniture for the White House to be made from the tree; that would maintain the historical continuity while removing a serious safety hazard.

I agree, and hopefully someone will suggest it.

As for me, I'm thinking about magnolia floors now.

[Cyber Liberty]

Thanks.  It’d be really cool if they commissioned some furniture for the White House to be made from the tree; that would maintain the historical continuity while removing a serious safety hazard.

What if they made a desk for Trumps working office out of it?  He'd be writing on it every day....

[edpc]

What if they made a desk for Trumps working office out of it?  He'd be writing on it every day....

Seems like this would make sense from Jackson’s tree.....