Third Time’s a Charm? Obama to Plant a Linden Tree at the White House
EmailABC News' Sunlen Miller reports:The President will plant a Linden tree on the White House North Lawn.
Benjamin Harrison first planted a Scarlet Oak in 1889 in the same spot, but the tree, quite old and rotten inside, was split in half and downed in a 2007 rain storm. Former President George Bush replaced the tree with another Scarlet Oak in the same spot – but the White House says "it didn't take well” last year – so a new tree needed to be planted.
Tree experts suggested rather than replanting a third Scarlet Oak this time a much sturdier tree needed to be chosen.
Sometimes White House trees are commemorative – but not this time. The White House said that the President is just continuing the tradition of planting trees on the White House Grounds.
In June this year the White House lost a European Linden tree on the North Lawn, knocked down by a storm. That tree was planted in 1940 and has yet to be replaced.
This evening the President will make brief remarks from the North Portico to highlight the new addition to the North Lawn.
-Sunlen Miller
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I don’t know why but I like these little nonsensical stories. I like the tradition of planting trees, the history of which president had which tree planted.
Posted by: Axey | October 28, 2009, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
The Presidency is more than a man or a party, and these little vignettes help to put the current occupant into perspective.
Posted by: jhw539 | October 28, 2009, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm
===put the current occupant into perspective===
Not for me. I still can’t stand him. I just like the traditions, the history, regardless of the party or the man.
Posted by: Axey | October 28, 2009, 12:55 pm 12:55 pm
The Presidency is more than a man or a party, and these little vignettes help to put the current occupant into perspective.
Posted by: jhw539 | Oct 28, 2009 12:53:36 PM
I agree.
May 6, 2004
During his visit to the Golden Lamb Inn in Lebanon, President Bush stopped to hug Ashley Faulkner, who lost her mom in the Sept. 11 attacks.
“He changed from being the leader of the free world to being a father, a husband and a man,” Faulkner said. “He looked right at her and said, ‘How are you doing?’ He reached out with his hand and pulled her into his chest.”
“I’m a pretty cynical and jaded guy at this point in my life,” Faulkner said of the moment with the president. “But this was the real deal. I was really impressed. It was genuine and from the heart.”
Posted by: Visualize Whirled Peas | October 28, 2009, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm
Visualize Whirled Peas | Oct 28, 2009 1:02:57 PM
Yes. I do believe that George W Bush is funadmentally a good man, as is Jimmy Carter.
Posted by: jhw539 | October 28, 2009, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm
Great . Now can we get out of Afghanistan and bailout the NY Times and round two for GMAC .
Posted by: nat turner | October 28, 2009, 1:12 pm 1:12 pm
*yawn*
Posted by: Jason | October 28, 2009, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm
Axey….you “can’t stand” yourself…it must be painful for you 24/7
Posted by: sara | October 28, 2009, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm
There’s an old saying that when animal’s neck is too short to reach the tree, he says that the tree does not bear any fruit.
Posted by: young_voter | October 28, 2009, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm
How funny, they dug up a tree Bush planted for a photo op.
This is the most cynical administration in history.
Maybe the tree Bush planted was not yielding enough ACORNS…
Posted by: A. Lincoln | October 28, 2009, 7:20 pm 7:20 pm
“How funny, they dug up a tree Bush planted for a photo op.”
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Apparently the Bush tree didn’t thrive that well . . .
Posted by: tierra | October 28, 2009, 7:44 pm 7:44 pm