Auburn's Toomer's Corner Oaks poisoned

[carnation]

[LaneSig]

http://www.kait8.com/story/21730366/...moved-april-23

Sorry for all Auburn alumns.

[amIblue?]

This even brings a tear to the eye of this Tennessee fan.

[carnation]

Words fail me.

[GammaBelle]

Originally Posted by amIblue?

This even brings a tear to the eye of this Tennessee fan.

As an Auburn alum, I have to avoid reading anything about this at work because I know I'll end up crying! On a happier note, I'm hoping to visit Knoxville for the first time when we play in November!

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by GammaBelle

As an Auburn alum, I have to avoid reading anything about this at work because I know I'll end up crying! On a happier note, I'm hoping to visit Knoxville for the first time when we play in November!

Neyland has a special place in my heart. Hope you enjoy it if you can get to Knoxville!

[carnation]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater

I couldn't go. I couldn't bring myself to go to the last rolling of the trees.

[lovespink88]

Originally Posted by carnation

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater

I couldn't go. I couldn't bring myself to go to the last rolling of the trees.

Sorry Auburn students and alumni. It's really hard saying goodbye to a tradition. (Been there!)

[turqwind]

Originally Posted by carnation

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater

I couldn't go. I couldn't bring myself to go to the last rolling of the trees.

I went to A-Day and to the final tree rolling. It was bittersweet. We showed our strength, unity and resilience. War Eagle!

[carnation]

Someone on Facebook has noted that the guy lived in Texas for awhile and wondered if he might have been the one to damage the Treaty Oak there, which survived an attack--barely.

Auburn is gonna have to take out tons of soil from that spot and who knows if anything will grow there again?

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by carnation

Someone on Facebook has noted that the guy lived in Texas for awhile and wondered if he might have been the one to damage the Treaty Oak there, which survived an attack--barely.

Auburn is gonna have to take out tons of soil from that spot and who knows if anything will grow there again?

I thought that guy already served time.

My next question was going to be the impact on surrounding vegetation and groundwater...Are the trees in bad shape now? Will it be a long death, or will it be sudden? If this had been discovered sooner, could the consequences have been mitigated?

[carnation]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

I thought that guy already served time.

My next question was going to be the impact on surrounding vegetation and groundwater...Are the trees in bad shape now? Will it be a long death, or will it be sudden? If this had been discovered sooner, could the consequences have been mitigated?

I have heard that they weren't in top shape before being poisoned but pretty good for their age. They appear okay now because they're in winter dormancy; obvious damage would start in the spring, about a month away in Auburn.

On TV, the professors said that the trees will likely start to yellow, then maybe turn green and have a year of more of apparently good health, and then die. They're removing soil now but they think that besides the live oaks, more trees and shrubs will be affected. The groundwater shouldn't be hurt because of the soil type (silty clay, which is pretty tightly packed).

Someone on FB suggested half in jest that we replace the trees with bronze ones so they couldn't be hurt. Well, I don't know if anything can ever grow there again, even if they remove the soil way down.

[carnation]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVf06LUXhBI

The AU community voted on a new landscape plan and I can't remember which one won. I don't see how they'll put any plants where the oaks were, though, because the soil is so toxic. The poison probably leached out quite a ways from the trees and may have killed some gorgeous yellow native azaleas nearby (I haven't been back to campus since it happened.)

For many years now, AU has been selling the acorns from the trees in commemorative packages and no doubt some fans have offered the now young trees to replace the poisoned ones but there's the problem with the poison in the soil.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

Have they announced what they will do once the trees come down? Maybe put up some frames for rolling while the saplings grow? Or designate some other forested spot on campus to stand in until the young oaks are big enough?

Sculptures of the trees would be awesome, since nothing can be grown there now. Maybe even with the little lights on them, commemorating the original oak trees.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

I didn't realize that the ground was so polluted that even pulling out all the soil and adding a liner wouldn't work. I figured the clever souls in the ag department would devise a way to put the world's largest plant pot in the ground or something.

I got to roll the oaks once. I agree that sculptures of the trees could be really cool. I'm imagining letting alumni and students buy single leaves, so that the tree statues have living "family" even though they aren't alive. There are lots of schools (Washington & Lee, Harvard, Southern Cal) where a statue is the focal point of campus. Maybe they could always have a sapling growing in a pot, or photos of acorn offspring growing in alumni gardens all over the world.

You've perfectly described what I was thinking!