A year ago I was in the midst of a three-month long tree-sit protecting two over-100-year-old, entwined twin magnolia trees in front of City Hall from felling by the ax of condo developer Stewart Coleman. (Read all about it at: http://www.oldenwilde.org)
Ten thousand locals and tourists signed a petition then to prevent the trees’ demise. We all yet await Raleigh’s appellate decision regarding Superior Court Judge Marlene Hyatt’s September ruling that the public parkland the trees call home and sold by the county commissioners was illegal.

But unlike the rest of us, Coleman and the Pack Square Conservancy didn’t patiently wait: Indeed, they recently connived to plant a young tree so close to the magnolias that the trees’ limbs touch and the upstart tree’s roots doubtless drain its elder sorely needed water.

Why didn’t they use the new tree to replace one cordoned off a mere few feet away clearly infected with fire blight? Did the Conservancy not even bother to consult a city arborist before this move (and if they did, who in approved it)?

This unholy alliance was unnecessary, unhelpful, and a malicious power play — it simply reeks of an end-run around the people and the Tree Commission’s desire to preserve the magnolias.

If you’re as outraged as I am, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to replant the young tree to replace the fire-blighted tree — and save the magnolias!

LADY PASSION
Asheville