Nebraska champion tree retires

Nebraska’s champion Colorado blue spruce tree that is about 80 years old retired Saturday on the Dean’s Green during the Campus Arboretum as part of Family Day events.

The tree began dying in the middle sections two to three years ago and Lucinda Mays, grounds administrator and finance supervisor, has been watching it.

“It’s been getting a little worse and worse,” Mays said. “Now we have to say goodbye.”

There is no way to know exactly how old the tree is until it is cut down and the rings can be counted.

From now through October, Mays is taking suggestions for the lumber and how to harvest it once the tree is cut down.

The first two weeks of November, Mays will decorate the main gate of the Student Center with the greenery from the tree.

“Last year we decorated it with greenery from winter storm Atlas debris,” Mays said.

Between mid-November – December the tree will be cut down by an arborist, and because of where the tree is located some of the parking spots north of the Dean’s Green may be blocked off during that process, according to Mays.

Once the tree is cut, Mays hopes to keep enough of the stump to turn into a seat.

Even though the tree is being cut, a young Colorado blue spruce tree has been purchased and will take the place of the champion tree, Mays said. She estimated the new tree to be between five – seven years old.