Historic trees to get new digs on Capitol Mall

BOISE – Historic trees dot the land around the Statehouse, some planted by prominent political figures, others representing Idaho’s links to faraway lands.

They may be stately reminders of lofty ideals, but some will be put to the ax to make room for the Statehouse expansion.

Starting within the next few days, more than 40 trees will be transplanted or removed as workers begin construction on the Statehouse’s underground wings.

Once the wings are built, the soil over them will be only one foot deep, too shallow to support tree roots.

“We don’t like to see trees go. We’re not eager to take them down. That’s why we’re attempting to save as many as possible,” said Tim Mason, administrator of the Department of Public Works.

Most of the trees are small enough to be transplanted, but 11 are either too big or too sickly, including the water oak planted by President Benjamin Harrison one year after he signed Idaho into statehood in 1890.

Though the ailing tree has been infused with special nutrients and given its own water source separate from the salty, geothermal water on the grounds, it isn’t strong enough to survive a transplant, officials said.

Still, a portion of the Harrison tree may live on: Horticulture students at Boise State University recently took about 30 live tissue samples from the crown of the tree, and instructor Gary Moen will attempt to graft the live wood to new oak seedlings.

If the attempts work, the state will have at least one clone of the Harrison oak to replant on the grounds when the building project is done.

“The tree was planted in the 1890s, planted by a president. That in itself for some people is sufficient to keep it going,” said Moen.

All the transplanted trees will find new homes around state buildings on the Capitol Mall.

The Tree of Guernica, a small oak grown from a seedling taken from Boise’s sister city in Spain, will be planted in front of the Pete T. Cenarrusa building.

The original tree survived Nazi bombings during World War II and came to represent freedom and democracy, said retired Secretary of State Pete Cenarrusa.

“That means a great deal, knowing what the tree is and what it symbolizes,” he said.

A red oak planted by Gov. Dirk Kempthorne a year after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will also be transplanted.

But an American elm tree that has been growing on the west lawn for more than a century will be removed, said landscape maintenance supervisor Mike Garcia.

But even the trees slated for removal won’t completely leave the Capitol grounds, said Gary Daniel with the Idaho Capitol Commission.

Local woodworkers will build furniture with the wood, including desks and benches to furnish the new Statehouse wings.