伴隨白宮風雲180載玉蘭樹患病

If trees could talk, this one would have a million stories to tell - eavesdropping on the conversations of 39 U.S. presidents, watching over state visits and Easter egg rolls, witnessing joy and sorrow, war and peace and even surviving being hit by an airplane.

But experts say the huge magnolia tree President Andrew Jackson planted as a seedling in 1835 is sick and a safety hazard and a large portion will have to be cut down.

Hovering over the South Lawn near the second story South Portico, it is the oldest tree on White House grounds. Its portrait can be seen on the back of the U.S. $20 bill.

The tree has been propped up by cables and steel pole. But arborists say its wood is too delicate to withstand any efforts to hold it up. A bad storm strong wind, or even wind from the presidential helicopter could bring it down, with perhaps deadly results.

A White House spokeswoman says First Lady Melania Trump has asked that parts of the tree be preserved and possibly re-planted in the same spot.如果樹可以說話，有一棵玉蘭樹可以講100萬個故事。它聽過39位美國總統在白宮的講話，目睹了無數國事訪問來賓和復活節滾彩蛋，經歷各種喜怒哀樂，戰爭與和平，還承受過一架飛機的撞擊。

傑克遜總統1835年種下的一棵玉蘭樹苗早已長成參天大樹。不過專家說，這棵樹患了重病，必須砍掉一大部分，否則會構成安全威脅。

白宮南草坪上南面石階附近的這棵玉蘭樹是白宮院內最老的樹。在20美元紙幣的後面可以看到它的身影。

這棵玉蘭樹已經由很多繩索和鋼柱支撐。不過樹木專家說，這棵樹的木質過於脆弱，已經無法支撐。一場暴風，甚至總統直升機旋翼的風都有可能把它吹跨，甚至造成人員傷亡。

白宮發言人說，第一夫人梅拉尼亞要求保留一部分樹幹，可能會在原來的地方重新栽種。