National Christmas Tree has Died, is Removed

The National Park Service says the National Christmas Tree planted near the White House a year ago has died.

Park service officials say the Colorado blue spruce was lost due to "transplant shock." It came from a tree farm in New Jersey last year and was planted on the Ellipse just south of the White House in March 2011.

The tree replaced a tree that had stood on the Ellipse since 1978 but was destroyed by high winds in
February 2011.

After cutting away the lower branches, workers removed the dead tree Saturday.

More