First, sorry if you just got an outdated message about Arbor Day -- please ignore! (My e-bad -- *D).

Watch us on the WLOS-TV 13 evening news tonight at 5 or 6 pm EDT, or (if you don't live near Asheville) at wlos.com later this evening.

We're working to save another heritage magnolia tree, and sent out this press release yesterday:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Saving the Merrimon Magnolia and George Pack's stone wall

A large heritage magnolia on the former site of George W. Pack's mansion -- now slated for a new Harris Teeter grocery store -- could be picked up and moved by a California company that claims the Guinness World Record for the largest tree ever moved. The old tree is in need of a new home, however.

An architecturally unique feature of the massive retaining wall that once bounded Pack's "Manyoaks" property will unfortunately be demolished for the new store. Its stones will be incorporated into an expanded bus stop at the site at 136 Merrimon Ave., which will include a memorial to Pack. But anyone who wants to see the impressively built, brick-paved carriage entrance to Manyoaks had better hurry, because it will soon be added to the ever-lengthening roll of Asheville's lost historic treasures. ...

READ THE REST of this press release and find out how you can help at:

http://oldenwilde.org/blog/118/take-action/press-release-update-on-merrimon-magnolia-apr-26-2011/

http://www.facebook.com/merrimon.magnolia

By the way, we won another one recently. Thanks to our efforts at organizing and informing folks (not to mention goodly spells and prayers -- shhh, don't mention them!), Ingles Markets backed down and agreed to follow Asheville's new laws limiting light pollution and requiring big asphalt parking lots to be shaded by trees. As soon as we catch our breath, we'll tell more of that tale at oldenwilde.org.