Several Luther College trees are having problems

We have received e-mails from several readers about the trees in front of Valders Hall at Luther College, including these two: "Why are the trees dying in from of Valders Hall?" and "I just took a hike through Luther's campus, why are all the oak trees wilted?"

Mr. Answer Person visited the Luther campus and yes, indeed, several trees in front of Valders Hall are in pretty tough shape.  Whether they are actually dying is something only time will tell.

The situation is made worse by the fact that two of the trees were planted as memorials to Ben Larson, the 2006 Luther College graduate who died in the Haiti earthquake, while another tree was planted in memory of Nabby Ballour-Awuah, who froze to death on the Luther campus in January.

Luther Director of Facilities Services Rich Tenneson says the college is aware of the problem and is taking steps to save the trees.  Tenneson says Luther will replace the trees with other trees if these trees die, although he's hoping that won't be the case.

Memorial tags on two of the trees