Beetles Are Destroying a Memorial to One Of the Beatles

A tree planted in memory of the late George Harrison is being replanted because beetles are slowly destroying it.

I know that sounds like one of those made up headlines from the The Onion and right now you’re furiously pulling up Snopes to prove this is wrong. I’m sorry, but according to Randy Lewis with the LA Times, this is actually happening.

Los Angeles Councilman Tom LaBonge, whose district includes Griffith Park, told Pop & Hiss over the weekend that the pine tree planted in 2004 near Griffith Observatory in memory of [Harrison who died in 2001] will be replanted shortly because the original tree died as the result of an insect infestation.

[…]

The memorial tree in Griffith Park had grown to more than 10 feet tall as of 2013, but LaBonge said the tree beetle onslaught was too much for the tree. Trees in Griffith Park have occasionally been the victims of bark beetles and ladybug beetles, among other tree-unfriendly creatures.

BEETLES! Destroying a tree planted in memory of Harrison (who was an avid gardener). Maybe they’re Rolling Stones fans? I don’t know. They’re really aren’t a lot of beetles-related jokes that work here. Instead, I offer you this video of “When We Was Fab,” which was one of my favorite songs growing up. Enjoy.