<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><span></span></div><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">Courtesy of <i>ABC News</i> at:<div><br></div><div><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-marries-100-year-tree-hopes-saving-cut/story?id=54014598">http://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-marries-100-year-tree-hopes-saving-cut/story?id=54014598</a><br><div><br></div><div>———————————————</div><div><br></div><div><div><h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Proxima-Nova, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 42px; font-size: 36px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: left; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Woman marries 100-year-old tree in hopes of saving it from being cut down</h1></div><div><br></div><div>A 100-year-old ficus tree that stands as a focal point of a local park in Fort Myers, Florida, has a bride.</div><div><br></div><div>Karen Cooper, 60, wed the tree during a community event on March 24 at the Snell Family Park as part of a neighborhood effort to save the tree from being cut down.</div><div><br></div><div>"When I heard the city was planning to cut it down, I was like, 'I don’t think so,'" Cooper, who has been living in Fort Myers for nearly 40 years, told ABC News. "I'm just having fun with something very serious."</div><div><br></div><div>The city approved a request from a developer to have the tree removed, according to a spokesperson from the Fort Myers Public Works Office.</div><div><br></div><div>"We lost so many trees in Hurricane Irma and for them to cut one down on purpose is terrible," she added. "And this tree is fabulous."</div><div><br></div><div>The tree's 8,000-foot canopy extends into a neighboring lot that's for sale for $1 million.</div><div><br></div><div>"The tree is the focal point of a very sweet neighborhood park, and without it, the park would just be a vacant lot," she said. "People get married at this park... but I married the tree."</div><div><br></div><div>Cooper said she was inspired by stories of women in Mexico who wed trees to protest deforestation.</div><div><br></div><div>"The ceremony was meant to encourage residents of the subdivision to come to city hall on Tuesday to show support for saving the tree," she explained.</div><div><br></div><div>As many as 80 people from the neighborhood came out to the ceremony and there was music, flowers, and food, Cooper said.</div><div><br></div><div>Cooper was walked down a makeshift aisle to stand in front of the tree by her maid of honor and friend, Ann Cason, and her ring bearer, a dog named Little Bear.</div><div><br></div><div>Though there was no actual ring or priest present, the vows were read by the event's disc jockey and the community celebrated with tree-decorated wedding cake.</div><div><br></div><div>"We all stood there, made a vow to protect the tree, then cake and mimosas," she said about the ceremony. "It was tree-mondous."</div></div><div><br></div><div>—————</div><div><br></div><div>Video</div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT8OreljA28&sns=em">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT8OreljA28&sns=em</a></span></div><div><br></div><div>———————————————<br><br><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>