George Harrison's Memorial Tree Was Killed by Beetles

Some coincidences are so perfect they sound like a joke. This one is real.

The Memorial

George Harrison died on November 29, 2001, after a long battle with cancer. He was 58. Beyond his legacy as the lead guitarist of The Beatles, Harrison was famous for his deep love of gardening and nature. His estate at Friar Park in England featured 36 acres of meticulously maintained gardens that he tended personally for decades.

In February 2004, the city of Los Angeles planted a pine tree in Griffith Park as a living memorial to Harrison. The location was at the base of Mount Hollywood, near the Griffith Observatory - a spot Harrison had visited and loved. The tree was a 10-foot sapling, chosen to grow alongside his legacy.

The Infestation

The sapling grew to about 12 feet tall over the next decade. Then, in July 2014, city officials declared the tree dead. The cause: an infestation of bark beetles - tiny insects that bore into tree trunks and cut off their nutrient supply. A prolonged California drought had weakened trees across Griffith Park, making them vulnerable to infestation.

A tree honoring a Beatle, killed by actual beetles.

The story made international headlines. Newsweek ran it under the title "Isn't It a Pity" - a reference to Harrison's solo song. TIME called it "ironic." The internet called it the greatest coincidence in memorial history.

The Replacement

Harrison's family was notified, and the city planted a replacement tree at the same site later that year. The new tree has survived - beetles and drought included.

Harrison, who had a sharp and self-deprecating sense of humor, would probably have appreciated the irony more than anyone. The man who wrote "All Things Must Pass" would have understood that sometimes, even memorials are temporary.