And sow it with salt

CORRECTION

It turns out this was an exaggeration.

The willows were removed in October 2025 because they posed a safety hazard, a Kennedy Center spokesperson told Newsweek late Tuesday.

Kennedy Center Executive Director Matthew Floca testified in federal court earlier this year that most of the weeping willows that were part of the center’s original design had been “felled due to decay.”

Other reports have also pointed to the trees’ condition. Forbes reported Tuesday that the willows were planted in shallow beds over concrete decks, giving them relatively short lifespans and making them prone to decay and instability. The outlet reported that one tree had fallen during a storm and others were visibly dying before the October 2025 removal.