National Christmas Tree Has Died Near White House

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The National Park Service says the National Christmas Tree planted near the White House a year ago has died and is being removed.

Park service officials say the Colorado blue spruce was lost due to "transplant shock." It came from a tree farm in New Jersey last year and was planted on the Ellipse just south of the White House in March 2011.

The tree replaced a tree that had stood on the Ellipse since 1978 but was destroyed by high winds in February 2011.

Workers are removing the dead tree Saturday. The National Park Service says it has already identified a Colorado blue spruce to replace the tree and will plant the new National Christmas Tree in October, just in time to be decorated for the holiday.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)