Photos: Oyinbo Woman Marries 100-year-old Tree So It Won’t Be Cut Down

A Florida woman had her heart set on saving a beloved, century-old tree in danger of being cut down — so she “married” it, according to local media.

Karen Cooper’s Saturday nuptials with the Indian laurel ficus tree rooted in Snell Family Park in Fort Myers included floral arrangements, a dog serving as ring-bearer, and a wedding cake decorated with an icing rendering of the tree next to the words “Higher Love,” reported the News-Press.

The wedding dress-clad Cooper and about 50 onlookers exchanged vows to protect the ficus, which was put on the city’s chopping block in December after a prospective buyer of a neighboring lot expressed concerns over his liabilities if the towering tree were to fall.

Though the laurel is rooted in the park, its 8,000-square-foot canopy partly extends over the private lot.

Once word got out that the 100-year-old tree was in danger, neighbors organized a campaign of protests, culminating in Saturday’s bonding of arbor and woman.

Cooper told the News-Press that she was inspired to put down roots with the ficus by news stories of women marrying trees in Mexico to protest deforestation.

“So I saw that and I thought, ‘Oh, we should marry the ficus tree’ — kind of giggle, giggle — but everyone said it’s a really good idea, so I said, ‘OK, let’s do it,’” she told the paper. “If they cut down this tree, I’m going to be a widow.”

The city’s Beautification Advisory Board is slated to meet Tuesday to decide the fate of the Indian laurel, which recently got a clean bill of a health from a certified arborist.

Early indications are that Cooper and her new ‘husband’ may get the chance to live happily ever after.

“The City is moving forward to save the Snell Park ficus tree,” a city spokeswoman told the News-Press. “Every day City employees care for the trees and plants that give our city a sense of community and shared history.”