An 18-foot Hinoki false cypress known as the Furever Tree in the Ramble served for more than four decades as an unofficial memorial where New Yorkers hung laminated photos, ornaments and notes to honor deceased pets. The tree was removed in August after months of decline; caretakers attributed its death to environmental stress, drought, harsh winters, soil compaction and heavy use. Visitors had sometimes scattered pet ashes at the roots, and signs warned that ashes are toxic and may have accelerated deterioration. Longtime volunteers maintained the memorial and mourned its loss, and they are exploring ways to preserve the community tradition elsewhere.
For years, dog owners, cat lovers and even squirrel enthusiasts flocked to the tree every holiday season to hang laminated photos, ornaments and notes for four-legged friends no longer with us. It was a shrine, a Christmas tree and a community hug rolled into one. Milo the "Good Boy," Sherman the turtle and countless city dogs all had their spot on its branches.
But after months of decline, the Central Park Conservancy quietly removed the tree in August. "It was clear the tree had died due to a combination of environmental stress and wear on the landscape," a Conservancy spokesperson . Translation: drought, rough winters soil compaction, and-yes-possibly too much love. Adding to the problem? Ashes. In recent years, a sign appeared near the tree pleading with visitors not to scatter pet remains at its roots, warning that "ashes are toxic to the tree."
One longtime visitor, Peggy Fields Goldstein, put it bluntly: "The pet memorial tree...apparently was the demise of that beautiful evergreen tree. It was loved to death." The loss stings particularly hard for Marianne Larsen, the tree's unofficial "Keeper," who along with fellow volunteer Larry Closs has helped tend the memorial for years. "For 45 years, the Furever Tree has been a healing place for pet owners to remember, honor and celebrate their beloved pets," they said,
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