Reprint: The Tale of Maid Marion By Guy Meilleur
(original version published in Tree Care Industry magazine, 2016)
While attending the 2015 ISA conference in Orlando Florida I got a call telling me that Maid Marion was in trouble. Robin Hood’s girlfriend was in Sherwood Forest, while the call came from South Carolina. I later learned that Maid Marion (with an “o”) was a much-loved white oak (Quercus alba) tree on Marion Street in Aiken, South Carolina, US. When I got there, I learned some of its history: • In 2011, city staff considered the tree “too big”, and amputated three big limbs over the road, exposing a huge amount of defenseless heartwood--just outside of a sizable cavity. Then, concrete and bricks were busted out of that cavity, exposing the interior to damage from drying. • In the winter of 2014, two upright limbs directly above the amputation wounds broke off in a storm. • In early 2015, fungal conks bloomed at the base. Four arborists recommended removal. One also suggested an alternative--closing off the road. All four reports pointed at potential targets. None described any other potential mitigation options.
In August 2015, I inspected the tree, following the inspection protocol detailed in the ANSI A300 Tree Care Standard Part 8 (2014). That level of diligence is so unusual today, it can be performed as a TRAQ Level III Assessment. No shiny toys required! A balanced “Inspection" should include: • Stem tissue connecting the crown and the roots; • Tree association with beneficial and harmful insects; American Society of Consulting Arborists®
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Arboricultural Consultant volume 59 issue 2 2026