Old Olathe elm was taken down and new sculpture emerged as symbol of Kansas

A peaceful place is easy to find on a bench close to a sculpture in one Johnson County city. The Olathe Cemetery Memorial Tree, carved from a dormant elm, is a symbol of life past and present. The sculpture, which stands along a path in the cemetery, is a gift from the city’s public art program. Once among the most popular of American shade trees, the cemetery’s tree was killed by the spread of elm disease in 1960s and beyond. Thought to be 100 years old, it is no longer a tree of branches and green leaves. It now represents history and continuity of life in the home state of Kansas. Deep roots and images of butterflies, a heart and sunflowers are etched into wood.
Source: Joco 913 News