Toomers Trees going in on February 14th

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AUBURN, AL (WTVM) - A special Valentine's Day is around the corner for the Auburn University family.

Auburn University officials say on Feb. 14 they will plant two new live oaks at Toomer's Corner. This is a day many of Auburn fans have been waiting for.

The poisoned trees were removed in 2013 and Toomer's Corner just hasn't been the same since. Now, in a few weeks, history will be replanted and new life begins.

Sweet baby Kynlee Moore may be Auburn's youngest fan.

This valentine's day, AU will replant two new live oaks at Toomer's corner, so Kynlee and other fans can grow up making memories and celebrating victories by rolling the trees.

"It's an exciting time because here we are less than six weeks away from actually having trees back at Toomer's Corner," Mike Clardy said, Communications Director for AU.

The future Toomer's Corner oaks, hand selected from a grower in South Carolina.

"We heard from fans they wanted two things: First, for the trees to be Live Oaks and second for them to be big and we have followed through with that. These are large trees they are about 35 feet tall and about 30 feet wide, these are not small trees," Clardy explained.

Baby Kynlee won't remember a Toomer's corner before these new trees, but generations of Auburn fans will never forget the original oaks, the man who poisoned them, Harvey Updyke, and the day they were cut down.

Auburn University officials hope this Valentine's Day, the Auburn family will join them at the corner, for a healing celebration of tradition paired with a new beginning, as the Live Oaks take root at their new home.

"People have been waiting for this a long time, and by planting two new trees here we will underscore the resiliency of the Auburn spirit and it will be a historical day to get back to those traditions," Clardy said.

Keep in mind, fans will be asked to not roll trees for another year, so the oaks won't be stressed as they try to establish themselves at the corner.

Again, the entire community is invited to come out and watch the plantings at Toomer's Corner on Valentine's Day.

Work crews will begin around 8 a.m.

Of course, WTVM will be there too!

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