MIDDLETOWN CELEBRATES ARBOR DAY ON FRIDAY, APRIL 29

Middletown’s 21st celebration of Arbor Day begins this year at 1 pm at the Wadsworth/Kerste deBoer Arboretum on Long Lane, and progresses from there to the Sullivan Pavilion at Connecticut Valley Hospital. A total of nine trees will be planted, with donations by the Middletown Urban Forestry Commission, the Department of Public Works, and friends and families of eight local citizens.

Among the eight trees being planted in the Arboretum are several hybrid American-Chinese Chestnuts, close relatives of the majestic Chestnuts that once lined urban streets and constituted as much as one-fourth of the forest trees growing east of the Mississippi River. Also on the agenda are two flowering cherry trees and a native Sugar maple. At CVH, a dogwood will be planted in recognition of CVH’s long dedication to the environment.

(Pictured at right, Tony Marino, Chair of the Urban Forestry Commission, addresses a crowd at the 2010 Arbor Day ceremony.)

Not on the agenda, but coming soon, is the planting of five White spruce trees at local elementary schools. These small trees, which will grow into very large ones, are a donation by the Downtown Business District of trees that graced Main Street in planters this past winter. Ken Jackson of the Middletown Board of Education is coordinating with the Middletown Vo-Ag to plant the trees at Bielefield, Macdonough, Moody, Snow and Wesley Schools.

An additional civic tree planting occurred last week, when students, parents, faculty and staff of Macdonough School planted a beautiful Japanese Stewartia tree to honor teacher Angela Spaman.

The Middletown Urban Forestry Commission encourages residents to plant trees for the health and beauty of the City. Trees to honor or memorialize local residents can be planted on City property with approval from the Commission and the Department of Public Works; staff from each organization, which includes the City Forester and the Tree Warden, will coordinate efforts to ensure that appropriate trees are selected, and that they are properly planted in the best locations. The price of the tree depends on the species and size of the tree selected. The Wadsworth Mansion at Long Hill Estate has a similar memorial tree planting plan.