By Carol Fisher Linn
“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” Greek Proverb
Arbor Day is not just for planting trees, but for planting hope.
Remember the poem we all learned in 3rd/4th grade called Trees? One can only wonder how many kids have taken those words placed in their youthful hearts and turned that appreciation for these marvelous gifts of nature into careers or passions for these magnificent beings (some say sentient) in our world? In this part of WNY, we are abundantly blessed with the presence of trees in every shape and species: sugar (and red and silver) maples, oaks, black cherry, American beech, yellow birch, tulip trees (giants in Zoar Valley), ironwood (Chautauqua County) and eastern white pines. We have a plethora of trees. And gratefully so, since trees drove the highly productive and long-lived timber industry in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties and provided homes for the early settlers, not to mention the Chautauqua county furniture businesses that flourished in the 1800’s well into the mid-1900’s. Sadly, they did a great job of stripping those forests (it was called cut-and-run) and not practicing good conservation. Thankfully under President Theodore Roosevelt, conservation became real, but still focused mainly on preservation. Restoration came much later in the 1900’s. Thankfully, today, Forest Practices Acts require harvesters to replant and/or allow a specified amount of time for forest regrowth.
Trees in our lives can also inspire youngsters to choose to be Arborists, carrying their love of tress into the future for their communities. One such person is Dan Stone, Arborist for the City of Jamestown. Known in both counties, Dan went to school in Salamanca and worked for Marty Bentley’s service in Ellicottville, mowing lawns, and trimming trees. Eventually becoming the Arborist for Jamestown, an already designated Tree City, now for 45 years, he, his crew and the city worked together from 2010 to 2019 (a ten-year challenge) to earn the enhanced title of Sterling Tree City. Stone is now working with public utilities to make the city a Tree Line USA which recognizes public and private utilities that follow best practices in their tree maintenance programs. Stone also worked to get JCC, both campuses, designated Tree Campuses USA now in their 17th year. Celebrations will be held on Jamestown’s SUNY JCC campus with the planting of five trees on Thursday April 23 at 12:30pm. The City of Jamestown will hold their celebration near the end of May. Stay tuned.
In Ellicottville, also a Tree City for 45 years, it is the third Tree City USA in the state with Jamestown being second. The community granted this title must be constantly proactive allotting $2 for every resident for trees, appoint a tree board, make tree ordinances, and offer an annual Arbor Day proclamation. In Ellicottville that event takes place on Friday, April 24 11am with a proclamation from Mayor John Burrell, a presentation about the herb gardens by Arboretum President Steve Ward and a planting of a ginkgo biloba tree supervised by Ward, Burrell, Pat Kerl past Treasurer, now dedicated volunteer, and others. The celebration will carry over into Saturday 9am–noon for the annual Arboretum clean-up where volunteers are asked to help.
You can join in the bike-walk event on the 1.2 mile Pat McGee Trail on Friday April 24 from 6-8pm. The event starts at Ellicottville Brewing parking lot 202 2nd Street, Little Valley. Generally leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome. Puppy parents, please come equipped with potty baggies. Go online to the Arbor Day Foundation and find more events in areas close to you.
Closer to home, why not consider planting a fruit, flowering or shade tree on your own property? No room to plant? You can always donate to your local Arboretum or tree program for their year-round maintenance. Please remember, trees do much more than stand sentinel for humans. Aside from providing shade and beauty, science is proving that they communicate, share nutrients, learn, have memory and perception. If those ideas interest you please read “The Life of Trees” series by German forester Peter Wohlleben. You will never be the same. Meanwhile, go sit under a tree, and when no one’s looking, give it a good long hug. You just might be surprised about how good it makes you feel.