Three Centre Wellington parks and the local urban forest grew healthier, greener and gained more diverse species on Sept. 20 with the addition of 22 Celebration Trees.
Added to that is one more tree for Veteran’s Park to be dedicated in a few weeks.
It was a splendid fall day for the seventh annual tree dedication in Fergus at Millburn Park and in Elora at Drimmie Park and Bissell Park.
At each park, recipients, donors, family members and friends came out to honour and celebrate the honouree and do the ceremonial mulching and watering of their trees. Each tree was accompanied with an engraved plaque.
This year’s event celebrated: lives lived of friends and family members, a wedding, and a personal donation. For the first time, there were two Celebration Trees dedicated to four-legged friends.
At Millburn Park, six Celebration Trees were added to the thirteen that were dedicated last year, giving Millburn and its splash pad a future of shade.
Red and white oaks, a tulip tree, and maples have already started to show their fall colours. In particular, a sugar maple was dedicated to John McTavish whose farm property used to stand where Millburn Park is today. Many of the McTavish clan were present to remember John.
In Drimmie Park there is now a first: a Celebration Tree dedicated to a pet – a chocolate labrador that passed away.
Bissell Park was a hub of activity as fifteen Celebration Trees were dedicated. There are now 29 Celebration Trees to welcome visitors along the path and into the Bread Oven section of Bissell Park. Oaks, maples, tulip trees and a white pine, all native species, were welcomed by more than 75 tree enthusiasts. Two firsts for Bissell: Celebration Trees for a wedding gift (a basswood linden) and one for man’s best friend (a red oak).
Celebrations Trees are planted each fall to commemorate an occasion, celebrate a life or honour a special person or animal. Deadline for requests is mid-August. For more information, go to www.ecee.on.ca or call the NeighbourWoods on the Grand office at 519-846-0841.
