New Blaze Autumn Maple Tree Donated on Arbor Day

On a sunny, warm Arbor Day morning, members of the and the gathered at Alleghany Park to celebrate the nationally-celebrated day that encourages tree planting and care.

The garden club observed the day with a tree planting ceremony. The club donated a blaze autumn maple tree to the Grayslake Park District, which was planted near the concession stand and playground in the park during the event.

Nancy Musselman, president Grayslake Greenery Garden Club, said the tree planting event was significant to the holiday and also the future.

“It’s for the future, future generations,” she said.

Jeff Nehila, executive director of the Grayslake Park District, said the district is looking to add as many trees as possible to all of its parks and Alleghany Park is an especially great candidate. He hopes that the 90-acre park will have at least 1,000 trees over the next five to 10 year span.

“Trees are great conversationalists, they just listen,” he said when describing the importance of Arbor Day and tree planting.

“Grayslake Village is a tree city,” he said, adding that in order to earn this title the village had to meet a variety of requirements.

Nehila and members of the Parks Maintenance Department moved the tree into its final resting spot and invited members of the club to grab a shovel and dig in.

Geri Leland, a Grayslake Greenery Garden Club member, said it was her first time at an Arbor Day ceremony.

“It’s a great thing to contribute so much to the community. In so many years this is going to shade somebody’s grandkids, it’s a cool thing,” she said.

Julie Prentice, a Grayslake Greenery Garden Club charter member, brought her soon to be 9-year-old daughter Anna to the event. She said her children enjoy being outside and its important to pass along the importance of caring for nature.

“I just love nature. Just to put back on land what’s been stripped,” she said about planting the tree in the now barren-looking park.

“She’s more likely to see this park, she loves being here,” Prentice said about her daughter.

The tree was purchased from Paul’s Landscaping in Grayslake. Musselman said the club raised money for the tree through a variety of fundraisers.

The club’s next will be its annual Garden Walk and Social on May 21 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The walk will take place in downtown Grayslake on Seymour and Center streets, across from Grayslake Village Hall.

A wide selection of homegrown perennials and vegetable plants, all from members’ gardens, will be available for purchase. Lew Seidenberg, a Grayslake Greenery Garden Club member, said he will have over 20 different types of Heirloom tomatoes at the event.

The Grayslake Greenery Garden Club has about 40 to 45 members and meets every fourth Monday of the month at Grayslake’s State Bank of the Lakes, except for the months of June, July and August. Doors open at 6:30 and the program begins at 7 p.m. Different speakers present programs at each meeting.

For more information about the Grayslake Greenery Garden Club visit grayslakegreenerygardenclub.org. For more information about the Grayslake Park District visit glpd.com. To learn more about Arbor Day visit the Arbor Day Foundation’s website at arborday.org.

Arbor Day Quick Facts:

• Arbor Day was created by Julius Sterling Morton and officially began on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska.
• The first Arbor Day resulted in over 1 million trees being planted in Nebraska and now the holiday is celebrated throughout the United States and other countries, such as Japan and Australia.
• President Nixon officially proclaimed the last Friday in April as Arbor Day in 1970.

Benefits of Trees:

• Trees reduce cooling and heating costs by 2.1 billion dollars annually.
• One acre of trees removes up to 2.6 tons of carbon dioxide each year.
• One tree produces nearly 260 pounds of oxygen each year.
• Trees provide food and shelter for wildlife.
• Trees stabilize soil and reduce storm water run off.
• Trees cut down on noise pollution.

Source: Arbor Day Quick Facts and Benefits of Trees courtesy of the Grayslake Park District.