Submitted by Debby Walter, BBGC
WOODVILLE, WI – “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb
For the second year, the Botany Belles and Beaus Garden Club (BBGC) worked with the Village of Woodville to plant trees throughout the Village. Thanks to generous donations from the Lions Club, Sons of Norway, Wisconsin Valley Service Unit Girl Scouts, Paul Seeling, Nola Johnson, and the Tom Solum Family, Woodville NOW has 21 additional trees in its public spaces.
A variety of native trees were planted over the course of three days for Arbor Day, Friday, April 26, 2024 (we tried to avoid the predicted rain fall, but it was good tree planting weather).
The first Arbor Day was celebrated on April 10, 1872, in Nebraska. National Arbor Day is always celebrated on the last Friday in April.
Arbor Day—which literally translates to “tree” day from the Latin origin of the word arbor—is a holiday that celebrates the planting, upkeep, and preservation of trees.
Many good people volunteered to help with the Arbor Day 2024 tree planting, local homeschool families, Woodville Lions Club members, the Girl Scouts, along with community and garden club members.
The new trees were planted at various locations around the Village. Two serviceberries (an “understory tree” that is one of the first to flower in the spring, fruits with small berries that attract pollinators and birds) now frame the Woodville “Welcome” sign on County Road B. Southside Park now has a sugar maple, red maple, St. Croix Elm, and a Kentucky coffee tree.
The area along the creek by the Arthur Best Amphitheater now has a river birch, Northern redbud, catalpa tree, sugar maple, white oak, red maple, and a St. Croix Elm. The playground area in the mobile home park now has a St. Croix Elm, sugar maple, white oak, and Kentucky coffee tree.
Two sugar maples and a red maple are added to Stevens Park and another sugar maple is located near “Dunker” the Woodville troll. These maples will add shade and lovely fall color where planted.
The St. Croix Elms are American elms that were cloned from an elm tree that survived Dutch elm disease; hopefully some of those beautiful trees can once again grace our landscapes.
Kentucky coffee trees are native to the Midwest though not frequently seen in this area but are currently recommended as a pest free tree to replace elm and ash trees. It takes a while for them to become an attractive tree.
Given the number of ash trees in the community, the more trees that are planted now the better since the emerald ash borer is in the area and many of the ash trees are beginning to die. Trees produce oxygen and help reduce pollution.
Hopefully the tradition of planting trees around town on Arbor Day (or a day close to it) will continue well into the future. These trees will provide several generations in Woodville with the benefits mentioned. That is why the best time to plant a tree is “yesterday!”
If you would like to donate for additional trees to be planted in the future, checks should be made out to Botany Belles and Beaus and mailed in care of Ruth Anderson, 240 Willow Ct, Baldwin, WI 54002.
Thanks to all involved with making Arbor Day 2024 a success in Woodville!
