The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
LIBRARY CELEBRATES ARBOR DAY
Staff from Holden Forests & Gardens educate attendees on the importance of tree selection
“Sometimes you don’t notice a tree until you lose it, but this will help people notice when they’re driving by and they can see the tree they planted as it grows.”
— Holden Forests & Gardens CEO Jill Koski
Mentor Public Library invited community members out on a sunny May 1 afternoon to help plant six young hardwood trees in the library’s front lawn in celebration of Arbor Day.
The library, located at 8215 Mentor Avenue, partnered with Holden Forests & Gardens, Bartlett Tree Experts Company and nonprofit organization Rooted in Trees to help bring in the new trees and educate attendees about the importance of preserving and improving the local tree canopy.
Additionally, the library also hosted a tree-themed poetry competition with categories for adult, teen and children’s poems. The three winning submissions, one from each category, were read at the event to kick off the afternoon of planting.
Many attendees were able to take home a free tupelo tree sapling to plant in their own yards or gardens as well.
Cheryl Kuonen, executive director of Mentor Public Library, said she was excited to see how many families turned up to enthusiastically grab a shovel and help plant the trees.
“We’re just thrilled to contribute and add to the tree canopy, especially here in Mentor — and especially along Mentor Avenue,” Kuonen said.
“We’re so pleased with the partnership with Holden Forests and Gardens, they’ve been wonderful to work with,” she added.
The partner organizations brought in several species of hardwood trees, including zelkova trees, which Holden Forest & Gardens staff member Jessica Miller explained were a great fit for the library’s neighborhood and climate.
“Zelkova trees are originally from Japan,” Miller explained, “They’re planted here because they’re really tolerant to urban conditions, they’re pretty hardy. They’re really similar to elm trees, and our native elm trees, sadly, are vulnerable to Dutch elm disease. So this guy (zelkova) is a good alternative.”
Miller said the zelkovas will grow to be “nice, tall shade trees,” ranging about 50 to 60 feet in height.
She added that when planting trees, it’s always important to consider the ideal type for the chosen location. For example, Miller said, you want to avoid “human-tree conflict,” such as accidentally planting a tree that might one day grow to be 60 feet tall in a location where it could begin hitting a power line or other structure.
Miller, along with Holden Forests & Gardens CEO Jill Koski, recommended anyone considering planting their own trees consult the resources and guides on the organization website to narrow down the best selections for their location.
She explained they put together a tree selection guide, accessible from their website, that includes tips on planting, sourcing, selection and things to look for at the plant nursery. The guide also goes over what people can expect from different species of trees, such as what the leaves look like in the fall or if it’s good for pollinators like bees and butterflies.
“It’s important to plant the right tree in the right place,” Miller said.
The guide can be accessed from https://holdenfg.org/resources/neighborhood-tree-suggestions.
Koski said that many people, herself included, have cherished memories tied to trees from their childhood homes or other locations that have an impact on them. She said she was glad to see participants with their own young children come out and create their own “tree story” by planting the trees on the library’s lawn.
“It’s something for the kids to remember, and then they’ll have that connection,” Koski said, “Sometimes you don’t notice a tree until you lose it, but this will help people notice when they’re driving by and they can see the tree they planted as it grows.”