Community Celebrates Arbor Day in Rumson
Red Bank, NJ
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The Kislak Company, Inc. | kislakrealty.com | 732 750 3000
10 JUNE 2020 | TheJournalNJ.com
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732 750 3000 ext. 248
BY LORI DRAZ
For the past 29 years, the Borough of Rumson has achieved Tree City USA
status, a true accomplishment anywhere in the country. The Tree City USA
program is administered by the Arbor Day Foundation and US Forest Service
to recognize communities across the country that have made a commitment
to manage and expand their public trees.
The love of trees begins early in Rumson with an annual Arbor Day celebration
where youngsters enjoy lectures and plant trees, do crafts about
trees along with bringing home a seedling to plant themselves.
But this year was different. Arbor Day almost didn’t happen – until
Brooke Huff, a kindergarten teacher at Deane Porter School, contacted Shade
Tree Commission Chairman Stephen Barrett about hosting the event virtually.
Barrett has always been grateful to the community for its dedication to
the trees, and Arbor Day event is one of his favorite events of the year.
“I didn’t have high hopes for Arbor Day this year, but it ended up being
one of the best ones yet,” Barrett shared. “I give Brooke so much credit for
making this event happen, and seeing the students’ crafts at the end made
it all worthwhile!”
In New Jersey, Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April. This
year, students were attending school virtually. Huff asked the Shade Tree
Commission to provide a brief video and it took off. The session began with
viewing a video about the importance of trees. The day’s lesson plan also included
Arbor Day readings, math problem solving and a special tree-related
craft that provided the students with hours of fun and education.
“I believe that, like
children, trees grow
larger and stronger
each year,” Huff said.
“I always use the book
‘The Giving Tree’ as a
point of reference. It
says, ‘And the boy loved
the tree.... And she
loved a little boy very,
very much – even more
than she loved herself.’
Then we talk about
all that trees give us
(shade, food, clean air,
wood, paper) and that
everyone, even kids as
young as kindergarteners,
Brooke Huff
can give back to the trees and spread love by planting new trees,
taking care of trees, being respectful to trees and recycling paper.”
Continuing the tradition of dedicating a tree to each year’s
kindergarten class, a Kousa dogwood from Chapel Hill Nursery was
planted by T. Burke Honnold Landscaping outside the kindergarten
wing at Deane Porter.
The Kousa dogwood, also known as a Japanese or Chinese dogwood,
is an excellent ornamental tree and makes visual contributions
year-round. In spring, it produces star-like blooms and in summer,
layered leaves provide shade and beauty. In autumn, it offers
spectacular bright red fall color and in winter, its jigsaw puzzle-like
bark is on display. The Kousa dogwood makes a great addition to any
home’s landscape.
For more information on the Shade Tree Commission, visit
RumsonNJ.gov/STC.
/kislakrealty.com
/TheJournalNJ.com
/STC
link
