By Jennifer Kohlhepp, Staff Writer
MONTGOMERY — The bonfire sugar maple’s leaves emerge burgundy in spring, quickly change to green through the summer and burst into red and orange in the fall.
Van Horne Park off Princeton Avenue is now home to the fast growing tree, which was planted in honor of Arbor Day.
“It’s an optimistic thing to plant a tree,” Montgomery Mayor Christine Madrid said during the April 17 tree planting ceremony.
Mayor Madrid was joined by the township’s Business Administrator Donato Nieman and Shade Tree Committee Chairman Larry Koplik. The township shares the 115-acre park with Rocky Hill and Rocky Hill Town Council President Connie Hallman, Councilman Robert Ashbaugh and Shade Tree Commission Chairwoman Nancy Lucas were also in attendance.
Montgomery Township proclaimed April 17 as Arbor Day, urging all citizens to support efforts to protect trees and woodlands and to support the township’s urban forestry program. The governing body also encouraged all citizens to plant trees to gladden the hearts and promote the wellbeing of present and future generations.
This year marks the 143rd anniversary of Arbor Day nationwide, the 65th in New Jersey and the 29th in Montgomery.
This year for Arbor Day, the township’s Shade Tree Committee conducted workshops in all 13 third grades and gave the children Hophornbeams for planting in their yards. They were taught how to handle the trees and how to plant and care for them. Local arborists Lorraine Konopka, Jack Scratchard and Bob Wells presented tools that they use while climbing trees and interesting tree material they find during their work.
“This is a great opportunity to teach kids about the importance of trees in fighting global warming and soil erosion while keeping the township beautiful,” Mr. Koplik said.
Throughout April, Mary Jacobs Library in Rocky Hill will also host an exhibit about trees. A contest called “Can you guess the number of seeds and tell which tree they came from?” is also taking place at the library, with the winner receiving a copy of the “Eyewitness Guide to Trees.”
The Shade Tree Committee will also staff a table during Montgomery’s Earth Day Fair at the high school, providing free tree seedlings to the public. The committee, which was formed in 1986, has seven members and two supervisors. The committee is charged with the planting, care and preservation of public trees. Some of the planting projects include street trees on many township streets, enhancements to landscaping at various school and municipal buildings and plantings in conservation easements and in the township’s arboretum. The committee also reviews tree ordinances and other legislation and prepares grant proposals for funding of planting projects.
Mr. Kinok said the committee hopes to raise money next year to be able to plant more trees in Van Horne Park including three red buds and four dogwoods around the gazebo where the new bonfire sugar maple just received its new home.
Ms. Hallman said the plan sounds beautiful and added that she was happy Montgomery officials included Rocky Hill officials in the Arbor Day celebration this year.
Montgomery Township Shade Tree Committee Advisor Sarah Roberts and members Michelle Blane and Libby Drbal as well as Bob Wells, assistant director of Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, also attended the ceremony.
Van Horne Park is cooperatively maintained by Montgomery Township and the Borough of Rocky Hill.
