NEW GLARUS — The Village of New Glarus marked its 30th annual Arbor Day tree planting on Friday, May 1, by planting 18 trees throughout the village. The event also served as the occasion for the village to receive its 31st consecutive Tree City USA designation.
Volunteers from the New Glarus Lions Club, New Glarus High School students, and other local residents worked under the guidance of Village Forester Paul Jennrich and Hanna Mielke to plant trees across residential terraces throughout the village. The Village Public Works Department assisted by preparing the planting sites and moving larger trees to their planting locations.
This year’s planting included replacing numerous ash trees throughout the village that were removed due to Emerald Ash Borer damage. The replacement trees consisted of a diverse selection, including Regal Prince Oak, Decaf Kentucky Coffeetree, and Presidential Gold Ginkgo. The volunteers also took time to rake leaves, pull weeds and prune shrubs in some landscaped areas in Village Park by the pool house and the main flagpole at the west side of the park.
A volunteer appreciation picnic followed the morning’s work at Village Park. The meal, organized by Carolyn Jennrich, Theresa Colney, Carol Hassemer, Christie Schaper, and Elizabeth Disch, included homemade dishes and desserts. Additional funding for the lunch was provided by donations from local residents.
The Tree City USA award was presented to New Glarus by Brian Wahl of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. This marks the 31st consecutive year the village has received the national recognition.
The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. To qualify, communities must meet four standards: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a community forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
Since its inception, the village’s Arbor Day tree planting program has resulted in the planting of more than 1,000 trees, becoming a cornerstone of New Glarus’ urban forestry initiative.
For those interested in purchasing terrace trees for next year’s planting, volunteering at future events, or making a donation, contact Village Forester Paul Jennrich at 608-212-1842.
