BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Though they’re planted small, they’ll grow tall. That goes for trees and kids this Arbor Day.
Students from Spring Garden Elementary School in Bethlehem celebrated the occasion by planting a tree Friday morning.
- Spring Garden Elementary students celebrated Arbor Day by planting a tree
- Four mounted police officers and steeds escorted the students to the unit's training facility nearby for the event
- The city of Bethlehem is celebrating 30-year recognition as a Tree City USA, and 15 of receiving its Growth Award
They also got quite an escort to the event.
Four officers and steeds with Bethlehem Mounted Police guided the group across Linden Street and down East Langhorne Avenue to the unit’s training facility.
That's where the students learned a lesson in the importance of trees and even helped to plant one themselves.
One 'simple act'
City Forester David Shaffer said one plant can go a long way.
“The simple act of planting a tree shows that we care about the Earth and we care about future generations,” Shaffer said.
“After all, we wouldn’t have all our beautiful city trees now if many people before hadn’t cared or had the foresight.”
Arbor Day, on which people are encouraged to plant trees, first was observed in the United States in 1872, and by the 1920s was observed in every state.
National Arbor Day is celebrated every year on the last Friday in April.
A city proclamation
Angela Stein, Bethlehem's director of mayor’s initiatives, represented city staff during the event.
Arbor Day "has become a designated day upon which people — especially schoolchildren — plant and learn about trees in their communities,” Stein said.
“So we gather here today to proclaim Arbor Day in the city of Bethlehem and celebrate all the wonderful things trees contribute to our daily lives.”
“Further, I urge all citizens to plant and tend trees to gladden the heart and promote well-being of this and future generations.”
Angela Stein, Bethlehem's director of mayor's initiaives
She also read a proclamation in honor of the occasion:
“Each tree planted is a proclamation of our commitment to protect, sustain and grow our urban forest for a cleaner and healthier community,” Stein said.
“So on behalf of Mayor J. William Reynolds, I now proclaim today, April 28, 2023, as Arbor Day in the city of Bethlehem, and urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands.
“Further, I urge all citizens to plant and tend trees to gladden the heart and promote well-being of this and future generations.”
Other city initiatives, planting tips
Stein later explained that this Arbor Day celebration goes hand-in-hand with the Bethlehem Climate Action Plan, as a Green Spaces Implementation Committee works to prioritize shade, green spaces, open land and tree planting in the city.
The Arbor Day Foundation first recognized Bethlehem as a Tree City USA in 1990, adding it to a list of more than 3,400 communities nationwide.
Shaffer said the city is celebrating 30 years with Tree City USA recognition, as well as 15 years of receiving the Tree City USA Growth Award.
“I’m just proud to announce we have achieved Tree City USA status for our commitment to community forestry,” Shaffer said. “And in addition, Bethlehem has again qualified for Tree City USA Growth Award, which is designed to recognize environmental improvement, and to communicate new ideas for improving community tree care amongst the Tree City USA leaders.”
As the kids were busy planting the tree, free seedlings also were available to Bethlehem residents, first-come-first-serve, at City Hall.
Those interested could choose from among Washington Hawthorn, Eastern Redbud, Northern Red Oak, Red Maple and American Hornbeam.
“Keep in mind the mature height of the tree seedling you choose when locating them in your garden,” Shaffer wrote in a news release. “These seedlings do NOT meet the required size for street trees and therefore may NOT be planted between the curb and the sidewalk.”
When planting trees, Shaffer said, students should be careful of species type related to the potential planting area.
Also, keeping the root flare exposed and your tree watered is crucial, he said.
The city of Bethlehem has certain parameters surrounding tree size, species, location and more.