First Plantings

It doesn't look like much right now--but I think this is huge.

It's a yellowwood tree (Cladrastis kentukea) planted by Chatham County arborist Lamont Horton. He planted this and a red oak down at the tax office on Rectory St.

Rachel, at Rachel's Native Plants has long been singing the praises of the Yellowwood. She likes their white flowers, their brilliant yellow fall color show, and their performance as a shade tree. She donated these trees to the County in order to provide shade to this full sun corner.

What's more, this tree is right across the street from Zed's West End Kitchen.

Zed is a native plants enthusiast who used to work in the nursery business. He and Rachel worked together at Cure Nursery. He's going to keep an eye on these trees.

Fall is the right time to plant trees--which is why they don't look like much right now. Ironically, it's better to plant smaller saplings than larger ones.

Small trees survive the stress of transplanting much better than larger trees. When planted in the fall they go to work on developing their root systems to emerge stronger in the spring. With stronger root systems they are more equipped to survive the heat of summer--which is now our most difficult growing season.

As this tree matures, it will one day provide shade to our sidewalks. And I think that is huge. This collaborative effort is our first. I'm hoping it is the beginning of a larger effort to plant trees all over our town.