Urban Forest Arbor Day Celebrates the Present and Future

Photos & Story By Chris MacDonald

Arbor Day was celebrated in Huntington Beach on March 7th with a planting of trees and a two mile hike around Lake Huntington, over hills, by horse corrals and through the Urban Forest. Celebrations occur in every state (some at different times) to show hope for the future and explain what an important part trees play in our lives and communities.

"The trees we plant clean the air, beautify our neighborhoods, provide homes for wildlife, conserve energy and topsoil as well as help keep the atmosphere in balance," said John Rosenow, President of the National Arbor Day Foundation. Arbor Day is an opportunity for children and others to take positive action and make their world a better place. It's really something to plant a tree and watch it grow!"

The idea for Arbor Day started in 1872 when Nebraskan J. Sterling Morton wrote a resolution, which was approved by the State Board of Agriculture. Morton and his friends helped turn a mostly treeless state into a beautiful tree paradise.

Among those carrying on Morton's passion is The Huntington Beach Tree Society, led by its tireless president, former Peace Corps volunteer Jean Nagy, Shirley Knopf, Ann Anderson, John Tillotson, Leslie Gilson, Nancy Harris, Juana Mueller, Chris MacDonald and others. They are responsible for planting thousands of trees to beautify Surf City. This largely anonymous group raises funds, purchases trees and plants them, then cares for them, often with the help of Boy Scouts and City Public Works. They have planted trees on Main Street, in Central Park, on Meadowlark Golf Course, along Edwards Street and all over. The trees not only beautify the area but help clean the air and even assist migratory Monarch butterflies coming to Gibbs Butterfly Park.

"Our parks wouldn't be the same without them," said Huntington Beach Planning Commissioner and Chamber of Commerce Chairman Patrick Brenden, who hiked with over 40 others, including his wife, Antoinette, during the Arbor Day event (a combination of education and exercise). Brenden worked with Boy Scouts in helping the Tree Society develop various projects within the Urban Forest.

Jean Nagy and her devoted friends, working with the city, helped create the Urban Forest, located on a hill off Ellis between Edwards and Goldenwest. Like the Pied Piper, Nagy led the band of merry wanderers, who ranged from 8 to 80, from near Central Park's Kathy May's Lakeview Café (where the group all shared in shoveling dirt onto a London Planetree, which will grow 80 feet tall and 60 feet wide), around Lake Huntington, up Edwards Hill, alongside horses and horse corrals, to the beautiful Urban Forest that developed from a barren area into a beautiful tree and vegetation forest over 14 years, thanks to the dedicated effort of the Tree Society, City and others. (On most Saturdays, their volunteers are working and you are welcome to come and join in the fun of caring for the Urban Forest, from which you can see marvelous views of mountains, lakes, horses and even neighboring cities, such as Long Beach. It's open 24/7.)

On the 2 ˝-acres, you'll see the city tree, the Western Redbud, Senna, which attract the cloudless sulfur butterfly, and numerous other types of trees and vegetation. "Every plant here is native to Southern California," Nagy said. Post and Rail Fence, made possible by donations, is starting to surround the forest. Outside, Eagle Scout Michael Pollack, a senior at Huntington Beach High School, showed where he planted buckwheat and black walnut. (Other Eagle Scouts have helped create this forest paradise.) Annie's Rock Garden is taking shape below the forest, above a creek that meanders through the hills.

"I thought this hill was just horse trails," said Martha Gomez, hiking it for the first time. "Now I know different. It's one of the most beautiful places in Huntington Beach."

Sierra Killey, 8, and her mom, Debbie, loved the Arbor Day hike and Sierra energetically handed out water to the adventurers. "We like to be involved in the community and being in the Tree Society is a fun way to make a difference and give back," Debbie said. To make a donation or find out more about the society, go to www.HBTREES.org or phone 562-760-0733. It really is a fantastic way to help provide hope for the present and future!