NEWS, NOTABLES & NEIGHBORS IN THE KNOW
Tracing Our Roots The Heritage Tree Project tells our city’s story through its grand old trees.
S
ince 1997, the Bloom & Grow Garden Society has created and maintained green spaces throughout Winter Garden. That mission continues into 2021 as Katy Moss Warner, chair of the Bloom & Grow Tree Fund, and America In Bloom chair member Mary Zahl, set out to show how the roots of our city are woven into the roots of its trees. The Heritage Tree Project was born. There are two types of Heritage Trees: Historic Trees, which have a trunk diameter of at least 30 inches, and Specimen Trees, which are
12
The Local
WI N TE R G AR DE N
mature representations of any species that doesn’t generally grow to a great size. “We asked our members to nominate our biggest and most beautiful trees in hopes that we could identify 100 that deserve recognition and reverence,” says Katy. Among the largest and grandest of those trees is the Tucker Ranch Oak (pictured), a southern live oak with a 411/2-inch-wide trunk and a 96-foot canopy spread. The oak has been guarding the ranch since its earliest known history in the 1940s and is likely a century old.
Each official Heritage Tree’s plaque will be installed in time for the inaugural Winter Garden Heritage Tree Walk on October 22 (reservations required). But the two-mile walking tour, developed in partnership with Healthy West Orange, is only the first stretch of the project; there is so much more to come. “We don’t know how many trees qualify as heritage trees—perhaps hundreds,” says Katy. “Next year, we open up tree nominations to the public. We have identified 100 to date and will continue adding to the list.”
