CiB launches new tree program

By Catherine Riediger

LEAMINGTON – It is always a wonderful feeling when a plan comes together and that is exactly what happened on Tuesday, June 29 when the Peanut Centre Nursery planted a Sugar Maple by the bench at the east end parking lot of Leamington’s Lakeside Marina.

This is the first tree to be planted under the Communities in Bloom (CiB) program “Bring Back the Trees” that was established in 2019 through the efforts of CiB committee members.

In 2019 during a Leamington Horticultural Society Communities in Bloom committee meeting, member Don Waffle brought up the subject of trees and how important they are to the environment and quality of life, and asked if anything be done through the CiB program to promote the planting of more trees.

Committee member Bill Sherk suggested that it might be an idea to approach the Municipality of Leamington to establish a fund whereby private citizens, organizations and businesses could make donations towards the cost of planting trees throughout Leamington.

Communities in Bloom Committee Chair Charlie Wright (left) and committee members Don Waffle (centre) and Bill Sherk (right) are pictured with the first tree planted in CiB’s Bring Back the Trees program. The tree was planted by the Peanut Centre Nursery and bears a yellow ribbon, the colour of hope, created by Simona’s Flowers.

Photo submitted

Everyone agreed this was a good idea and a presentation was made to LeamingtonCouncil to create a fundraising program to be overseen by the municipality titled “CiB - Bring Back the Trees”.

Approval was granted and during 2020, 15 donations were made by private citizens, LHS and CiB members for the planting of the first tree.

In 2021, as a result of COVID-19, the CiB organization announced the “Hope is Growing” campaign encouraging people to plant yellow flowers in their gardens, planters, hanging baskets, etc., as yellow is the colour of hope. In recognition of this campaign, a yellow bow made by Simona of Simona Flowers has been tied to the Sugar Maple.

This young Sugar Maple is a perfect example of CiB’s motto “People, Plants and Pride Growing Together”. If you would like to contribute to the “Bring Back the Trees” program, visit the municipality’s website at www.leamington.ca/trees.