Celebrating Trees

Under the sunshine, blue skies and spring-like temperature of a Florida afternoon in January, the St. Johns River State College grounds became home to a new live oak tree.

On Friday, City of Palatka and college officials, tree committee members and residents, as well as representatives of the regional agricultural extension office and forestry department gently placed the roughly 5-foot-tall baby tree into the Earth on the Palatka campus. In 50 to 60 years, the tiny tree could match the majesty of a towering oak nearby, which provided shade to all those who arrived to mark the occasion.

“Trees are seen mythologically and metaphorically as supporting the world,” said Palmer Kinser, who represented the Garden Club of Palatka in speaking at the ceremony. Kinser drew examples such as Yggdrasil, “the great tree of being in Norse legend” and to the Cherokee people, who referred to trees as the “Standing People.”

“Trees in groves have been seen as sacred places and they still have the power to awe and stir our emotions,” Kinser said. “There are witness trees that connect us to the past… where they still stand long after the events with which they are connected.”

Along with Kinser, college President Joe Pickens, Palatka Tree Committee Chair Keith Valentine, UF/IFAS horticulture agent Julio Perez and Nicole Grace, executive director of Keep Putnam Beautiful each provided a perspective or information about what Arbor Day means and means to them.

Palatka Tree Committee member Carolyn Smith, who was one of several attendees who won a young sapling in a game of “tree trivia,” said she was grateful to the organizers for the event.

She said she plans to place her prize in her front yard, “where it gets lots of sun.”

Perez, with the University of Florida’s agricultural extension office said that Palatka, a Tree City USA-designated city, has an abundance of live oak trees, which live for many years.

“You can see scars on them, and all the battles,” said Perez. “When you cut a tree… the most interesting patterns can be caused by natural events.”

In essence, an area’s history is shown in its trees. Perez said it also means the right tree needs to be planted in the right place and watched over for signs of damage, disease or poor conditions.

“Trees can’t heal. They can only cover,” said Perez. “If any damage happens, it can only cover it up. It can’t seal that wound.”

Elsewhere in Putnam County, the Town of Interlachen was scheduled to host its own Arbor Day ceremony, while two more cities had plans.

In Welaka, Arbor Day will be recognized today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Downtown Park, 101 Palmetto St.

In Crescent City the following weekend, residents will celebrate Arbor Day starting at 10 a.m. Jan. 28 where a tree will be planted at Fletcher Park, 1124 U.S. 17.