Plant Virginia’s state tree to honor those lost

There are a lot of very good reasons to plant trees this Arbor Day (April 27) -- environmental issues, beautifying the community, increasing garden center sales. But I read perhaps the best reason I’ve heard yet for doing so this year.

On Tuesday afternoon, Dan Mulhall of Mulhall’s in Omaha, Neb., posted onto the ANLA (American Nursery & Landscape Association) listserv about an Arbor Day tree planting he was participating in at the University of Nebraska. Until this week, he had not decided which tree he wanted to plant. After the tragic events at Virginia Tech earlier this week, he knew the best choice would be one that honored those who died. So he will be planting a flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), the Virginia state tree.

Dan invited those in ANLA who were participating in Arbor Day festivals to plant dogwoods in memory of students and professors who died. And I’m extending Dan’s invitation to the rest of the gardening community. Here’s what Dan had to say:

“I am wondering if others would like to do that as well. If you have a connection to a campus, suggest the state tree of Virginia (or something else that will grow in your area) in memory of the students and professors lost yesterday. Let those of us… know when it’s accomplished. Let’s see how many we can get.”

I know of no better way to remember those we’ve lost than a living monument of a tree. If you plant a tree this month in honor of the Virginia Tech victims, post a comment to let us know about it.

-- Carol