Tree Planting In Antrim County
There is an old adage: The best time to plant a tree was yesterday. Here in Antrim County we have a rich heritage of conservation. Planting trees has always been the backbone of this heritage. Tree and shrub planting has continued to be an annual spring event. Many landowners look forward to this time of year as it is the first productive outdoor activity we have after a long winter.
Whether you are planting one tree or several thousand, planting a tree makes us feel good. It has a way of tying us back to the land in a unique way. The enjoyment we have watching a tree that we planted grow and develop from a seedling to a young sapling into a majestic tree is one of lifes simple pleasures. I have encountered hundreds of people who show me the tree or trees they planted 10, 20, 30 and even 40 years ago. Proudly telling me what the weather was like that day, who was there, and how the tree or trees have survived all these years; as though it was one of the great accomplishments of their lifetime.
Herb and Florence Reiley are likely the counties finest testament regarding tree planting. Together they have planted over 15 million trees commercially though out the region. Their family farm near Bellaire has conservation plantings that date back 70 years. Florence recalls planting trees at the Antrim County airport in 1938 while still in high school and said; “ I never thought I would live long enough to see the trees grow so big.”. Herb remembers the war surplus - willies jeep he purchased in 1946 to pull his tree planter with.
Growing trees is in fact a great accomplishment. It is difficult to quantify the difficulties a tree go’s though as it contends with the forces of nature. In fact when you factor in all of these difficulties, it hard to believe we have trees at all.
Most Conservation District offer trees though an annual tree sale. Here landowner’s order there trees in February and March. They are pre- ordered through the Conservation District and distributed in the spring for planting. Contact your local Conservation District for more information regarding the panting and establishment of tree and shrubs. In Antrim County, contact the Antrim Conservation District
There is an old adage: The best time to plant a tree was yesterday. Here in Antrim County we have a rich heritage of conservation. Planting trees has always been the backbone of this heritage. Tree and shrub planting has continued to be an annual spring event. Many landowners look forward to this time of year as it is the first productive outdoor activity we have after a long winter.
Whether you are planting one tree or several thousand, planting a tree makes us feel good. It has a way of tying us back to the land in a unique way. The enjoyment we have watching a tree that we planted grow and develop from a seedling to a young sapling into a majestic tree is one of lifes simple pleasures. I have encountered hundreds of people who show me the tree or trees they planted 10, 20, 30 and even 40 years ago. Proudly telling me what the weather was like that day, who was there, and how the tree or trees have survived all these years; as though it was one of the great accomplishments of their lifetime.
Herb and Florence Reiley are likely the counties finest testament regarding tree planting. Together they have planted over 15 million trees commercially though out the region. Their family farm near Bellaire has conservation plantings that date back 70 years. Florence recalls planting trees at the Antrim County airport in 1938 while still in high school and said; “ I never thought I would live long enough to see the trees grow so big.”. Herb remembers the war surplus - willies jeep he purchased in 1946 to pull his tree planter with.
Growing trees is in fact a great accomplishment. It is difficult to quantify the difficulties a tree go’s though as it contends with the forces of nature. In fact when you factor in all of these difficulties, it hard to believe we have trees at all.
Most Conservation District offer trees though an annual tree sale. Here landowner’s order there trees in February and March. They are pre- ordered through the Conservation District and distributed in the spring for planting. Contact your local Conservation District for more information regarding the panting and establishment of tree and shrubs. In Antrim County, contact the Antrim Conservation District
