April 14, 2023 – In celebration of Earth Month, the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation will be holding its First Annual TreeFest celebrating the Mighty Oak on Earth Day Saturday, April 22, at 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Lasdon Park and Arboretum “Westchester’s Public Garden” in Katonah.
Westchester County Parks has partnered with the United States Forest Service (USFS) to study the future of oak trees in our forests as part of their Northeastern Urban Silviculture Study. Foresters, ecologists, gardeners, and volunteers will work together on April 14, 15 and 16 at Lasdon to plant an oak orchard of 1,000+ oak trees that were grown from acorns from Baltimore, MD, to Springfield, MA. This oak provenance orchard is a long-term study by USFS researchers who are reviewing how local-ecotypes perform at different locations across the region. On April 26 and 27, volunteers will work to pot up additional oak trees at The New York Botanical Garden. The trees will be planted in research forest plots in Westchester County Parks in fall 2023.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “Westchester’s landscape includes millions of beautiful trees. They’re just one reason why so many residents and visitors love it here. Out of the County’s innumerable variety of species, oaks are among the most majestic and coveted. That’s why we’re inviting volunteers the opportunity to work together at Lasdon Park and Arboretum to plant a huge oak orchard.”
Westchester Parks Commissioner Kathy O’Connor: “Parks and Recreation takes tremendous pride in Lasdon Park. Its main attractions are its peaceful woodlands, open grass meadows, and formal gardens that boast flower and shrub specimens from all over the world. Those features make it the most appropriate location for our First Annual TreeFest.”
The program will begin with morning lectures featuring author and arborist, Bill Logan, and forest ecologist, Dr. Tara Trammell. Participants will learn more about the importance and future of oaks in our landscapes, and they can then take a walking tour of the newly planted USFS Oak Orchard. Additional activities will be available.
Online registration is required. The suggested donation is $20.
Space is limited! Participants must be 16 years of age or older.
The program is presented by Westchester County Parks and the Friends of Lasdon Park and Arboretum and will be held rain or shine.
Lasdon Park, Arboretum and Veterans Memorial is a Westchester County Park on Route 35 in Somers. The GPS address is 2610 Amawalk Road, Katonah, NY 10536. (directions)
Visit the Friends of Lasdon Park and Arboretum or call (914) 864-7263 for more information.