Arbor Celebrated in Capitol Park

The 2010 Arbor Day Celebration took place on a gorgeous day on Friday, April 30 in West Capitol Park in Albany, NY. NYSNLA President Michael Grimm, state and local officials and other green professionals were there to observe the role of trees in our lives and promote tree planting and care.

Albany dignitaries pitch in to help plant a tree on Arbor Day

The celebration included remarks from local politicians, state agency officials, the NYS Arborists on the importance trees play in enhancing our environment, enriching our communities and creating a natural joy in our every day lives. The ceremony also featured the presentation of a framed Arbor Day poster for First lady Michelle Paige Paterson and a framed poster of the Children's poster to Lawrence Kwong. Lawrence is a 5th grader from P.S. 193, Gil Hodges School in Brooklyn, NY who won the poster contest.

NYSNLA President Michael Grimm (pictured at right) gave remarks and recognized the 2010 Environmental Beautification Award winners. Two of the award winners were present to accept their awards:

• Tim Barry of Dodds & Eder, Oyster Bay for winning in the categories, Residential, $25,000 to $50,000 and Residential, $50,000-$100,000.
• Siegfried Kreye of Emil Kreye & Son Inc., Hempstead accepted for his son Luke for winning the Unique Use of Water, Unlimited category.

The winners who were recognized but unable to attend:

• Michale Zaino of Louis Zaino Inc. and Michael Spitzer, RLA, ASLA of LANDGARDEN, New York for Residential, over $100,000 category.
• Beth Feldman, CNLP of Haven On Earth Garden Designs Ltd., Greenlawn for Unique or Unusual, more than $6,000.

The day ended with the ceremonial planting of the tree in the park. The tree was a Greenspire Linden donated by Northern Nurseries Inc. in Schenectady, NY. However, a funny thing happened prior to the ceremony. Michael Grimm and Tim Barry were talking prior to the start of the ceremonies and they noticed the tree was planted too deep in the soil.

Michael Grimm mentioned this fact in his remarks and volunteered his services to help replant the tree before it was officially planted. Before the tree planting ceremony, OGS staff, Michael Grimm, Siegfried Kreye, and Trevor Hall of the NYS Arborists Assn. took a few minutes to replant the tree. Green Professionals to the Rescue! The ceremony was back on. Thank goodness for the professionals.

Check out the Arbor Day 2010 Photo Gallery!

The NYS Arbor Day Planning Committee will be convening soon to begin planning for 2011. If you would like to submit artwork for the New York State Arbor Day poster choose an exceptional piece of artwork and photography and submit to NYSNLA. Submissions for 2011 must be received by December 1, 2010. Click here to download an entry form.