Celebrate a “TREE-mendous” Spring in Mariemont

By Pete McBride

After the pure “tom-foolery” (with all due respect to everyone named Tom) of April Fool’s Day has passed, it’s time to spring into Spring in our Village.

Nothing signals the arrival of Spring more than April’s “Arbor Day.” (Except maybe the return of baseball and dandelions.) To quote an updated history.com article from April 2017: “Arbor Day - which literally translates to ‘trees’ day from the Latin origin of the word ‘arbor’ - is a holiday that celebrates the planting, upkeep, and preservation of trees.” This year - as in most years - National Arbor Day in the U.S. will be celebrated on the last Friday in April, which in 2024 is April 26.

Several countries across Europe as well as Canada, Australia, and Japan hold their own versions of Arbor Day. In the U.S., Presidents Theodore Roosevelt (in 1907) and Richard Nixon (in the 1970s) referenced Arbor Day in their environmentally-focused efforts and messaging.

Mariemont has several special reasons for celebrating “Arbor Day" each year.

• In March 2007, Mariemont was recognized as a “Tree City U.S.A.” by the National Park Services, largely thanks to the efforts of the late Willard F. Rogers, Jr. and MPF. The Village has retained its “Tree City” status for years.

• In keeping with Mary Emery’s vision of a “garden city,” many of the Village’s original trees were purchased from Mount Vernon, George Washington’s Estate, by John Nolen as part of his historic urban planning for Mariemont.

• MPF continues to help fund the Village’s trees.

• In February, 2021, Village Council established the five-member volunteer Tree Advisory Board to oversee, protect, and promote awareness and education related to Mariemont’s “urban forest” and to Arbor Day activities. For more information, read Margaret Jevic’s informative article in the March 2024 Town Crier. Or email MariemontTrees@gmail.com

Some of the more noteworthy trees in Mariemont include: cont'd on page 4

• Although yet to be confirmed, there have been reports concerning what might have been one of the largest trees in Mariemont: a huge oak that grew on Oak Street, at Cherry Lane, approximately opposite the Old Village Square, and near the Village Church of Mariemont. Photos (left) show the alleged tree being planted in 1927 and (above) as it stands today. Any information on or visuals of that tree from readers are welcome! (Send to MariemontTownCrier@gmail. com.)