Celebrating Maine Arbor Week and Tree City USA Status
Maine Arbor Week runs from May 18 to 24, and once again, the citizens of Ellsworth have a reason to celebrate: for the fourth consecutive year, Ellsworth has been designated a Tree City USA.
The City of Ellsworth’s Arbor Commission, along with its partner organizations Green Ellsworth, the Ellsworth Garden Club, and Frenchman Bay Conservancy, invite the public to participate in a week-long series of tree planting and maintenance workshops—all at the Community Tree Nursery at Jordan Homestead Preserve, located at 169 Bayside Road.
On Monday, May 20 (rain date May 22) at 9 a.m., volunteers will join second grade students and teachers from Ellsworth Elementary Middle School to plant another installment of 80 trees in the nursery. This will bring the number of trees already planted by second graders at the nursery to nearly 500!
On Sunday, May 18 (rain date May 19) at 1 p.m. and Saturday, May 24 (rain date May 25) at 10 a.m., community volunteers are also invited to participate in Tree Steward workshops at the nursery which will be focused on mulching and staking trees in addition to other seasonal tree care. Sturdy, waterproof footwear is recommended for all nursery events, and while rakes and shovels will be helpful, extra tools will be available.
Each event will be led by Tabatha White, licensed professional Arborist and Arbor Commission member, and Michael Otzwirk, Ellsworth’s Maine Conservation Corps Community Tree Steward. Otzwirk is a recent university graduate who came from Illinois to serve as a volunteer with only a small living stipend for a full year to make a difference with Ellsworth’s tree canopy.
These Arbor Week events are part of a major three-year re-treeing effort, funded by $193,000 in grant funding secured last year by the Arbor Commission. The Community Tree Nursery is a key component of this initiative. Since 2022, smaller and less costly trees have been planted at the nursery to acclimate to local soil and climate conditions before being transplanted out for better success along local city streets, in parks, and other green spaces. The first of these nursery trees were planted along High Street last fall launching the re-treeing effort.
This nursery, along with dedicated partners and volunteer engagement have been important factors in enabling the City of Ellsworth to qualify for and receive its Tree City status.
For more information and to stay up to date on any weather-related changes, please register by contacting Mary Blackstone at blackstm@uregina.ca or call 667-8878.
Events Summary:
Tree Planting May 20 at 9 a.m.
Tree Steward Workshops May 18 at 1 p.m. and May 24 at 10 a.m.
All events will be at the Ellsworth Community Tree Nursery, Jordan Homestead Preserve
Register by contacting Mary Blackstone at blackstm@uregina.ca or 667-8878
