By Katrina Penaflor Campus Life Editor
An Arbor Day celebration was brought to Western’s campus, Wednesday, May 20, thanks to the university’s arboreal advisory committee.
Arbor comes from the Latin words meaning tree, and the purpose of the day was to plant, honor and protect trees.
The celebration consisted of a tour around campus to three different memorial trees: Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Honor for WOSC parents, and Dr. HR Montana Walking Bull.
The arboreal advisory committee put on the event to fulfill part of the requirements for Tree Campus USA—which was created by the nonprofit, Arbor Day Foundation. Tree County USA, recognizes two-year and four-year colleges that show dedication to the upkeep of the environment.
The tour was led by the committee and students from Biology 321, systematic field botany. Presenters spoke about the history and origin of the trees, as well as their characteristics.
The first tree was in memory of Sharon Christa McAuliffe, and is a Kwanzan Cherry. Student Michael Calhoun said the purpose of the tree is to “inspire future educators,” to “reach for the horizon.” The tree produces flowers in shades of pink and white, and keeps a short trunk with long dense branches.
Junior education major Jacob Howard said the Kwanzan Cherry “does bloom very beautifully when you get a chance to see it.”
The second tree was a Katsura Tree, and is dedicated to all parents. Biology major Alexander Heenan discussed how the tree can grow up to 60 feet tall. It also cannot survive in long standing dry conditions, a problem not faced in Oregon.
“When the [leaves] fall, they put off a sort of caramel scent,” Heenan said.
The final tree on the tour was a giant Sequoia, which can grow to over 300 feet, presented by biology major, Joseph Reeder. The Sequoia is dedicated to former teacher, Dr. HR Montana Walking Bull. He was a member of the Cherokee tribe and his poem “Wolf Bird” was read by Calhoun during the tour.
The tour concluded with an inaugural tree planting in the grove with the help of Kevin Hughes, Western’s landscape supervisor. He prepped the tree for planting by scoring the edges of the hole was dug in preparation and trimming the lower branches of the tree. Both are tips he recommended for anyone planting trees.
The tree is a Mountain Hemlock that blooms cones instead of flowers, biology major Adam Jensen, said.
The tree “will be a great complement to our campus,” Jensen added.
