Research Institute Donates Liberty Elms

Written by American City & County Administrator

Research Institute Donates Liberty Elms

Is your town planning events to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding? Or the 150th? The 200th? Cities, towns, villages, neighborhoods and colleges plan these celebrations with great care and creativity. Parades and festivals, music and fireworks bring people in from all around the area. But for many communities, a slightly more quiet and lasting event is an essential ingredient in the celebratory mix.

It’s tree planting, that time-honored commemoration, but a huge milestone like the centennial, sesquicentennial, or bicentennial deserves more than just one tree.

What if you could not only plant a number of trees but also begin restoration of a species, the American elm and kick off your towns anniversary with a large ceremonial tree and commemorative plaque?

A plan for tree planting on such a scale comes neatly packaged from the nonprofit Elm Research Institute (ERI), Keene, NH. This is the organization that has been at work since 1983, showing communities how to achieve elm restoration by planting the disease-resistant American Liberty Elm.

For city or college anniversaries, ERI has come up with a plan for the planting and dedication of a 6-in. caliper ceremonial American Liberty Elm in a public place.

Heres how it works:

The city or local sponsors such as Rotary, Womens Club or Historic Society purchases (6) 2-in. caliper trees for planting in public places as part of the celebration of the anniversary. In return ERI will donate a 6-in. caliper tree, 30 to 36 ft. tall along with a custom engraved anniversary plaque. (Cities are responsible for shipping and handling charges.)

And it doesnt have to end here. This idea can reach far into the future. On the trees dedication day, the anniversary committee can let the public know this is just the beginning.

Every time a citizen, local business, developer or landscape contractor purchases a 3-in. caliper Liberty Elm, ERI will donate more trees to the town under its Matching Tree Grant program.

If a city is not planning an anniversary, it can still use this plan to commemorate a different event. Some towns may wish to honor those who lost their lives in war during Memorial Day events or to improve their town on Arbor Day.

The great American elm deserves to return to our cities’ landscapes, and that is now possible with this disease-resistant tree. The American Liberty Elm is the only street proven elm with a Lifetime Warranty against Dutch elm disease.

The American elm was once the favorite shade tree in countless communities across the U.S. In the 1930s, Dutch elm disease began its march, and millions of elms were taken down. Few of those magnificent old elms remain, but they are treasured by towns.

The American Liberty Elm is a purebred American elm, not a hybrid, and it has the classic shape of its predecessors. Those old elms grew tall with great sheltering canopies or arching branches.

For more information about the American Liberty elm and planting programs, contact Elm Research Institute, 11 Kit St., Keene, NH, 03431, via phone: 1-800-367-3567 or web: http://www.libertyelm.com .