On a recent sunny morning, Tree Northampton’s volunteers and Northampton’s tree warden and crew dug, planted, staked, mulched and watered six young shade trees where decades ago large trees flourished along the New South Street side of Old School Commons in downtown Northampton. Among the new trees are a scarlet oak, a London plane, four Accolade elms and a white swamp oak. These are in addition to four trees planted here in recent months: a London Plane at the New South Street corner; a yellowwood and two Princeton elms along the Elm Street side of Sullivan. Eleven shade trees in all.
At this time of climate change and uncertainty, to plant shade trees at a major downtown intersection is surely one of the most hopeful and useful of endeavors. The people to thank for their vision and hard work are: Rob Postel, founder and chief volunteer of Tree Northampton, TreeNorthampton@gmail.com; and Rich Parasiliti, the city’s tree warden rparasiliti@northamptonma.gov. Each had volunteers helping, plus Rich had two paid assistants, Abby and Brooke. They will be responsible for keeping the trees watered but will need help when the drought comes again. Together this team of volunteers and professionals have planted more than 1,800 trees in Northampton in the past few years, at no charge. We and those to come are in their debt. With our greatest thanks.
Patricia Lee Lewis
Northampton