On Saturday, April 30, Arbor Day was recognized in Owosso with the planting of a white swamp oak tree on the banks of the Shiawassee River (if you look closely in this picture you can see Mayor Ben Frederick working with kids to complete the planting of this native species after he read the Arbor Day proclamation). This ceremony kicked off the second annual Green Up Clean Up organized by the Owosso Main Street program and the Friends of the Shiawassee River. This year, flowers were planted downtown, trash was picked up along the James Miner Walkway, and other community improvements were undertaken. In addition, a number of trees were planted along the Loop Trail, including several catalpa trees grown from seeds from the champion catalpa on the grounds of the State Capitol in Lansing. Catalpas are a large leaf southern tree, but Owosso is within the northern range of this species. The Shiawassee River environment is home to an overlap of southern trees like the catalpa, sycamore and Kentucky coffee tree along with northern species such as white pine and hemlock.
In addition to being pleasant to look at, trees provide several tangible benefits:
1. They reduce cooling costs by providing shade;
2. They filter pollutants from the air and help moderate climate change;
3. They prevent erosion and help keep the Shiawassee River cool;
4. They provide important habitat for birds and other wildlife.
All of these benefits add up to a better quality of life in our community. One of the goals of the City is to make Owosso a green community and trees play a large part in this effort. To become a Tree City USA, Owosso meets four requirements: it has a City Arborist with knowledge of tree care, it has a tree care ordinance, engages in a systematic tree planting program, and recognizes Arbor Day annually.
Look at Owosso from the air (or on Google Earth) and our city's residential areas look forested. Tree lined streets with sidewalks and historic homes are a large part of the character of Owosso that continues to attract and retain those people who will contribute to our economic future. Being a Tree City is not a costly investment for the City, but it is an important statement about the values we hold. John Rosenow, founder of the Arbor Day Foundation said "we commend Owosso's elected officials, volunteers and citizens for providing vital care for its urban forest. We applaud communities that make planting and caring of trees a top priority."
