Post Messenger Recorder -

New Glarus received its twenty-fourth consecutive Tree City USA award and a total of 48 trees were planted in New Glarus on Thursday, May 2nd, as part of the village's annual Arbor Day tree planting.

Adult volunteers and New Glarus High School students, under the direction of Dan Ziegler, joined Village Forester Paul Jennrich in planting trees throughout the village. The Village Public Works Department assisted by pre-digging planting sites and hauling wood chips to designated locations for use by the volunteers.

This year's planting included replacing numerous ash trees throughout the village that were removed due to Emerald Ash Borer damage, as well as removing ornamental pear trees that were infected with fireblight. The replacement trees consisted of a diverse selection, including Exclamation London Planetree, Autumn Gold Ginkgo, and Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry. It also focused on replanting 17 new Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac Trees in the downtown.

Due to the rainfall throughout the week, the volunteers had to deal with very wet and muddy conditions. That didn't dampen their resolve, and by noon all trees were planted. The volunteers also took time to rake leaves, prune shrubs and place fresh shredded mulch in some landscaped areas in Village Park by the pool house and the main flag pole at the west side of the park.

At noon the group ate a picnic lunch at Village Park. Funding for the lunch was provided by donations from Tracey Schwalbe and Dan Gartzke, Beth Blahut, Bob Glebs and Susan Elias, and Mike and Theresa Colney. Other generous community members also donated food items for the lunch.

Also during the event, the National Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City award was presented to the community of New Glarus. It is the twenty-fourth year New Glarus has received this national recognition.

Photo courtesy of Paul Jennrich

The downtown trees that had been removed earlier in the Spring were replaced.

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service.

New Glarus has met the four standards to become a Tree City USA community: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

For twenty-three years, the village has been planting park and terrace trees in celebration of Arbor Day as part of its urban forestry program. Adult and student volunteers have planted over 1,078 trees in the village since the planting program began.

Anyone wishing to purchase terrace trees for next year's planting, volunteer for next year's event or provide a donation to help fund tree planting may contact Village Forester Paul Jennrich at (608) 527-5833.