1,008 Trees @ The Osborn Senior Living Community
The Osborn held a tree planting ceremony on Thursday to celebrate Arbor Day, adding an elegant, eight-foot weeping cherry tree (Prunus pendula). This is the 1,008th tree on The Osborn’s nationally recognized 56-acre arboretum campus. Each tree is meticulously mapped and catalogued to keep track of the variety of species.
“The Osborn campus is enriched by the many types of mature trees we have, and adding new trees is a way of ensuring this cycle continues for years to come,” said Osborn President and CEO Matthew G. Anderson.
Since The Osborn is more than 110 years old, it is important to have an established replacement plan so that the landscape continues to thrive through these cycles. “We are committed to our arboretum and will continue to plant and replant specimen trees,” Mr. Anderson added.
On hand for the tree planting event were members of The Osborn’s The Grow Getter Gardeners – a resident-led garden club that plants and tends various garden beds around campus. George Berlstein, an Osborn Sterling Park Independent Living resident who has helped catalogue the many tree varieties on the Osborn campus, helped with the planting. According to Mr. Berlstein, “The Osborn continues to manage and care for all of its trees, and has identified areas for additional planting. This responsible approach benefits those who live and work on our beautiful campus, as well as our neighbors and the greater Rye community.”
When The Osborn opened in 1908, one of the founders, John Sterling, made sure the trees on the campus would be impressive and that one variety of each species would be planted. That tradition continues today. In 2019, The Osborn campus was designated a Level 1 Arboretum by the ArbNet Arboretum recognition program in cooperation with America Public Gardens Association and Botanic Gardens Conservation International.
Please plant native trees, not non native.
-Because native plants are adapted to local environmental conditions, they require far less water, saving time, money.
-When you plant local trees, you help local wildlife live and thrive. Animals like birds and butterflies have looked to native plants for years for food and shelter.
-Native trees are very well suited to our climate and soil types and, once established; require much less water and fertilizer than non-native species.