Montgomery County celebrated Arbor Day by commemorating the black tupelo as the new County tree. The County’s departments of Environmental Protection, Transportation and Parks participated in an event Friday afternoon at the East County Community Recreation Center in Silver Spring.
Celebrating the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day by planting the black tupelo tree — the official County tree — at the East County Recreation Center in Silver Spring. Learn more about the Tree Montgomery program: https://t.co/1bJOuHbSHJ.#ArborDay150 #BlackTupelo #TreeMontgomery pic.twitter.com/ipp9XmYFGB
— Montgomery County Dept of Environmental Protection (@MyGreenMC) April 29, 2022
“The black tupelo is now added to the list of county symbols that includes the robin as the County bird, the dogwood as the County blossom and the County seal,” said County Department of Environmental Protection Acting Director Adriana Hochberg. “The black tupelo is resilient, beautiful and critical to our County ecosystem and tree canopy. It’s a perfect symbol for Montgomery County as our official tree”.
The black tupelo is native to the County and is a great shade tree, known for its long life. It is one of the trees most requested from the Tree Montgomery Program. County Executive Marc Elrich sent legislation to the County Council last year recommending the black tupelo as the County tree. In March, the Council approved that legislation.
“The Montgomery County Department of Transportation is lucky to have a highly knowledgeable team of eight highly specialized arborists that ensure the health of our tree canopy and are at our residents’ service,” said Department of Transportation Director Chris Conklin. “So far, this fiscal year, MCDOT has planted nearly 1,700 trees and we manage about 500,000 trees in the County rights of way. While we plant on roadway islands and on grounds of County facilities, most of our trees are planted within neighborhoods along County roadways. We encourage residents to make requests for trees in the rights of way by calling 311.”
Trees improve air and water quality and help reduce erosion and flooding. They are also a habitat for plants, birds and animals. People benefit too. Trees are a huge part of providing the oxygen needed to breathe.
For more information on how planting trees benefits Montgomery County, and to sign up for a free shade tree, visit https://treemontgomery.org/
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Commemoration of New County Tree to Highlight Arbor Day Celebration
(Photo courtesy: Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection)
