There is something special about being in the “room where it happens.”
That something, in this case, happened in April 2022 during a Charleston Municipal Beautification Commission roundtable discussion of “big ideas.” It was a spark a wish of planting cherry trees throughout Charleston.
This month it happened. The first trees were planted.
I attended the ceremonial planting of two Spring Snow Crabtrees in front of Charleston’s City Hall. It was fun! Mayor Amy Goodwin was there, so was Anna Forbes, Chair of Charleston’s Municipal Beautification Commission; members of the Kanawha Garden Club; and a few other tree – and landscape-lovers.
Along with these trees, others were planted at Ruffner Park, Magic Island, Kanawha Boulevard, the entrance of Airport Road, and the Governor’s Mansion. Thirty trees are part of the original planting and another 100 will be planted this fall and early 2026.
That’s just the beginning. Over the next three years, thirty spring-flowering trees will be planted across the city of Charleston. The Appalachian Spring Tree Project is a reality.
Could this lead to an annual spring festival? Lisa Barnhart Reed and her stepfather, Jack Lipphardt, the former mayor of Wheeling, think so. They approached the Commission with a willingness to work together to plan a blooming-good springtime in Charleston.
The trees planted will be a mix of cherry, crabapple, and other spring-flowering trees, including plum, serviceberry, dogwood, redbud, and magnolia. For good stewardship shade trees such as oak and maple will be included.
Picking the right tree is important, and size matters. The trees planted this fall are not small saplings. Most are 1 ½ inch caliper, meaning the diameter of the trunk, and between 8 and 10 feet tall. The root bagged trees, grown in a fabric container placed in the ground, allow the roots to grow through the fabric and help ensure a healthy tree.
Projects of this scale happen because of leadership, hard work, and volunteers. Many thanks to the Public Grounds Department for support. Volunteers, members of the Beautification Commission, and others have spent time studying trees and placement ideas throughout the city.
Many others have invested in the project through generous donations, including the Kanawha Garden Club, Daywood Foundation, and the Jacobson Foundation. Donations are accepted by visiting bit.ly/AppSpringGiving.
The Appalachian Spring Project is exciting. The idea of creating a cloud of tree blossoms to welcome residents and visitors to springtime in Charleston is grand. But not the only tree news for the area.
Last year, through the work of MBC, the Public Works Department, and Chris Higgins, Arborist for Mary Price Ratrie Arboretum Spring Hill Cemetery Park, and others, over 100 trees were planted in Charleston.
That’s one hundred trees that will provide shade, shelter, and beauty to the wildlife and residents of Charleston. In recognition of this work, Charleston was designated a Tree City USA. Look for signage announcing this honor near your favorite trails.
Bringing trees to our city is essential. Trees add substance and structure to an area. Planting 100 or 1,000 trees now is a project to be proud of, but the continued planting and maintenance of trees will create permanence that will be a lasting gift to our city and the people who live and visit in the years to come.