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05/15/2013 12:00 AM

Greening of Guilford Continues


Among the business, organizations, and individuals recently assisting Guilford Garden Club with the Greening of Guilford Tree Fund are (from left) Pat Todd of Guilford Rotary, Kathy Heffernan of the Guilford Garden Club Tree Fund, Harry Haskell of the Guilford Preservation Association, Andrew Page of Page's Hardware & Appliances, and Susan Brady of Guilford Savings Bank. Not pictured and Betsy Gribble, Jennifer Cowie, and Wendy Walden of Mix & Design Store.

As spring arrives and Guilford's leafy tree canopy makes its welcome return, the Guilford Garden Club (GGC) kicks off its annual Greening of Guilford Tree Fund and planting program.

Many trees throughout town were devastated by a banner year of stormy weather, including October's Superstorm Sandy, which most notably felled several huge trees on the Town Green, and February's Blizzard Nemo. Luckily, GGC's Greening of Guilford has been in place for more than five years, always with the goal of seeking donations and adding trees to the town's depleted inventory.

A mix of appropriate trees are selected with the assistance of the Town Tree Warden for planting sites on town property.

"This is an important program, not just because of the many benefits trees bring to us, but to maintain our tree canopy in Guilford," said program Chair Lillian Comstock.

An additional GGC project now underway is to continue to develop a small park on the town-owned Woodruff property on Stone House Lane and Old Whitfield Street. All trees planted on the property are funded by the Tree Fund. This spring, Rutgers hybrid dogwoods will bloom. In the fall, the club hopes to plant evergreens on the property, said Comstock of the ongoing GGC project.

Businesses, organizations and individuals are asked join GGC in the "Greening of Guilford" by pledging a tree in the amount of $400 (which includes the planting fee) or by making a donation to the Tree Fund.

To support the Greening Guilford campaign, checks may be made payable to the "Guilford Garden Club-Tree Fund" and mailed to Guilford Garden Club, P.O. Box 608, Guilford, CT 06437. All donations are tax-deductible. For further information, call 203-453-5898.