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Governor Rell: White Oak Planting At Residence
Commemorates State's 375th Anniversary
Charter Oak is State's Most Famous White Oak
Photo: Governor M. Jodi Rell is joined by DEP Commissioner
Amey Marrella and several arborists during a special Arbor Day tree planting
at the Governor's Residence in Hartford on Friday, April 30. The 15-foot white
oak was planted to commemorate Connecticut's 375th Anniversary. The white
oak is the state's official tree. The Charter Oak, which the early Colonists
used to hide Connecticut's Charter from the British in 1687 was a white oak.
From left, the group includes: Paul Larson of Sprucedale Gardens, Woodstock;
Leslie Kane, Audubon Connecticut, Bill Toomey, Highstead Land Management,
Redding; Commissioner Marrella, Governor Rell, Ed Richardson, Glastonbury
arborist, Ken Placko, Fairfield Tree Warden, Maureen Nicholson, Pomfret Tree
Warden, Kevin Kelly, Colchester Tree Warden and Connecticut State Forester
Chris Martin.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell today was joined by state Department of Environmental Commissioner
Amey Marrella, State Forester Christopher Martin and other environmental advocates
at the Governor's Residence in Hartford to plant a white oak in honor of both
Arbor Day and the state's 375th Anniversary.
"When we set out to celebrate the 375th Anniversary of Connecticut we
looked at a variety of ways to highlight this milestone. We wanted a chance
to celebrate our roots and that is exactly what we are doing with the special
tree planting," the Governor said.
"Arbor Day presented us with the perfect opportunity to celebrate something
exquisitely Connecticut - the Charter Oak. The white oak is the state tree
and the Charter Oak is the most famous of all. The Charter Oak is part of
our identity and our culture and represents the spirit of freedom and liberty
that we all embrace," the Governor said.
The Governor said the story of the Charter Oak is one every schoolchild in
Connecticut knows. In 1687, King James II of England sent his agents to take
back a charter from colonists who had been granted freedoms 25 years earlier
from King Charles. The colonists safely hid the document in a great white
oak tree near the banks of the Connecticut River in Hartford and the legend
of the Charter Oak was born.
The Charter Oak will also be highlighted this year in a special painting donated
by New London artist Mark Patnode, who is donating it to the state in honor
of the 375th Anniversary.
At today's ceremony, a 15-foot white oak, acquired from Planters' Choice LLC
of Newtown, was planted in south end of the 4.5-acre property of the Governor's
Residence. It has the potential to reach 80 to 100 feet in height and 48 inches
in diameter. Some have been known to reach the age of 600 years. In Colonial
days, large white oaks with low-extending branches served as key meeting points
for townspeople.
A bronze plaque, donated by Farmington businessman Marcel Poulin of Matthews
International, is being engraved and will be placed at the base of the tree
in the near future.
Governor Rell and other dignitaries launched the 375th Anniversary on February
17 at the State Library, which houses the fundamental orders and State Constitution.
Historians say 1635 was the critical year in Connecticut history because that
year marked the settlement of the three river towns - Windsor, Wethersfield
and Hartford - that initially established the colony.
Services and items related to the state's year long 375th Anniversary celebration
are donated or purchased with donated funds. Donations are tax deductible
to the extent allowed by law. Go to www.CT375.com
for more information and to donate. More information on 375th Anniversary
events can also be found at:
http://twitter.com/Connecticut375
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hartford-CT/Connecticuts-375thAnniversary/10150113573780463?ref=ts
http://www.youtube.com/user/ct375
Following are 4 dates to save, for workshops
or talks coming up over the next 3 months.
Each of these workshops cover topics that are somewhat related.
However, despite their similarities,
each of these workshops are different.
It is left up to you to decide which workshop
or talk would be of most value to you.
Please consider attending one, two, three or all of them.
No doubt each, in its own way, will be excellent.
Also, unquestionably, we are lucky to have these choices.
The workshops are:
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May 20 in Burlington Further details will be available shortly at www.ctpa.org |
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May 21 in New Haven Further details will be available shortly at www.ct.gov/caes |
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