Arbor Day 2015 at Drake House

Mayor Adrian O. Mapp and students from King's Daughters Day School

City officials and students gathered Friday at the Drake House Museum to observe Arbor Day 2015 with tree planting, designation of the year's specimen tree and acknowledgement of Plainfield's Tree City USA award.

This year's effort by the Shade Tree Commission included historically appropriate plantings around the 18th Century museum, along with a Red Horse Chestnut and a Winter King Hawthorn. Beth P. Riley of The Potted Garden in Madison created the garden plan and Peter Simone, chairman of the Shade Tree Commission, did much of the work.

The 2015 specimen tree is a very large Magnolia Acuminata that grows on Martine Avenue and is also known as "Cucumber Tree" for its cylindrical seed pods.

Deputy City Administrator Carlos Sanchez

Due to the unseasonably cold and windy weather Friday, the program began inside the museum with the Plainfield High School ROTC presenting the flag and a welcome from Deputy City Administrator Carlos Sanchez.

Sanchez and Planning Director William Nierstedt unfurled the city's 2015 Tree City USA flag. The Shade Tree Commission has planted 1,100 trees in the last nine years.

Outside, everyone got ready to add some mulch to the newly-planted Red Horse Chestnut.

Mayor Mapp collaborated with some young students on the task.

Students from the Barack Obama Green Charter High School pitched in as well. Others involved in the Arbor Day event included Public Works Director Eric Watson, the Public Works Division headed by Superintendent John Louise and Shade Tree Commission Liaison April Stefel of the Planning Division. Besides Simone, Shade Tree Commission members include secretary Mary Burgwinkle, David frost, Jan Massey, Oscar Riba, Narbara Spellmeyer and Lynne Wallace. Historical Society of Plainfield President Nancy Piwowar and trustee Liz D'Aversa attended the ceremony Friday.

The Drake House Museum is owned by the city and operated by the Historical Society of Plainfield. It is open to visitors on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m.Visitors can attend the Drake House Museum on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m.

--Bernice