Above, members of the student council at Dysart-Geneseo Elementary help plant trees for Arbor Day.

Dysart-Geneseo Elementary celebrated Arbor Day in a very special way by planting a tree in the front yard of the school. This year is the 142nd annual observance of Arbor Day, as the first actual Arbor Day was April 10, 1872. The school has planted several trees in the past, and most of the trees on property were actually planted by students at some point over the years.

On Friday afternoon all of the students and faculty met outside the school for a ceremony to plant the tree. Many members of the Dysart Tree Board were in attendance as well as Mayor Pam Thiele. The ceremony began with a welcome speech by the student council president Brooklyn Harvey. This was followed by a song that was sang by the entire school named, “America Everyday”. After the song the Tree Board presented the poster coloring challenge winners. Next, the Dysart Tree Board presented Mayor Pam Thiele with a Tree City USA, Arbor Day Flag. Mayor Pam then spoke a few words to the kids. She actually told them a story about how she remembers planting a tree at the school when she attended as a child!

For the past several years, Farmers Savings Bank in Traer has donated the tree to the school. The bank, alongside with the Dysart Tree Board are able to make this possible for the children every year. It is a great way to teach the children the value of trees and how important they are to our atmosphere. Being able to plant the tree and watch it grow into a full size tree over a life time is something these children will never forget!

The type of tree that was planted is called a Emerald City Tulip Tree. These trees grow approximately 55 feet high and nearly 25 feet wide. This will make it one of the tallest trees on the property! The tree also has some very unique qualities too it. The leaves will be larger than a normal tree and be a very deep green color. Every fall the leaves will turn to a bright clear yellow color. In 6-10 years the tree will also produce yellow and orange flowers every spring. The flowers will be 1-2 inches in size and will attract many birds and butterflies!