Shade Tree Program brings new trees to downtown Camden
A Hoboken Gardens crew plants one of three Golden Raindrops crabapple trees along Mechanic Street in Camden as part of the town's 2013 Shade Tree Program. (Photo by Dale Bruce)
A Princeton elm trees is planted at the Camden Public Library, courtesy of a grant for the Camden Shade Tree Program. (Photo by Dale Bruce)
A Hoboken Gardens crew plants one of three Golden Raindrops crabapple trees along Mechanic Street in Camden as part of the town's 2013 Shade Tree Program. (Photo by Dale Bruce)
A Princeton elm trees is planted at the Camden Public Library, courtesy of a grant for the Camden Shade Tree Program. (Photo by Dale Bruce)
CAMDEN — After the majority of Camden's majestic elm trees died from Dutch elm disease in the 1970s, the town of Camden and the Camden Garden Club joined forces and initiated a planting program to redevelop street-side shade trees throughout town. In the ensuing years, hundreds of trees have been planted throughout town; many of them now are large mature trees.
In 2013 Camden was awarded an $8,000 Project Canopy Grant, from the Maine Forest Service and U.S. Forest Service, for tree planting and maintenance. This year, the Project Canopy Grant requirements state that the trees must be planted within the downtown business area. Through the efforts of Camden's development director, Brian Hodges, this is the second year the town has received the grant.
The Downtown Business Group, the Garden Club and the town have each contributed equal funding shares as our match for the grant.
This year's Shade Tree Committee includes Garden Club members Dale Bruce and Priscilla Granston, Dave Jackson of the Downtown Business Group, Hodges, Tree Warden Bart Wood and Public Works Director Rick Seibel.
The trees that have been selected this year are significantly larger than the majority of those that have been offered through this program in the past, and planting them required some large equipment. Hoboken Gardens won the planting contract and their crew started the day on May 23 at the Camden Public Library site, prior to 5 a.m. in order to avoid traffic on Main Street.
One Princeton elm tree was planted that day in front of the library, next to the semi-circular pathway along Main Street. This tree replaces one that died a few years ago.
Two paperbark maple trees were planted at the corner of Wood and Chestnut streets, on the slope bordering the Episcopal Church parking lot.
Three Golden Raindrops crabapple trees were planted in the parking lot border along Mechanic Street, opposite the old Knox Woolen Mill. These trees continue a line of crabapples up the hill to the end of the connecting lots.
The Camden Fire Department has agreed to take on the responsibility of watering the trees on Mechanic and Chestnut streets, while the library will care for theirs.
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