When he submitted this photograph City Administrator Barry Dykhuizen stated, “300 trees are being planted in French Creek Park today,” on Thursday, April 21, 2016.
Morrison Garden Club member Sharon Moore said it was more likely 350+, including the shrubs “planted on the south and west end [of the park. Those are] to attract pollinators and provide protection to the birds,” she explained.
“They are planting them by hand, not by machine, oddly,” commented Moore.
Shown left-to-right that morning are City of Morrison Director of Public Works Gary Tresenriter; Parks and Rec Director Jim DuBois; Moore; Dave Harrison, Soil and Water Conservation District; Morrison Garden Club member Mary Lutwesen.
The actual count is 318 trees, of various wetland species, plus 24 American Plum shrubs. Trees include Bald Cypress, Burr Oak, Native Pecan, Pin Oak, River Birch, and White Oak reported Mathias Dauge. He is employed by Woodland Forestry, LLC of Monmouth, IA. Owners Kevin and Lisa Oetken were not present for the installation.
“They are hardy and sturdy” trees. Dauge estimated their age at “about two or three years.” When asked what they might look like in five years, he answered, “If they do well [and make] the average growth of a foot a year, they would double in size.”
Left-to-right are Marcus Breeden, Aaron Razo, and Dague. They started the hand digging “about 9:00 or 9:30 a.m.” They began near IL Route 78 and moved east, creating a grid with 40′ spacing between trees. Dauge explained an auger “doesn’t seem to leave you enough dirt to go back into the hole. The auger throws it around.” It also clogs. Swift digging continued even as heavy rain clouds approached about 3:00 p.m.
The men will “probably be here tomorrow morning,” to finish the plantings, said Dauge. “Forty more [trees] are in the truck, to go to the overflow area.” Those will fill in extra rows within the grid.
In addition, “We have a bag full of tree wrappings in the truck,” he said. “The main thing that gets these trees is deer rubbing.” He added mulch and herbicides will “knock back the sod, so the trees have a fighting chance.”
At the Monday, March 14, City Council meeting, Aldermen approved plans for French Creek Park tree plantings by Morrison Garden Club, pending approval by the Parks and Rec Board. Members Mary Ann Chatterton, Moore, and Lutwesen attended. The Club had met Thursday, March 3, to discuss types of trees to suggest and costs.
City funds will come from a $25,000 landscaping bequest from the late Margaret “Margie” Haines, in honor of her mother, Margaret “Alene” Haines, who was very active in the Garden Club.
Lutwesen noted “root propagated trees, [planted] 40′ apart [would] develop a nice forest canopy over time.” Costing $15 per pot, 6′ high trees with stems the diameter of a thumb, “could cost $7200.”
The Garden Club will work in conjunction with Whiteside County Soil and Water Conservation District. French Creek Park trees will “suck up a lot of water,” so the area won’t be as wet.