The Bluffton tree commission will celebrate Arbor Day with a tree planting at 9 a.m., Saturday, April 28, in the Village Arboretum. The event is open to the public.

The arboretum is between Mustard Seed Café and County Line Road, north of the National Quarry on Lake Street.

A shade tree will be planted just west of the Lake Street entrance to John’s Body Shop.  Bluffton celebrates its 25th Arbor Day celebration with the Tree City USA program.

More about the arboretum
Nearly 50 trees in the 20-year-old Village Arboretum are now identified thanks for the efforts last year of seven girls in the Bluffton Girl Scout Troop 20007.

Gail Clingerman and Sarah Bergstrand are troop leaders who helped with the ambitious project.

Most residents might not even be aware of the arboretum’s existence. But, with the identification project completed, the awareness of the grove and the important part it plays in the community will become more evident over time.

The tree collection includes several species of oak, spruce, maple, pine, elm and single trees including buckeye, horse chestnut, redbud, hackberry and several other familiar and not-so-familiar trees.

It includes a map of the arboretum with each tree numbered and identified. Troop members divided up the trees and put together a one-page description of each.

The description includes such things as:
• Common tree name,
• Scientific tree name,
• Tree uses,
• Tree description and
• Whether it is native to Ohio.

Click here to view the 34-page arboretum guide

The tree grove provides an opportunity for residents to have memorial trees planted in memory of someone. Two such trees exist; one in memory of Ann Hilty and another in memory of Phil Kingsley. The two were members of the Bluffton Tree Commission.

In addition to being archived on the Bluffton Icon, the arboretum directory is also available at the Bluffton Public Library, Bluffton town hall and Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce.