Garden club plants tree on Court Square
No doubt there will be many beautiful plaques, signs and markers, like the planned Bicentennial monument, that will be placed in strategic areas to commemorate Warren County’s Bicentennial Celebration. They will be built to stand the test of time, designed to last for future generations to enjoy.
But among these majestic brass and stone memorials will be a unique commemorative that will actually grow and bloom before our eyes as the years go by.
It’s botanical name is cladrastis kentukea (lutea), but it’s more commonly known as the American Yellowwood. The tree was recognized as the official Bicentennial Tree of Tennessee by a Senate Joint Resolution in 1991, and that’s why the Ben Lomand Garden Club chose to plant one on Court Square as a special bicentennial project. Club members also chose a rather sentimental place to put it ‘ the same spot where the much-loved Christmas Tree stood for so many years.
According to Pat Bigbee, a member of both the Garden Club and the Bicentennial Steering Committee, the tree was donated by Myers Cove Nursery, as befits the goal of the organization to recognize the local nursery industry with this bicentennial project.
‘Every year the Garden Club plants a tree somewhere in the county in honor of Arbor Day,’ Bigbee said. ‘This year we decided if we were going to do something for Arbor Day, it ought to be in conjunction with the Bicentennial Celebration. So we thought, why not have a bicentennial tree’?
Because of the bicentennial tie-in, the placement of the tree became an important aspect.
‘We wanted it to be in a place where it could be seen by everyone,’ Bigbee said. ‘And the city was gracious enough to let us plant it on Court Square.’
On hand for the planting ceremony last Friday was County Executive John Pelham, Bicentennial Steering Committee members Larry Flatt and Wayne Wolford, and Ben Lomand Garden Club members Betty Troop, Nancy Miller and Chitra Mukherji. City employees J.J. Hillis, Hank Patton and Roland Poirier handled the digging and planting chores.
According to information provided by the garden club, the American Yellowwood is an exceptional ornamental tree that is still rare in cultivation. It is slow growing and is noted for its drooping clusters of fragrant white flowers, touched with yellow in the center. It tends to produce the greatest abundance of flowers in alternate years, or even every third year.
Bees frequent the flowers for nectar. However, it does not begin to bloom until it is about 10 years old. It was introduced into cultivation in 1796 by Andre Michaux. Another interesting fact about this tree is the roots were traditionally chipped and boiled to produce a yellow dye for homespun fabrics.
‘We just thought it was a great choice for this Bicentennial Celebration project,’ Bigbee said. ‘It’s a beautiful tree and will provide many years of enjoyment for everyone, especially with it’s colorful blooms.’