Saint Mary's Composting Committee and Community Garden leaders sponsored a special tree planting on campus, April 23, in honor of Earth Day 2019. The group planted two oak trees in our Grove of stately oak trees on front campus, grown from acorns collected in the Grove during the 175th anniversary year in 2017.
Alexa Boyer '19 spoke about the significance of the Oak, both at Saint Mary's and in the world around us.
"Today, we will be planting two oak trees," said Alexa. "These oak seedlings were grown from acorns harvested during our school's 175th anniversary in 2017. Our beautiful Grove is a testament to the beauty of oak trees. Saint Mary's School, now in our 177th year, is situated in Raleigh, the City of Oaks. The founding fathers of our city gave us this nickname because of the amount of oaks in the region.
"Oaks appear multiple times in the Bible; they're a symbol of Zeus; and ancient Celts honored them. Wearing oak leaves was a sign of status among the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Celts.
"Oak trees attract insects, which are important for woodland dwelling birds. The acorns provide food for deer, foxes, squirrels, bears, and many birds. These trees are not only significant to us at Saint Mary's, but to the city, the environment, and the greater world."
Chaplain Ann Bonner-Stewart read a prayer and blessed the trees. Rebecca Hall read Joyce Kilmer's famous poem, "Trees."
Everyone in attendance signed the garden log and added trowels of dirt to plant the trees. Oak trees are truly beloved at Saint Mary's School, and as we lose our trees from time to time to age or storms, we endeavor to replenish our Grove and our local environment with new trees, as our beautiful wooded campus in downtown Raleigh endures from generation to generation, from 1842 to the 21st century.
One tree was planted inside the brick wall bordering Hillsborough Street above Nimocks Field, and the other was planted inside the wall along St. Mary's Street in front of the Bishop's House.
A reception on the Smedes Terrace, featuring homemade lemonade, chocolate chip cookies, and fresh strawberries from the Saint Mary's garden, preceded the tree planting.
We think that we shall never see a poem as lovely as a Saint Mary's stately oak tree!
