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| Messenger photo by Rick Palsgrove |
| Groveport Parks Superintendent Jared Rammel puts the finishing touches on the planting of a Heritage Oak tree at Groveport Elementary School. |
It may be small now, but in a few years the Heritage Oak tree planted on the Groveport Elementary playground on April 25 will get big enough to provide a shady spot to relax and much more.
"This tree could be 80 to 100 feet high in 50 years," Groveport Parks Superintendent Jared Rammel told a group of about 80 Groveport Elementary fifth graders during the Arbor Day tree planting ceremony. "Plus, trees absorb carbon dioxide and generate oxygen. An average sized tree can provide enough oxygen for a family of four for a year."
Additionally, Rammel said trees increase property values, provide shelter and food for wildlife, and just plain make people feel good.
Rammel said a Heritage Oak was chosen for the planting site on the western edge of the playground because it was a wide open area.
"This tree will have a beautiful, large canopy," said Rammel.
The tree joins a wide assortment of trees, both young and old, that grace the Groveport Elementary playground and courtyard, which includes trees such as oaks, white pines, crabapples, buckeye, hackberry, and ash.
But it’s not just the school yard that has a wealth of trees.
"The village of Groveport itself is diverse in the number and types of trees it has," said Rammel. "Groveport is a low lying area with moist ground that’s good for trees."
Rammel said the village is making a concerted effort to bring natural beauty to the town. In addition to Groveport being named a "Tree City USA" for the 15th straight year by the Arbor Day Foundation, the village is also now growing its own flowers in its new $4,557, 18 by 36 foot greenhouse located near the public works department building by Groveport Park. The greenhouse has the capacity to grow 9,000 plants.
"We can grow all of our own annual landscape flowers for the village now," said Rammel.
Previously Groveport contracted out for landscape flowers and for the care and watering of the plants.
"We can now grow whatever we want and take care of them ourselves," said Rammel. "We can recycle the seeds each year. We’re doing our best to be self-sufficient."
