We have a very special Annual Meeting and Arbor Day planned for this year, April 28, 2023. We will be celebrating the legacy of the founder of the Nannen Arboretum, John Ploetz. John Ploetz’s children are donating 2 trees for the Arbor Day planting and are hosting an Open House as part of our meeting. We will begin at 11:00 am with our normal Annual Meeting and Arbor Day proclamation/planting and then transition to an Open House around noon. Posters and photographs from the early days of the arboretum will be displayed and several of the Ploetz and Nannen families as well as some of the original members of the arboretum will be available for conversation and reminiscing. Refreshments, sandwiches, cookies and drinks, will be provided during the Open House which will last until 3:00 pm.
John’s children are currently working with Tom Draves of Draves Arboretum in Darian Center NY to procure a Plume Oak and a Bristle Cone Pine to be donated to the arboretum for Arbor Day. Both these trees were part of the original planting at the arboretum and unfortunately have not survived.
The Plume Oak, Quercus dentata ‘pinnatifida’, was donated by John Ploetz in memory of his brother Richard Ploetz. It is an Asiatic oak with an outstanding cut leaf that serves as the logo for the arboretum.
It was bought at Kingsville Nursery in Kingsville, Maryland. It was planted in 1977, then died in 1987 due to an incompatible understock; a sucker was sent up from that understock resulting in the Bur Oak, Quercus macrocarpa, that stands there today.
The Bristle Cone Pine, Pinus aristata, was donated by Sarah Lyons in memory of Margaret Lyons and Zella Crisman. It is native to Colorado, Arizona and California. A gnarled tree in California is estimated to be over 4750 years old. Ours was planted in 1980 and condition was still good in 2006. However, it began deteriorating and died a slow death. We pruned it back in 2021 making it an ‘exhibition tree’ with signage explaining its heritage.
Our Annual Meeting will highlight 2022 accomplishments and financial results. Since none of the board members’ terms are expiring, there will not be any election for board members. Arbor Day will be celebrated recounting its history, a reading of the Proclamation by the Village and Town of Ellicottville representatives and the planting/viewing of the Arbor Day trees. Refreshments and the Open House will follow. Everyone in the community is welcome and encouraged to attend, it will be a fun and informative day.