by Jacoba Coes
Tis the season to reflect on the things I am grateful for - one of which is Brookdale Park. It’s my place to walk and allow nature's beauty to blow the cobwebs from my mind. I’ve been reading Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book, The Serviceberry. She writes about being grateful for the gifts Mother Earth provides as the foundation of our lives. The need for reciprocity, giving back to nature to support its abundance, is the primary message of the book. This reinforces my viewpoint of environmental stewardship. And this gratitude for nature is the main reason I am a trustee of the Brookdale Park Conservancy.
Our mission at the Conservancy is to preserve, enhance, and promote the park, providing a voice for the community and collaborating with Essex County. You may have noticed the Conservancy is tree obsessed. Why? Trees are an essential part of a healthy ecosystem; adding a tree adds life. The original Olmsted design included layers of trees around the park’s fields and large specimen trees. These are meant to attract your eye to the open fields and provide an area of beauty to rest your gaze. Seeing our aging trees increasingly impacted by storms and droughts, the Conservancy’s tree canopy program works to replace those lost.
We plant at least 25 trees annually along with native perennials in our gardens. This year we planted a whopping 50! Three of this year's trees really excite me.
Let’s start with the bald cypress, Taxodium distichum, planted this fall. It will reach a height of 50 to 70 feet tall. One of the longest living trees in the world it has an average lifespan of 600 years. We planted it as a specimen tree near the former pond. It’s a great example of planting for a warming climate because this tree is more prevalent further south but, as average temperatures climb, it will do very well here. Unlike other cone bearing trees it loses its needles annually. In fall this will be a showstopper - a gorgeous russet red specimen tree which will compliment the native plant meadow we are planning in the former pond.
We also planted three Amelanchier, commonly known as serviceberry or shadbush.They are now part of the flowering woodland edge near Overlook. The fragrant white flowers appear in early spring when the ground thaws and the shad runs in the river. These are followed by edible berries in the summer attracting a wide variety of birds. We have planted these in a combination with witch hazel, dogwood, magnolia and redbuds to provide a long period of flowers.
And last but not least, a couple donated a tribute tree in honor of their anniversary. We collaborated on the location and chose a magnificent northern red oak which you will find near the bald cypress. Our state tree will provide canopy for family picnics for years to come. Also, oaks support more wildlife than any other tree.
The park is part of our local slice of nature. Its gifts include many thousands of trees and native plants and the birds, butterflies, bees and small mammals that thrive with their presence. (Fun fact - over 31,000 woody plants were originally planted)
As a grateful community how can you give back to this beautiful gift of nature?
Consider joining the Brookdale Park Conservancy as an administrative, digital or gardening volunteer. Help us raise funds, write grants or reach out to new members. Join in planning now for spring or get your hands into the soil by planting or tending our gardens and trees during volunteer events. No experience required just come give back and have fun with us! Email info@brookdalepark.org to learn more.
We rely primarily on donations to fund our programs like adding canopy trees, maintaining the rose garden or restoring the former pondside to a native wildflower habitat. If you have a friend or family member who loves nature or uses the park regularly - we would welcome a gift in their honor. No amount is too small and submitting for corporate matching funds is appreciated.
Wouldn't it be great if we all give nature a gift?
“... gratitude flows toward our plant elders and radiates to the rain, to the sunshine, to the improbability of bushes spangled with morsels of sweetness in a world that can be bitter.”
Robin Wall Kimmerer
Jacoba, a Brookdale Park Conservancy trustee, volunteers in the park throughout the year, contributing to the BPC Education and Outreach and Planting teams. She gratefully remembers the groves of serviceberries around her university housing. Cedar Waxwings descended the minute the berries were ripe and spent a week gorging themselves providing hours of entertainment during those pre-internet times!