As most of you know by now, nothing makes the Owl happier than planting a tree. Link that up with kids planting a tree and it’s a very good Arbor Day indeed.

This morning, a group of fifth grade students from Field School as well as Field School Principal Dan Green celebrated the planting of the Class of 2031 (!!!!) Fifth Grade Tree. This tradition started seven years ago with the Class of 2025’s fifth grade tree which is a red oak. This year’s tree is a river birch that you can see in the front yard of Case House in a wonderful sunny spot where it will live a long and happy life. It will be mulched by more fifth graders on Monday.

While the Owl was the originator of this tradition in 2018 (well, yes you DO have to toot (hoot?) your own horn once in a while), there is no chance it would have continued without the dedication of Nina Danforth, Weston’s Titan of Trees, and the entire Tree Advisory Group. This volunteer group does not get enough credit in spite of constantly beautifying and bettering the trees and viewscapes of Weston. Fifth grade trees and dedication plaques now accompany trees at Field School (3), Legacy Trail (3) and Case House (1).

If you want to thank the Tree Advisory Group in person, the official Arbor Day Proclamation event in Weston will be held at 3 pm today, April 26, at Cherry Brook Field on Cherry Brook Road. If you are a kid, you may even walk away with a free ice cream voucher at Dairy Joy, which has a street value of 8 billion dollars. Just kidding, folks, at least about the value–the vouchers will be there.

Happy Arbor Day, Weston, and go ‘cats!