Jennings’ second graders plant trees at Schmuck Park to observe Arbor day

Above: Michael Talley thrusts the shovel into the dirt pile with his foot to get a big scoop of dirt for the tree plantings at Schmuck Park. Jennings’ second graders planted two Conquest Norway Maples at the park Thursday, Sept. 24, in observance of Arbor Day.

Below: Leading the line of anxious second graders, Queenie Mayer digs the group’s shovel into a big dirt pile to get her scoop to dump in front of one of two tree plantings.

Several Jennings’ second graders planted trees at Schmuck Park Sept. 24. The youngsters gathered at 9 a.m. at the park to plant two trees.

Taking turns to shovel the dirt, the elementary students stood in two lines, at times competing to see who could scoop the most dirt on the shovel.

“That’s the biggest one of the day!” declared Steve Larkin, city parks maintenance director, as a young boy plunged his shovel into the dirt pile in front of the tree and pulled it out to dump the dirt next to the tree.

“I guarantee I’m going to get the biggest scoop,” a tiny youngster said as he waited his turn in line.

Each of the students were able to have four turns with the shovel — twice at each tree — and it took them about 45 minutes to complete the project.

This was the 11th year the Jennings’ kids gathered for the project. Over the last 11 years, second graders have planted nine times in Schmuck Park, once in Eells Park and once at the Perkins House. The two trees planted Sept. 24 were Conquest Norway Maples. They were planted near the center of the park where several trees have been recently removed.

Larkin noted that each year Colfax Monument donates an engraved marker for the trees which identifies the year planted, tree variety and teachers of the classes. Second grade teachers this year are Bev Stubbers and Bobbi Mackleit.

The trees were planted in observance of Arbor Day, which is in April. Larkin said it works better to plant the trees in September.

“It is a great time for us to plant trees because a tree planted in April might not get moisture,” he said.

The cost of the two trees will be reimbursed to the City of Colfax through a grant from the USDA Forest Service in cooperation with the Washington Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry program, Larkin said.