15 trees planted in Lafayette on Friday in honor of Earth Day

LAFAYETTE, Ind. − In honor of the 53rd Earth Day, Tree Lafayette planted 15 trees along the Sagamore Parkway center median.

Tree Lafayette is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization that has planted more than 4,000 trees in Lafayette since 1993. It aims to provide education, leadership and inspiration in the care and planting of trees.

Shirley Sterling, a volunteer with Tree Lafayette and the project manager for Friday's event, spoke with the Journal & Courier about the importance of trees, the Earth and Earth Day.

"15 trees will be planted on the center median," Sterling said. "...(It's important to plant trees for) good oxygen...Trees work hard helping us. Lafayette has become an international tree city, because our canopy is so vast. And so trees do so many things for us. Water retention, CO2, oxygen producing. It's wonderful.

"One of the things (you can do this Earth Day) is, if you want to plant a tree, they're very simple. And just make sure they plant the right tree for where they are...Just be aware that everything you do effects all of us. It effects plants, animals, insects...but they are all part of the cycle."

The planting of the 15 trees on Friday was sponsored by Subaru of Indiana Automotive, which has supported Tree Lafayette for years. Scott Brand, executive vice president at Subaru of Indiana Automotive, spoke at the event.

"I think (Tree Lafayette's events) made me realize that not only is the commitment to planting trees important, but planning them correctly is equally important," Brand said. "...The 15 trees we're planting today is really just a small drip in the bucket of the 4,000+ trees that Tree Lafayette has planted...And we are committed to this...And I'm looking forward to getting my hands dirty today."

Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski read a proclamation at the event declaring April 21 as the observance of Earth Day in the City of Lafayette, encouraging all citizens to be mindful of environmental protection.

Margaret Christopherson is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email her at mchristopherson@jconline.com and follow her on Twitter @MargaretJC2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: 15 new trees have joined the vast Lafayette canopy