~ April 25, 2025 Arbor Day

Arbor Day is one of our favorite times of the year – a celebration of growth, stewardship, and the deep-rooted connection between trees and community. This spring, we’re proud to highlight several of our communities who brought that spirit to life by planting SGN Trees in their local parks, schoolyards, and public spaces. We wrote about our Arbor Day festivities leading up to the big event in a blog post here: Rooted in Celebration: Arbor Day Tree Plantings with Our Community Partners

A group of volunteers in the Village of Chicago Ridge held a community planting to kick off Arbor Day in their town! This planting featured a trio of trees that bring color, character, and seasonal interest to the community: Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry, Ivory Silk Tree Lilac, and Autumn Blaze Maple. 

The Village of Western Springs planted a Bur Oak, one of Illinois’ most iconic native trees, to commemorate the occasion. This Bur Oak will stand as a symbol of strength and resilience for generations to come. By planting a native oak, Western Springs is investing not only in shade and beauty but also in vital habitat for birds, insects, and other wildlife.

Over at MVK Elementary School, Arbor Day took on an educational twist as the 4th Grade class joined in planting two fruit trees on school grounds: Golden Delicious and Gala Apple. This hands-on experience is just the beginning of a larger vision to create a food forest on campus that will serve both ecological and educational purposes. By planting fruit trees and other edible perennials, the school grounds can provide native habitat, improve soil health, and offer students a living classroom to learn about ecosystems, sustainability, and where their food comes from.

In the City of Morris, Arbor Day was celebrated with the planting of three native oaks, two Red Oaks and one Swamp White Oak, just outside a thriving pollinator garden along the historic I&M Canal. These trees were thoughtfully chosen to support local biodiversity and will grow to provide habitat, shade, and beauty for residents and pollinators alike. This marks the beginning of a new Arbor Day tradition in Morris, focused on sustainability and strengthening community ties through tree planting.

One of our favorite communities, Burr Ridge, celebrated Arbor Day by planting a Bur Oak and River Birch. We can’t wait to watch them grow!

To keep the Arbor Day celebrations going, Roselle Park District is hosting a community volunteer planting on Saturday, April 26th, where a beautiful selection of trees will be planted to enhance the landscape and strengthen the urban canopy. Their species list includes a collection of 15 different trees including State Street Maple, American Hornbeam, Northern Catalpa, Red Jewel Crabapple, Swamp White Oak, and Bald Cypress.

These Arbor Day celebrations go beyond beautification, they’re powerful investments in cleaner air, cooler cities, stronger ecosystems, and more connected communities. We’re honored to see our trees taking root in places that nurture both people and the planet.

Thank you to the Village of Chicago Ridge, the Village of Western Springs, the Village of Burr Ridge, MVK Elementary School, the City of Morris, and the Roselle Park District for leading the way in meaningful Arbor Day celebrations. Here’s to the trees planted this spring and to the growth, learning, and community they will inspire for years to come! 🌱🌳

#ArborDay #TreePlanting #UrbanForestry #SGNTrees #FoodForest #PollinatorHabitat #HealtyTrees #DeepRoots #StrongCommunities

~ Maggie Thomas Harper