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By Heidi L Bornhorst
The trade winds came back for the event on Saturday November 1, 2003. Trees do improve the weather. On a small scale around our homes or in parks, streets and forests they have a larger positive impact.
In celebration of Arbor Day 2003 four Royal Poinciana trees were planted in honor of four great women. On Saturday November 1, 2003 at 9:00 a.m. Four Arbor Day Royal Poinciana trees were planted in honor of long term Tree Ladies that have done so much to keep our islands green, full of healthy well-grown trees, billboard free and even to keep noxious signs out of our air space.These special ladies are board members of Scenic Hawaii, Inc. a non-profit organization dedicated to these missions and more.The Women are: Mrs. Lucy Pfaltzgraff, Mrs. Jacque Law, Mrs. Ann Simpson and Mrs. Cecilia Blackfield.
The Poinciana trees were planted in the Leahi or rolling hills section of Kapiolani Park. This is on Paki Avenue and is bounded by Paki hale and the city's urban forestry nursery. It is also the corner of Noela drive and Paki Avenue.
The trees were cooperatively planted and nurtured by Scenic Hawaii, Inc. and the expert arborists of the city and county Division of Urban Forestry.
Brother Greg ODonnell, aka G.'O.D. gave the blessing and it was perfect.
I asked him for a copy and here it is:
Arbor Day ~ November 1, 2003
We gather here today to something extremely simple yet immensely profound. We are planting trees. There are trees around the world. There are millions, undoubtedly billions of trees.
They provide us with life in the form of oxygen, regenerated from carbon dioxide. But were not here today for instruction in photosynthesis or oxygen regeneration, were here to join in a celebration of God's creation and recognize our part in that process.
We have the ability to destroy life but we also know that we can participate in the creation of life, we can inhibit growth but we can also encourage growth, we can plow under but we can plant and nourish. Today we choose to encourage growth, we choose to regenerate oxygen, we choose to provide shelter, we choose to plant trees.Ours is a choice of plant growth over concrete growth, of nature over humanitarianism, of simplicity over complexity.
Our society needs change. We need to recognize what is truly important over what appears to be important. We tend to look for mighty deeds, for overwhelming shows of force and power. But, if were looking carefully, we see that goodness shows itself slowly and in simple, gentle ways. A mother's love is gentle but nothing is more powerful. Gandhi was simple and gentle but no one was more effective.
As we look around us, is there anything which starts out more simple and as gentle as a tree? Trees start out small and vulnerable.But they grow into towers of strength. They provide us with the very essence of life but they do it quietly. In their maturity they are among the most powerful things on earth but their contribution is quiet and peaceful.
As we stand in this place we cant help but be in awe of nature. Kapiolani Park in known throughout the world as an urban park where nature is paramount. But lets not think for a moment that something as beautiful as this park just happened on its own, or think it will continue on its own. Much of the time its special people who nurture the nurturing.
On this Arbor Day in Hawaii we plant four trees in honor of four of those special people. We honor Mrs. Cecilia Blackfield, Mrs. Lucy Pfaltzgraff, Mrs. Ann Simpson, and Mrs. Jacque Law. What a wonderfully appropriate way to remember and honor women who brought a little more beauty to our lives and made a difference in our environment.
Today we bow our heads as we ask Gods blessing on our efforts. We ask that we can learn a lesson here today.True strength has simple beginnings. True strength is sometimes quiet. We plant these trees as a symbol of all that is good and right and pray that they will stand as a beacon for many years to come. We ask all this in the name of our God and Creator ~
Amen. |
