Santa Fe High School’s Centennial Grove
As Oklahoma’s centennial anniversary quickly approaches, it would be an appropriate time to make a great effort to recognize past accomplishments and rededicate ourselves to the unlimited future with the living legacy by planting a community grove of 100 trees. Because planting one hundred trees is a significant undertaking, we need to begin planting our grove well in advance of Oklahoma’s Centennial celebration in 2007.
Since the first pioneers began cutting trees after venturing into Indian Territory 150 years ago, over one-third of the original forest of our beautiful state has been destroyed. Santa Fe Parents and Friends would like to propose the development of a Centennial Grove. On one hand we will be remembering past students, teachers and staff and on the other hand we will be replenishing a small portion of our state’s forest lost to urban development. We feel it is an appropriate time to rededicate ourselves to the unlimited future with a living legacy by creating a community grove of 100 trees.
Santa Fe High School is developing a professional landscaping plan for the 34 acres surrounding our school grounds. It will be painless to find perfect locations for our 100 trees.
Which kind of trees will be selected?
We would like to go with a group of trees with historical implications. However, choosing trees that thrive in our soil and climate conditions will be most important. Some trees played a significant part in the lives of the Native Americans such as the Black Walnut. Nuts were a food source as well as helping them to dye cloth and decorate baskets. The Osage Orange was known for its flexible wood, perfect for archery bows. As you can see, choosing historic trees for our grove celebration will also teach American and Oklahoma history with every tree we plant. Other suggestions may be the Trail of Tears Redbud, Martin Luther King, Jr. Sycamore, Edgar Allen Poe Hackberry, Abraham Lincoln Black Walnut, Wright Brothers Red Cedar and the George Washington Osage Orange. We may be able to obtain a sapling from a seed of the Survivor Elm tree at the Murrah Memorial. The Tree Bank Foundation has Champion trees that we can also arrange to be planted.
YOUR DONATION IS NEEDED!
$125 will provide ONE tree to be planted and staked and guaranteed for 1 year. It will also fund needed maintenance of water, mulch, pruning and fertilizer for it’s first three years which is critical to each tree’s success. A recognition plaque will be created with the names of the 100 students, teachers and staff.
We will contact you when the Centennial Grove Commemoration will take place and you can join us as we celebrate this wonderful contribution to our school and community.
Help us celebrate Oklahoma’s first 100 years of statehood by contributing to Santa Fe’s Centennial Grove. By helping plant a tree you are showing an act of optimism, a labor of love and a commitment to a better tomorrow. Each tree will stand as a living reminder of the people who first inhabited this great land and a statement to good environmental stewardship. We can help make a positive impact on the future by performing a simple, yet profound act, by planting a tree.