Beginning Friday, April 20, the Newport Tree Society will be hosting a weeklong series of events celebrating the city's first Arboretum Week.
The event is geared toward celebrating Newport's urban forest and is scheduled to culminate with a tree planting on Arbor Day at Morton Park.
Here's what you need to know:
Friday, April 20
CHILDREN’S TREE WALK & TOUCH-A-BUCKET-TRUCK TREE CLIMBING DEMO. An exciting event for kids of all ages, meet Charlie Ridolph, Newport City Forester, as he demonstrates tree climbing techniques and equipment and leads families on an entertaining tree walk through historic Morton Park. Meet at Morton Park at 1PM. FREE
Monday April 23
COLONIAL TREE WALK. The Colonial Tree Walk begins in Newport’s historic town common: Washington Square. On your walk, you will pass the first Fernleaf Beech specimen planted in America, along with numerous architectural landmarks including our nation’s oldest synagogue, oldest lending library, and the oldest Episcopal Church in continuous use. Meet at 5:30 PM at the horse trough in Washington Square. FREE
Tuesday April 24
TREE WALK AT CHATEAU-SUR-MER. Hosted by the Preservation Society of Newport County, this guided tree walk is a unique opportunity to walk the grounds of one of Newport’s legendary Gilded Age mansions, Chateau-sur-Mer, and examine its exceptional collection of specimen trees. The 11:00 AM guided walk will be led by Jeffrey Curtis, Preservation Society Director of Gardens and Grounds. FREE
AQUIDNECK PARK TREE WALK and FREE MOVIE EVENT. 6PM tree walk at Aquidneck Park followed by the award-winning documentary, Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Mathai at the Newport Public Library at 7PM. Taking Root tells the dramatic story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai whose simple act of planting trees grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, protect human rights, and defend democracy. FREE
Wednesday April 25
NEWPORT IN BLOOM SPRING GARDENING WORKSHOP. Scott Wheeler, Newport Tree & Parks Supervisor, will speak about tree maintenance, and lecturer Katie Dyer will explain how to make any garden a Certified National Wildlife Habitat, among other activities. Click here for more information from Newport in Bloom. Workshop will be held at Fenner Hall from 6 to 9PM. FREE
Thursday April 26
TREE WALK AT BELLEVUE HOUSE A unique opportunity to explore a wonderful private Newport landscape. Built in 1910 by celebrated designer and landscape architect, Ogdon Codman, Bellevue House’s grounds include a reproduction McIntire tea house, garden follies and an Oriental garden. 5:30PM at 304 Bellevue Avenue. FREE
Friday April 27 – Arbor Day
ARBOR DAY TREE PLANTING 9AM at Morton Park. Memorial tree planting in honor of Peter Simpson, with the Rogers High School Horticultural Team. FREE
