It may not be a cherry tree, but it is a Tulip Poplar similar to the one that George Washington wrote about in his diary.
On Wednesday, April 26, the City of Bartlesville and PSO will jointly plant a Tulip Poplar and a dozen other tree seedlings at the ‘Historic Grove’ in Bartlesville’s Johnstone Park. The event will be at 11:30 a.m. near the picnic area. Each tree will be marked with a plaque that lists the species and history. Directions:From Tulsa: Travel North on highway 75. Take Frank Phillips Boulevard, turn left. Travel to Cherokee street. Turn right. Approaching JohnstonePark. Circle around to picnic area.
The 4-foot and 5-foot tall seedlings were cut from historic trees located across the United States and nurtured so that once placed in the ground they will grow to maturity and create a visual history lesson for the community.
“The City of Bartlesville is honored to be a site for this commemorative tree planting. These seedlings were taken from a dozen trees from across the United States that have credible, historical significance in our history books,” said Ed Gordon, Bartlesville City Manager. “Our Parks Department will work with foresters from Public Service Company of Oklahoma to plant the seedlings and ensure the trees are cared for as they beautify our community.”
The seedlings include:
- An Abraham Lincoln Overcup Oak from the Lincoln Homestead in Kentucky.
- A Mount Vernon Red Maple that enhances the landscape George Washington created at his Mount Vernon home on the Potomac River.
- A Chickamauga Black Maple from a Civil War battle site in Georgia.
- A Cave Burr Oak, from the entrance of Simms Cave in Hannibal, MO., and that served as the inspiration for the cave in Tom Sawyer.
- A Williamsburg Golden Raintree from the former capital of Virginia when the 13 colonies were discussing and seeking independence.
- The largest Osage Orange in the country, a Patrick Henry Osage Orange. The tree was given to Patrick Henry’s daughter upon his death by Lewis and Clark.
- Andrew Jackson Southern Magnolia from a tree President Jackson planted at the White House in memory of his wife. An image of the tree can be seen on the back of an old $20 bill.
- A Nathan Hale Red Oak from the Hale Homestead.
- John F. Kennedy Crabapple, planted at President Kennedy’s gravesite in Arlington. Va.
- A Trail of Tears Sawtooth Oak from a tree in New Echota, Georgia, near the beginning of the Trail of Tears.
- George Washington Tulip Poplar.
- Independence park (Independence Hall) Black Locust to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
“PSO has been planting trees across Oklahoma for more than 20 years, working with local community leaders to ensure that the right tree is planted in the right place and away from power lines,” said Steve Mathews, PSO forester. “We are honored to be part of this historic tree planting which will also provide an educational opportunity for all who come to this park.”
PSO is an electric utility company serving approximately 514,000 customers in eastern and southwestern Oklahoma. Based in Tulsa, PSO has more than 4,000 megawatts of generating capacity, and is the largest provider of wind energy in the state.
Andrea Chancellor
Corporate Communications
918-599-2052