LAFAYETTE GARDEN CLUB AND LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT OBSERVE ARBOR DAY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2014
Lafayette
Consolidated Government and Lafayette Garden Club sponsored the planting of a
live oak tree at Maurice Heymann Memorial Park, located at the corner of South
College Road and Girard Park Drive, in
honor of Arbor Day, Friday morning, January 17, 2014, and in memory of deceased
Garden Club members, Carole Boudreaux, Jean Hernandez and a Eleanor Henry’s
spouse, David Henry. Julia Haack, of Lafayette Garden Club, introduced special guests, family members of
the deceased.
Gretchen Stewart, Chair of Lafayette Garden Club’s Arbor Day Committee, welcomed everyone and introduced Joey Durel, City-Parish President of Lafayette Consolidated Government. Durel, who, welcomed everyone and while greeting the attendees, stated he was glad to see so many tree huggers at this event. Ms. Stewart then introduced Cynthia Risinger, Lafayette Garden Club President, who noted that we’re making Lafayette more beautiful one tree at a time; Tom Carroll, Director of Public Works; and Heather Warner-Finley, President of Trees Acadiana.
The Group was addressed by Brian Smith, Street Superintendent, for a ceremonial planting of this live oak tree.
Gretchen Stewart, Chair of Lafayette Garden Club’s Arbor Day Committee, welcomed everyone and introduced Joey Durel, City-Parish President of Lafayette Consolidated Government. Durel, who, welcomed everyone and while greeting the attendees, stated he was glad to see so many tree huggers at this event. Ms. Stewart then introduced Cynthia Risinger, Lafayette Garden Club President, who noted that we’re making Lafayette more beautiful one tree at a time; Tom Carroll, Director of Public Works; and Heather Warner-Finley, President of Trees Acadiana.
The Group was addressed by Brian Smith, Street Superintendent, for a ceremonial planting of this live oak tree.
2013 Arbor Day
Lafayette Garden Club and Lafayette Consolidated Government observe Arbor Day Friday,
January 18, 2013
The City of Lafayette’s Arbor Day ceremony, sponsored by Lafayette Garden Club and
Lafayette Consolidated Government, was held on Friday, January 18, 2013, at 10:00 a.m., on
Camellia Boulevard at Cambridge Drive. Gretchen Stewart, Chair of Lafayette Garden Club’s
Arbor Day Committee, welcomed everyone and introduced Joey Durel, City-Parish President of
Lafayette Consolidated Government. Durel greeted the group, saying that we can be proud
of Lafayette, with its great tree canopy and recalled how the City has grown from when, as a
young boy, it was easier to ride a bike to Scout meetings or to a ball park, without having to
cross the busy streets of Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Johnston Street or Camellia
Boulevard. Mrs. Stewart read the poem, “What is a Tree.”
January 18, 2013
The City of Lafayette’s Arbor Day ceremony, sponsored by Lafayette Garden Club and
Lafayette Consolidated Government, was held on Friday, January 18, 2013, at 10:00 a.m., on
Camellia Boulevard at Cambridge Drive. Gretchen Stewart, Chair of Lafayette Garden Club’s
Arbor Day Committee, welcomed everyone and introduced Joey Durel, City-Parish President of
Lafayette Consolidated Government. Durel greeted the group, saying that we can be proud
of Lafayette, with its great tree canopy and recalled how the City has grown from when, as a
young boy, it was easier to ride a bike to Scout meetings or to a ball park, without having to
cross the busy streets of Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Johnston Street or Camellia
Boulevard. Mrs. Stewart read the poem, “What is a Tree.”
2013 Arbor Day Chair, Gretchen Stewart
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Familes of those being honored
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Roxanna Champagne, President of Lafayette Garden Club; Erick Trahan, Grounds
Maintenance Supervisor; and Sarah Schoeffler, President of Trees Acadiana reported on
visions for tree planting and landscaping in Lafayette. Ms. Champagne said that if one cannot
plant a tree, one can join the Arbor Day Foundation, for a minimal membership fee, and 10
trees will be planted in national forests for your contribution.
Lafayette Garden Club member Julie Haack acknowledged deceased members and a
member’s spouse: Eleanor Phillippi, mother of Julie Edwards; Deborah Hawthorne, spouse
of Stan Hawthorne; and Charles Nolan, spouse of Dee Nolan. Ms. Haack stated that the
live oak tree planted today is in their memory. Ms. Haack then introduced special guests,
families of the deceased, who were pictured at the live oak tree planting site.
Maintenance Supervisor; and Sarah Schoeffler, President of Trees Acadiana reported on
visions for tree planting and landscaping in Lafayette. Ms. Champagne said that if one cannot
plant a tree, one can join the Arbor Day Foundation, for a minimal membership fee, and 10
trees will be planted in national forests for your contribution.
Lafayette Garden Club member Julie Haack acknowledged deceased members and a
member’s spouse: Eleanor Phillippi, mother of Julie Edwards; Deborah Hawthorne, spouse
of Stan Hawthorne; and Charles Nolan, spouse of Dee Nolan. Ms. Haack stated that the
live oak tree planted today is in their memory. Ms. Haack then introduced special guests,
families of the deceased, who were pictured at the live oak tree planting site.
Garden Club members in attendance
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Garden Club members that are also Master Gardeners
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Afterwards, Joey Durel and City officials, Garden Club members and guests, posed for a
photo beside the newly planted live oak tree. [PHOTO 3] Not to be outdone, the Master
Gardeners from the group, some with shovel in hand, were pictured with City-Parish President
Joey Durel, at the tree site. [PHOTO 4]
photo beside the newly planted live oak tree. [PHOTO 3] Not to be outdone, the Master
Gardeners from the group, some with shovel in hand, were pictured with City-Parish President
Joey Durel, at the tree site. [PHOTO 4]
2012 Arbor Day
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Lafayette Garden Club and Lafayette Consolidated Government observe Arbor Day
Friday, January 20, 2012, by planting a memorial live oak tree on Camellia Boulevard
A 50-year-old Arbor Day celebration, sponsored by Lafayette Garden Club and Lafayette Consolidated
Government and attended by a large crowd of City officials, guests and Garden Club members, was held on
Friday, January 20, at 2:00 p.m., with a program and planting of a live oak tree at the corner of Camellia Boulevard
and Mt. Vernon Drive, across from St. Barnabas Church. This green space was created when dozens of homes
were removed to build the Camellia Bridge in the late 1990's.
Gretchen Stewart, Chair of Lafayette Garden Club’s Arbor Day Committee, welcomed everyone, and
introduced Tom Carroll, Director of Public Works for Lafayette Consolidated Government, who reported on visions
for tree planting and landscaping in Lafayette, and introducing Jeff Olivier, Grounds Maintenance Foreman.
Roxanna Champagne, Lafayette Garden Club President, talked about the 24 local schools the Club is providing
with trees and seedlings, stating that the Live Oak Society is under the auspices of Louisiana Garden Club.
Lafayette Garden Club’s Live Oak Committee is chaired by Gretchen Stewart.
Jim Foret, of the Department of Renewable Resources and University of Louisiana at Lafayette, stated
there’s now a tree protection plan in place for ULL’s live oak trees. Jeff Olivier introduced Neil Bob, Lafayette
Consolidated Government’s labor foreman.
Ms. Stewart announced that we are today honoring recently deceased Garden Club members: Betty
Clarke, Irene Trahan, and May Thibeaux, and that the tree has been donated in honor of Club member Joanna
Broussard’s husband, Ed. Ms. Stewart then introduced special guests: Joe Clarke and Suzanne Clark, members
of Betty Clarke’s family, and Clayton Thibeaux, son of May Thibeaux. Gil Futch, Grounds Maintenance
Supervisor directed the planting of this young live oak tree at the corner of Camellia Boulevard and
Cambridge Drive.
TreesAcadiana Arbor Day
President Sarah Schoeffler (and Lafayette Garden Club member) organized over 100 volunteers to plant 37 native
trees along the railroad tracks on Garfield St. in the old Port Pico neighborhood. Read more
trees along the railroad tracks on Garfield St. in the old Port Pico neighborhood. Read more