By Anne W. Semmes
Since the year 2007 the Town of Greenwich has been graced with a nonprofit effort to enrich, enhance, and add to its trees and forests, “to benefit our health and quality of life.” So read the invitation to the Greenwich Tree Conservancy’s (GTC) annual “Tree Party” benefit held traditionally at the McArdle’s Greenhouse as of last Friday week. And this year the “Tree Party” fell on Arbor Day!
The theme this year was “Flight of the Forest” with some 180 attending ticket holders bringing with their contributions “more trees in our town and enhancing the habitat that lets local and migrating birds sing.” That promise was fulfilled: “You’ll connect with neighbors, who also want to protect our town’s natural heritage and support the vital work of preserving and enhancing our precious tree canopy.”
Colorfully dressed attendees were happily gathered together and surrounded by an aromatic array of extraordinary flowers as GTC Board President Elizabeth Hopley greeted guests. “Happy Arbor Day everyone, delighted to see you all here! Thank you all so much for coming and supporting the Tree Conservancy.” And she thanked James McArdle “and his wonderful team for this always lovely venue.” Her “huge” thanks included such sponsors as
the Peter Malkins, Dave Williams, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and wife Cynthia Malkin Blumenthal, Bartlett Tree Experts, Sam Bridge Nursery & Gardens, “and Val’s Putnam Wines & Liquors, who generously donated the delicious wines and spirits tonight.”
Up next were “our local and state dignitaries, First Selectman Fred Camillo, State Rep. Steve Meskers and State Rep. Hector Arzeno,” with Camillo saying a few words.
“I am proud to stand up here with Steve and Hector to salute all your efforts,” said Camillo. He spoke of honoring Arbor Day by recently planting a tree in Glenville. “We were talking to the kids there – they were all excited. Kate Dzikiewicz [GTC Executive Director]
was there and Gregory Kramer [Town Tree Warden]. We were saying when you go to all these other towns, you look at how beautiful they are. But when you come back to your own town, it’s a little bit more beautiful. And a big reason for that is the trees. Believe it or not, it sounds simple, but it’s actually very true… There are more trees now than it was when I was growing up here in town, and that’s a good thing… So, your efforts are the reason why that is the way it is and keep it up!”
Hopley then addressed just what those added trees have done for this town since 2007. “They clean our air, stabilize the soil, absorb flood waters, give us welcome shade, scenic beauty, and can even boost property values.” And as a nonprofit, partnering with the Town, “We plant hundreds of new trees every year across town parks and roadways. We also plant commemorative trees to honor someone or mark a milestone. And we protect our beautiful heritage trees, through recognition programs like our Treasured Trees event and the CT Notable Trees program, of which we have 152, including 32 Champion Trees and 13 Co-Champions in Greenwich [the largest examples of their kind found in Connecticut].”
She also spelled out GTC’s advocacy. “We advocate for common-sense policies, alongside our Tree Warden Dr. Greg Kramer for town projects, but also we advocate to PURA (Public Utility Regulatory Authority) to stop utilities, like Eversource, from over pruning our town tree canopy.” And notably, “We advocate for burying overhead wires for resiliency and scenic beauty.”
GTC’s educative outreach Hopley also described. “‘The GTC offers fun programs like school tree plantings and lectures.” Coming up on May 27 the noted Met lecturer and Columbia adjunct professor Page Knox will address “Branching Out: Trees in Contemporary Art” at the Greenwich Botanical Center. “We’ll have workshops, and tree walks, and we even have a fitness walk called ‘Fit in the Forest’ on the first Saturday of every month… Most of these programs are free admission. So of course, none of this can happen without the support of friends like you.”
Hopkins then called forward, the “Tree Party’s incredible co-chairs who have been so creative, motivated, and detail-oriented, Sammy Lazar Jacobs, Saila Kukar Shah, and Hannah Kramer.” They were presented with “a special certificate of appreciation and a tree planted in their honor at a town location of their choice. Thank you!
After more thanks to GTC’s “talented, dedicated tree conservancy staff Kate Dzikiewicz and Karin Cholak,” Hopley moved to “what everyone has been waiting for, the door prize drawings!!” The variety of door prizes was astounding. Pilates sessions, Health and Fitness gift cards, massages, museum memberships for a year, performances… But importantly, with every attendee of the 2026 “Tree Party,” would come the continuing commitment to the enhancement of trees in their town.
