From Oregon to New Jersey to New York City, trees bring hope to Ground Zero

This video tells the story of 16 trees that now offer hope to those who visit Ground Zero. Many of the 400 trees destined for Ground Zero began their lives at J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co., thanks to the Boring, Oregon, nursery’s role as primary supplier of young trees to Halka Nurseries of New Jersey.

On its Facebook page, J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. writes the following:

Nearly 10 years after the 9/11 attack, life is coming back to Ground Zero. Life is springing forth in the form of trees, grown by J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. customers and friends of more than 50 years, the Chet Halka family of New Jersey.

J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. is honored that many of the 400 Swamp White Oaks being planted on the memorial site began as acorns in our seedling beds, grown for several years, and sold as bare root liners to Halka Nurseries.

Halka Nurseries’ role in bringing life to Ground Zero, and their decades-long tradition of growing noble trees for our national monuments, is described in greater detail in this companion newspaper article.

Kudos also to Bartlett Tree Experts, the company charged with transferring the trees into giant containers, where they’ve nurtured, pruned and pampered them for the past several years.

Check out Halka Nurseries’ web site to see their process of digging up giant trees.

Friends of Trees is honored to work with our longtime supporter, J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co., winner of our 2010 Business Leadership Award. We are inspired that Oregon has a role in bringing trees—and hope—to Ground Zero.

-TR