Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Haiti Embassy 911 Memorial Tree Gets Spring Cleanup

James starts clearing away grass from the tree.
Treekeeper James Brown and Tree Ambassador Deborah Shapley cleared grass that had sprung from the soil around the 911 Memorial Tree at the Embassy of Haiti at 2311 Mass Ave.

Our May 27 cleanup will help the Embassy continue nurturing this tree, which is an important symbol of that nation's resilience.

The 911 Memorial Commission honors those who have faced a terrible tragedy with the award of a clone of the Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) that survived the World Trade Center collapse. Back story: In the rubble, workers found this old stump. It was alive!  Experts rescued it and nursed it back to health. It was replanted at the new WTC. Visitors love this living symbol of hope. (See photo below.)

In 2017 the 911 Memorial Commission awarded a clone
of the original survivor tree to the Embassy of Haiti. 
This award honors the Haitian people's resilience
 in the  tragic 2015 earthquake there.
Patrick and James

Restore Mass Ave helped arrange the new tree to be planted right in front of the Embassy, where the public can see it best. Bartlett Tree Experts planted it in 2018 and provided the fence to protect it from vehicles, wind and crowds. The Embassy takes great care of this special tree. 

Josh Nadler of Bartlett's checks up on this tree as it's a special case. He's pleased with its growth.
As part of our Green Community the Haiti Embassy, RMA and Bartletts are growing a new living memorial on Embassy Row.


Haiti Embassy's 911 Memorial Tree.
The original 911 Memorial Tree blooms at WTC.