More trees added to newest Carey park

CAREY – Elm Hill Nature's Edge is looking even more like a park these days with the purchase of an additional 17 trees that were planted this fall. Members of the Carey Link purchased the trees for the town's newest nature area. "It just looks like there's something more when there are larger trees," said Link volunteer Nancy Kessler. The trees were purchased from the North Branch Nursery, Pemberville. "What they do in the spring, they estimate what they're going to sell and they dig those up and do the ball and burlap and everything. And then come fall, they do an online auction," she explained. Although the trees are available in smaller lots, they are taller and cost about one-third of the normal cost, said Kessler. The Link spent about $2,100 on chinkapin oak, Kentucky coffee, American elm, chestnut oak, shingle oak, black gum and serviceberry as well as bosc and bartlett pear and winecrisp, KinderKrisp and fireside apple trees. These follow 125 smaller trees that were planted in the spring. Most of the trees are species native to Ohio, volunteers said. "Obviously the seedlings will grow and it's a good way to get started," said Kessler. "But we were just really anxious to have something that was more visible." An orchard area is planned for the fruit trees. Kessler said when the fruit is ready, some will be harvested and taken to the town's farmers market. Community members will also be able to go out to the park and pick produce, too, she added. "We kind of took our inspiration for that from Bloomington, Indiana, where they have the Bloomington Community Orchard. The whole thing is an orchard and it is just for the community to use. So that was part of the inspiration for Elm Hill Nature's Edge," she said. In the future, she said they'd like to plant other perennial fruiting plants like raspberries and blackberries. The seven-acre nature area, located along Township Highway 98 on the eastern edge of town, was officially dedicated in late July and features native prairie grasslands, wildflowers, a gazebo dedicated to Carey's Vietnam veterans, a sculpture and a fenced dog park. The site had been the previous location of two polishing ponds that were used in the village's wastewater treatment process. When the state of Ohio required that the village build a new sewage treatment facility, the ponds were no longer needed. Volunteers approached the village about using the land for a park-type area, and council agreed. Volunteers of the Link took the lead on the project. Elm Hill Nature's Edge is now part of the Carey park system. Kessler said memorial trees are also available for purchase to honor someone. For more information and prices, send an email to linkcarey@gmail.com or message The Link through its Facebook page. Kessler said a sign was installed on the Tree of Hope giving credit to artist Jamie Stephenson and a grant from the Ohio Arts Council to pay for the artwork. The 11-foot-tall tree features 17 animals and insects, all made from reclaimed metal parts. The Carey FFA will also be constructing five benches for the park over the winter. The students were divided into five groups and each will plan and construct a bench of their choosing. "The kids have free rein because in our mind, the more whimsical the better. Why have benches that are all cookie-cutter the same?" Kessler said. "We're just really excited about that. We just think that's really fun that that's the way she's doing it is letting them just decide what they want to do."