Join Us for a Tree Planting Ceremony

Plan to join us this Wednesday November 23, 2011 between 11:00am and 2:00 pm as members of Prairie Folklore Theatre plant more than a dozen large trees as part of the ongoing cemetery beautification efforts. In the past several years more than a dozen large trees have fallen due to age or storm damage. We are replacing many of these trees with locally grown native tree species, linden, white oak and red maple.

“It takes 200 years to replace a 200 year old tree,” says artistic director Brian “Fox” Ellis, adding, “I saw this on a bumper sticker on the pick-up truck of former Peoria City Arborist Elroy Limmer and the idea has always stuck with me. Springdale Cemetery is graced with hundreds of trees older than Peoria itself. Our goal is to make sure there are ancient trees 200 years from now.”

“This time of year is a great time to plant trees as they go dormant. Also many nurseries are having end of the season clearance sales. We are very fortunate that Green View Nurseries is willing to work with us so we can ratchet up our donation and acquire nearly $3000 worth the trees.” Ellis said, “And with members of the theatre company volunteering to plant the trees we will leave a legacy for future generations.”

Every year Prairie Folklore Theatre hosts an interactive walking tour of the cemetery and every year the proceeds are donated to the cemetery restoration efforts. In the past we have helped to restore monuments and replace the civil war soldier on soldier hill, but this year we decided to leave a living legacy.