Greenwich honors 250-year-old trees at Oct. 22 celebration

Greenwich's oldest trees take center stage at the eighth annual Treasured Trees Celebration on Thursday, Oct. 22.

The Greenwich Tree Conservancy will host the evening event at Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses on North Street, starting at 6:30 p.m. This year's program will spotlight trees that have stood in Greenwich for 250 years or more, tying the celebration to the national America 250 commemoration.

Since its launch, the Treasured Trees program has recognized more than 40 trees across town for their history, size, shape and the personal stories behind them, according to the Greenwich Tree Conservancy's event page. Winners of this year's contest will share those stories at the reception, which includes cocktails and appetizers.

A judging panel that includes the Town of Greenwich Tree Warden and a professional arborist evaluates each nomination, Living Greenwich reported. The personal story matters most. Any tree on private land in Greenwich can be nominated with the owner's permission, and winners receive a custom nameplate mounted on the trunk.

Past honorees have included a copper beech that has watched over a Greenwich home since at least 1924 and another with a trunk measuring 18 feet around, according to the Greenwich Sentinel.

The Conservancy, founded in 2007 and led by Executive Director Kate Dzikiewicz, has a broader footprint beyond the annual celebration. Board President Elizabeth Hopley said at the Conservancy's Tree Party benefit on April 25 that Greenwich is home to 152 Connecticut Notable Trees, including 32 Champion Trees.

"We plant hundreds of new trees every year across town parks and roadways … and we protect our beautiful heritage trees, through recognition programs like our Treasured Trees event," Hopley said at the April 25 event.

Arboretum curator Lisa Beebe has labeled 1,400 trees in Greenwich's parks, schools and libraries.

Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, the celebration's longtime host, has operated at 437 North St. since 1930. Tickets and details are available at greenwichtreeconservancy.org.