‘Trees Color Our World': Windsor Arbor Day 5K 2015

Anyone who lived in the town of Windsor prior to May 22, 2008 can tell you that the town used to have more trees. Today, members of the once-devastated community are still working to restore, rebuild and replant what the mile-wide tornado took away from them seven years ago.

This morning (April 18), in celebration of Arbor Day, runners, walkers and their four-legged companions gathered around the beach at Boardwalk Park to participate in the annual Arbor Day 5K. I had the home-field advantage, because being just an alley away from our 6th Street station, I get to jog around Windsor Lake all the time (that view!).

The Arbor Day 5K, put on by the Windsor Tree Board, invites all members of the community to come out and help keep Windsor 'tree-rific.' All event proceeds go toward planting trees around town. In celebration of Windsor's 125th anniversary, 125 participants also went home with a baby tree (aww.)

Local artist, Bridie Ward, and poet Brookelle Otte were selected to have their work featured on the Arbor Day 5K 2015 tee shirts.

As the small spring wind whispers through the valley,

Murmuring to the trees 'It is time to wake

To bud your flowers,

Time to show your beauty that has long been hidden."

 

As the trees slowly wake from their long winters nap,

Stretching their branches into the soft morning light

Ready to bloom their colors,

Subdued red and white.

 

As the trees fully wake,

A warm wind rustles their leaves.

They are finally ready to show their strong, vibrant leaves

With each gust of wind,

You can hear the leaves whisper and giggle.

 

All too soon,

The chilly breeze,

Melodically prepares the leaves for winters sleep,

But whispers

"Before you go,

Let's put on one last show,

Show your colors!

The vibrant red, vivid orange, and brilliant yellow,

For when the next wind blows,

Your leaves shall fall."

 

As the cold winter wind

Sweeps through the town

Turning the trees barren and brown,

Except for the tall evergreens

That shoot into the sky,

For they keep their lustrous green.

 

I will now wait a long winters nap

For when I wake,

The trees I love,

 

Will be alive once more.

 

-Brookelle Otte

 

Well said, Brookelle. We love the spring blossoms, too!