Friends of Balboa Park sees 18 new trees planted in honor of lifelong park devotees

By Anthony King | SDUN Editor

Arborists, city employees, city and state leaders and students from South Park’s Albert Einstein Academy joined the Friends of Balboa Park early morning April 26 to celebrate Arbor Day by planting new trees in Balboa Park. Over 150 community members gathered near the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Quince Street for the ceremony.

“Thank you for being with us today to dedicate the 18 newest tress in Balboa Park,” said Jim Hughes, Friends of Balboa Park chair. “The planting of trees today is an example of what the Friends of Balboa Park does.”

The Balboa Park stewards have hosted an Arbor Day ceremony in the park for seven years, however the first celebration occurred on Saint Patrick’s Day in 1904. Botanist and landscape architect Kate Sessions – called by some the “Mother of Balboa Park” – hosted that first tree planting, which was attended by 3,500 school children. They planted 60 trees.

“What you’re doing today, when you help us plant some of these trees, you’re continuing something that started with Kate Sessions,” Council President Todd Gloria told the students. “This park belongs to all of you.”

Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins said she was excited to tell the students a history of Arbor Day, including its start in Nebraska and the first official celebration in 1872. In 1970, President Richard Nixon declared the last Friday in April National Arbor Day.

All speakers addressed the students directly, with Atkins telling of California’s history as the home of many greats in tree history and San Diego Urban Forestry Council chair and arborist Mike Palat telling jokes and giving environmental facts. For example, the world’s oldest tree, located in California, is 2,500 years old Atkins said, and Palat said urban trees live eight years on average.

Of the 18 trees planted April 26, two are Blue Atlantic cedars, six are Helen Borchers Peach trees, four are Alexandrina Saucer magnolias and six are St. Mary magnolias. Mayor Bob Filner described each species and thanked the city’s horticulturalist Mario Llanos for his work.

“We forget that we have a horticulturalist here in the park to make this the incredible beauty that it is. We thank you, Mario, for everything you do,” Filner said.

Several private community members and local businesses donated the trees for planting, including Carol and Herman Wong, Jonathan Hayes, and The San Diego Foundation. Most were donated in the name of individuals with special connections to Balboa Park.

“All of those people that we’re honoring today are here today and they’ll be here forever in spirit. Let’s keep that in mind with these magnificent trees,” Hughes said.

One honoree was Rory Ruppert, the former director of Balboa Park Cultural Partnership’s Sustainability Program. Ruppert, who had a tree donated in her name by family and friends, died Feb. 21.

“She was a magnificent woman that worked every single day to make this park more energy efficient,” Gloria said. “Her family is here today to make sure that her legacy continues by planting a tree in her honor. I can’t think of something that Rory would want more.”

Another honoree was John “Jack” Krasovich, an Uptown resident and San Diego Park and Recreation employee who ran the Balboa Park division. Krasovich died March 1. Park and Recreation Director Stacey LoMedico attended the Arbor Day celebration, and honored Krasovich specifically.

“Jack loved many things, but he loved his country, he loved his family, he loved God and he loved this park,” LoMedico said. “For those of us that worked with Jack, we’re very honored to have a donated tree in his memory. It’s a very special day for us.”

Both LoMedico and Gloria thanked city employees, including Park and Recreation staff. “It is their dedication that we do have such a crown jewel,” LoMedico said.

Following the speakers, Park Ranger Kim Duclo invited the students to grab shovels and help cover the 18 nearby trees. Representatives from San Diego Gas & Electric and Urban Corps of San Diego County were on hand to help as well.

“When you plant a tree, it’s a little bit like building a time machine because you’re going to be sending something forward in time that says you were here this day,” Duclo said to the students.

“But a time machine can also go backwards,” he said. “Fifty days from now, 50 months from now or 50 years from now you can come back [and] visit the trees you helped plant today. I hope that you will remember your friends that are here, your family [and] loved ones.”