Each semester, I receive an email from Prof Charles Taliaferro from St Olaf College in Minnesota USA, asking me to plant trees on the behalf of his philosophy students. This semester was no exception when Charles instructed me to plant 82 trees for his 82 students. I went a little further and planted 90. The trees went to 2 groups. Forty-five trees went out to a rural primary school at Trawella (Western Victoria). School Principal Mr Richard Matters sent in the following photos and narrative from their tree planting day.

Today we planted 3 lots of 15 trees around our school surrounds (45). We were busy at recess and lunchtimes watering our trees to make sure they make it through their first hot summer. We also put down bark chips and erected tree protectors. We can’t wait to see local wildlife, insects and birds in and around our school environment. Thank you so much to the team at Fifteen Trees for the opportunity to make our school grounds both appealing for us and more inhabitable for insect and bird predators. Richard Matters | Principal | Trawalla Primary School

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The second planting took place across the other side of the state at Bendigo (Vic). Here another 45 trees were planted by various members of the Relay for Life Project. This ‘not for profit’ organisation raises money for cancer research. This year in Bendigo they raised $118,000.00 for the local hospital. An amazing effort. Charles’ trees were given to 45 participants who wanted to plant at tree at their home in memory of a loved one whom they had lost to cancer. From all reports, it was bucketing down during the event, however from the photos, their spirits weren’t dampened. [/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

Charles’ students were asked to submit a name for their trees … here they are …

Avalokitesvara, Samuel, Skeletor, Tianyi, Ge, Yuwei, Sonja, Cornelius Fudge, Simba, Becca, Paul Bunyan, Jamarcus, Turd Ferguson, Dimitri, Buddy Joseph, Oscar, La-a, Bill Nye (ie the science guy?), Brandon, Little Flower Girl, Um Ya Ya, Pamela McDowell, Liya, Mwamasika, Mayopona, Ella, Nora, Felix, Brontë, , Laina, Dempsey, Willow, Yemen, Daniel, Odin, Ross, Roxanne, Lauren, J.L, Timothy, Yodit, Aussie (Aussie, Aussie), René, John, Jimmy, Masha, Colin,Shaun, Justin, Max, Trevor, Shinko, Jane, Nina, Affan, Calcifer, Joey, Elizabeth, Tristan, Yuhui, Telperion, Itis, Daddy wones, Chenchen, Randy Clay, LoveChenchen, Leafer, Joyous, Joffrey Baratheon, Sean Bean, Rochford Kearney, Abdulhakim and Wafa Al-Haddad, Death Metal Tree (love it), , Seohee, Lee Goren, Ben Eaves, Jim Morrison, Phyllis, Steve, Cullen and Rose.

Huge thank you Charles for your continuing support of our native environment here in Australia. Please let me know if you every come out this way. I’d love to show you your trees. Slainte – Colleen[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]