First Street gets landscaped

Trees are once again adorning the sidewalks of First Street in Langley.

On Wednesday, Maureen Rowley, co-owner of Bayview Farm and Garden, and a co-worker planted 10 trees in concrete planters along both sides of the street.

The bare-root trees are amelanchiers, otherwise known as serviceberry or juneberry. They are deciduous, will grow in a columnar shape, and were planted just in time for spring.

"The amelanchier is a beautiful, multi-seasonal interest tree with flowers in the spring and deep shades of red and orange in the fall," Rowley said.

It took a real community effort to bring the trees back to First Street. The Langley City Council has been discussing the subject at intervals during the previous five years, but there was concern about size. The trees are expected to grow only about 10 feet tall. Shoppers will be able to walk around and beneath them easily.

Thanks to planning by Langley Parks Board and fund-raising efforts the trees became a reality. Bayview Farm & Garden supplied the trees and concrete planters for $3,500, the Langley Community Club donated $1,000, an anonymous donor $1,000 and the city $1,500.

Storeowners have volunteered to water and care for the trees.

Sandra Wainwright, owner of Wayward Son, a First Street jewelry store, is delighted with the addition of trees.

"There have been a number of studies that show people are attracted to areas with greenery. It is a wonderful addition to our town," Wainwright said.

Wainwright, a Parks Board member, said she hopes local gardeners will consider adopting a tree to care for.

The last of the previous trees, which pushed up the sidewalk, was removed about two years ago.

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