Arboretum Issues S.O.S. for Tireless Workers;

Tire Cleanup Slated for Saturday, August 25

ESPERANCE, NY (08/01/2007)(readMedia)-- In an annual battle that pits Abandoned Tires against Tireless Volunteers, the Landis Arboretum is betting heavily on smarts, brawn, and a lot of hard work from its friends!

On Saturday, August 25, Landis, the Capital Region’s Arboretum, will spearhead its annual initiative to remove thousands of abandoned tires from its property. Internally code-named Tirefest, a title that belies the effort involved with the project, the event is slated between 9 AM – 4 PM, rain or shine. The project is being funded, in part, by a grant from the Iroquois Pipeline, with the Arboretum Trustees and staff – aided by a hoped-for army of volunteers – providing the elbow grease needed for the project.

"Tirefest could be the perfect communal day or shared project for high-school and college environmental, civic, and outdoor clubs," suggests Fred Breglia, head of operations at the Capital Region’s Arboretum in Esperance, NY. “Last year, John McKeeby’s Schoharie River Project came out in force and helped us pull more than 2,000 abandoned tires from our beautiful Arboretum!”

Flawed Beauty

The drive centers on the Arboretum’s acquisition of lands contiguous to its property in Montgomery and Schoharie counties that provides a buffer for the Arboretum land and preserves disappearing green space for the residents of the Capital Region that call the Arboretum their own. The northernmost parcel, however, contains a large number (possibly thousands) of old vehicle tires and assorted debris.

“The Arboretum was aware of the tires and trash prior to acquisition of the property,” says Mr. Breglia. “Our intent was to clean it with volunteers on special, annual cleanup days, such as this year’s Tirefest 2007. Last year, we removed more than 2,000 tires from the property.”

Resources Needed

The success of the Tirefest will depend heavily on environmentalists, focused volunteers including area student groups, and the active goodwill of region residents who know the Arboretum and support its educational mission. The Landis Arboretum also seeks additional resources to ensure success at Tirefest:

  • 50 – 75 individuals to volunteer as members of the clean-up "crew"
  • availability of several 4-wheel drive trucks to access the tire area, and of course
  • tireless cheerleaders to serve lunch for the "crew"

Dean Marotta of R.J. Valente Companies (Halfmoon), Charlie Parker and James “Nick” Spath (both of Esperance), and Lion’s Club President Patrick Donnelly (Lawyersville)will be among those who will provide equipment needed to remove the tires from the Arboretum site.

“Given the importance of increasingly shrinking green resources – and the Arboretum's mission -- we were offered an opportunity that we felt we could not pass up,” says Mr. Breglia. “This exciting addition to our property already is enabling us to expand our trail system; in time, we may be able to connect our trails with those in the Charleston State Forest.” The property also will be used for education programs such as Global Information Systems (GIS) and woodlot management.

Speaking of his first Tirefest as the Arboretum’s executive director last year, Thom O’Connor recalls a day of light-hearted fun despite [his] aches and pains. “We had entire families come to spend the day with us. The rain and mud did not stop the laughter and communal lunch that is a Tirefest tradition. Many of the young people from nearby colleges vowed to return this year. We hope so: they were 40 years younger than many of us – and demonstrated a special pride and zeal in cleaning up this beautiful place.” Mr. O’Connor says he hopes that area social and civic clubs, as well as fire and police departments, will take an active interest in this year’s Tirefest event.

Multifaceted Jewel Worth Exploration

The Landis Arboretum is a public garden that includes eight miles of hiking and walking trails overlooking picturesque Schoharie Valley near Esperance, NY . Forty acres are developed with plantings, trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials from around the world. The remainder of the property consists of natural areas, woodlands, and open fields reminiscent of the former farm of founder Fred Lape. The Landis Arboretum may be one of the best kept secrets in the northern Catskills and along the scenic Route 20 corridor between Albany and Skaneateles.

The 548 acres of the Arboretum comprise a national treasure which includes 163 acres of cultivated and native plants on the site of a 19th century farm, the home of Fred Lape, the Arboretum's founder. The Arboretum is central to the New York State Wine and Spa Trails and is in close proximity to historic Sharon Springs. And, it is a natural stop for those traveling to the high-volume tourist attractions between the Albany, Cooperstown, and the Finger Lakes Regions.

Horticulture Bonanza

The Arboretum's most recent land acquisition almost doubled the size of the site and contains a horticulture bonanza. Last summer, a team of old-growth-forest experts surveyed the site and found species of trees ranging from 150 to 350 years old. The Landis Arboretum is now one of only three arboreta in eastern North America that have old growth forests. The other two are the New York Botanical Garden and Rutgers University.

The Landis Arboretum includes a nationally recognized collection of oaks and is registered with the North American Plant Collections Consortium (NAPCC). The Arboretum also is included in the New York State Route 20 Bluebird Trail, bringing even more birdwatchers to the site. The Arboretum’s vast dark sky and wide horizons attract area astronomers to its meeting house and parking field for sky-watching events.

Funding for the Landis Arboretum’s upkeep and extensive community-focused programs is derived primarily from grants, donations, membership, and the increasingly popular Spring and Fall Plant Sales that have become hallmarks of the Arboretum. A Suggested Donation of $5 per adult/$15 family helps to defray basic costs for this multifaceted operation.

For more information about volunteering and offers of donations, please contact Judy Puddester, the Landis Arboretum, PO Box 186, Lape Road, Esperance, NY 12066-0186; 518-875-6935/Fax: 518-875-6394, landisjp@midtel.net;

The Arboretum is located 1.5 miles off of Route 20 in Esperance, NY. www.landisarboretum.org.

Landis, the Capital Region's Arboretum: Where Mother Nature Hits Her High Notes!

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