Borrowing for its motto the words of Nelson Henderson, the Honorary Tree Program is helping Redlanders do just that.

"I think people are looking for a way to give that improves the community," said Shelli Stockton who, along with fellow Street Tree Committee member Char Burgess, helped start the offshoot program.

"People could honor someone ... and assist with the city's planting budget, which is basically nothing."

Though the program was first approved by the City Council in September, this month saw the first honorary planting.

A major branch of a large carob in front of the A.K. Smiley Public Library used to extend far over Eureka Street. A storm took the branch down and that break weakened the tree, exposing the carob to disease that hollowed it out and created a hazard at the library.

When the 80-year-old tree was finally removed this month, a young carob stood ready and waiting to be placed in the ground as the first planting of the Honorary Tree Program.

"One of the reason we wanted to do this (tree) first is we though people would be so dismayed when they saw the (Smiley carob) taken out," said Stockton. "This was a nice way to keep people from driving by and saying ROh my god, what happened to that carob tree?'"

Stockton said that dozens of people have made at least the $50 minimum donation to the Honorary Tree Program, but the new carob was actually donated by West Coast Arborists, the city's contracted tree trimmers and removers.

West Coast Arborists is also helping the old carob have a fulfilling afterlife. San Dimas woodworker Ric Ivy, who makes furniture for the company out of their recycled wood, will turn the old tree into a mission-style chair for the Smiley library. Ivy made similar chairs for residents of South Buena Vista Street who lost four cherished street tree oaks to disease last year.

The day of the carob planting, the arborists also donated and planted a second honorary tree - the replacement for an old Sylvan Park coast live oak that, as they discovered, had itself been an honorary tree.

"That tree was in memory of Robert Adams and he was the city gardener from 1912 to 1929," said Frank Quinn, regional manager for West Coast Arborists. "He was one of us."

Quinn learned the history of the tree when the old oak was pulled from the ground. When the debris had been cleared, Quinn's crew discovered a sunken plaque dedicating the tree to Adams.

"This Oak Tree, planted by Robert Adams, is dedicated as a living symbol of the esteem and affection of a loving citizenry," the plaque reads. The dedication was made by an act of the City Council on Dec. 4, 1929, and the marker bears the names of Mayor Allen Wheaton and City Clerk Clint P. Hook.

"I hated to see that tree come down," said Sylvan neighbor Vicki Kevari. "I'm a lifer of Redlands. I went to school here and I walked this park."

Kevari watched as Quinn and his crew replaced Adams' old oak with a young healthy tree. The men replanted the Adams plaque back into the ground, 4 feet from the new trees' truck to allow the oak plenty of room to grow.

Kevari may be the next person to sponsor a tree. She left the planting site with an Honorary Tree Program brochure. The same brochure will be distributed in city utility bills, according to Stockton.

Stockton emphasized that the program isn't just for memorial plantings. Donated trees can honor any person or event.

"Some of these have been donated in honor of people that don't even live in town," Stockton said.

SOW A SEED

The Honorary Tree Program's next planting isn't until the fall, but donations are being accepted now.

An honorary tree can be planted for a minimum $50 donation, tax deductible, made through the Redlands Community Foundation.