Trees are important. They provide the oxygen we breathe, cool down our cities, serve as a habitat for wildlife, improve our mental health and much more.
Fullerton Arboretum, a 26-acre botanical garden located on the Cal State Fullerton campus, recognizes the importance of trees and plays an active role in supporting their conservation. In fact, the arboretum has a grand total of 2,167 trees that are housed throughout its four major ecosystem collections.
However, maintaining and ensuring the health of over 2,000 trees is no easy feat. That’s why during the month of “Treetober,” from Oct. 1-31, Fullerton Arboretum is raising funds that will go toward the care of its trees.
Trees need a lot of care. Take the arboretum’s iconic Ombu, for example. For its annual pruning to protect from wind damage and ensure healthy growth, the giant Ombu requires the tallest lift in Orange County, which costs $6,000.
“The arboretum is a place where trees are allowed to grow to their full potential, instead of being pruned to fit into a designated space,” says Greg Pongetti, living collections curator at Fullerton Arboretum. “Our tree care program involves carefully pruning mature trees to enhance the natural shape of their canopies to exhibit their growth habit in our local environmental conditions. But we start by training young trees to prevent major problems with their branch structure later on.”
Every donation will make a difference toward helping maintain the arboretum’s beautiful living collection, and together, the community can make a huge impact. “Our goal is to reach $10,000 by the end of October,” says Emilia Pereda, who manages annual giving at Fullerton Arboretum. “Also, once we reach $5,000, a generous arboretum donor has pledged to make a $5,000 matching gift to the project.”
Treetober ends on Nov. 1 at 12 a.m. (PDT), so don’t miss out on your chance to be a part of this important project. Make your impact now.