A Special Autumn 2007 Arbor Day Event

Recognizing Kirkwood’s Veterans

Saturday, November 17, 2007, 11:30am

In conjunction with Downtown Kirkwood’s “Holiday Walk”

Kirkwood City Hall

While Kirkwood and the State of Missouri traditionally celebrates Arbor Day

each year on the FIRST FRIDAY in APRIL

Kirkwood is celebrating a second Arbor Day in honor of Kirkwood’s Veterans

with a special tree planting.

This year, the Community of Kirkwood

and

the Kirkwood Urban Forestry Commission

is pleased to present the 2007 Veterans Arbor Day Celebration

by planting a Missouri native

Pawpaw tree.

The Pawpaw tree produces the largest edible fruit native to the United States. Pawpaws are indigenous to 26 states in the U.S., including Missouri and Illinois. They have provided delicious and nutritious food for Native Americans, European explorers and settlers, and wild animals.  The unique flavor of the fruit resembles a blend of various tropical flavors including banana, pineapple and mango. The flavor and custard-like texture make Pawpaws a good substitute for bananas in almost any recipe. Common names for the Pawpaw tree, reflecting the characteristics of its fruit, include “poor man’s banana,” “American custard apple” and “Missouri banana.”

Placement of this particular tree supports the importance of replacing existing or recently removed trees that have been compromised by recent violent storms and summer drought.  This Pawpaw tree is being planted to replace a damaged and deteriorating Bradford ornamental tree signifying our community’s interest to maintain the health and integrity of Kirkwood’s urban forest.

The community of Kirkwood thanks the

St. Louis Arborist Association,

an organization of tree care professionals dedicated to

promoting knowledge-based tree preservation in the St. Louis metro region,

who contributed this Pawpaw tree.

For more information about the St. Louis Arborist Association, visit

www.stlouisarborists.com

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