| JULY 3,2023 -- The Cannon Grange POH #152 celebrated its 124th birthday with a tree planting along the nearby Norwalk River. With a generous donation from Patricia & Frederick Quell and the volunteer help of the Puches and Duke families, multigenerational planters, a beautiful Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud) was planted April 21, 2023 -- Earth Day. This ornamental pollinator tree is fitting
for its riparian buffer edge of the river, and it has a history that is perfect for Cannon Grange’s mission. This native tree has both nutritional value with its edible flowers, and medicinal uses with a long history in North America and Eurasia. Cannon Grange’s historic 1899 building owns over 100 linear feet of Norwalk River waterfront by the Cannondale Bridge. This precious waterfront resource will be replanted over time as we slowly remove its many invasives as Cannon Grange celebrates its 125th in 2024.
The Eastern Redbud is an ornamental multi-stemmed tree with striking pink-lavender spring blossom and butter yellow fall color. It enjoys a riverside location in partial sun and shade. It is a draw for butterflies and other pollinators. It is a recommended tree of the New England Wildflower Society for such sites, offering spring flowers, fall colors, fragrance, and shade. It offers nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies and bees, nest sites for birds, and food for caterpillars. It is a magnet for many other species. Beloved for its colors in April and May, it offers heart-shaped leaves that turn butter yellow in the fall. It has a small stature and can therefore grace locations under utility lines. Most of all, it loves the edges of woodlands and a location such as the river edge one Cannon Grange provided here.
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