Girl Scouts Plant Trees with New Rochelle Arborist

What prompted a troop of local Girl Scouts to beautify the parks in Eastchester this past weekend?

They were celebrating Arbor Day with a lesson in tree-planting from Michael Marks, senior arborist at Almstead Tree and Shrub Care Co. This year marked the 12th anniversary of the New Rochelle resident’s tradition, for which he and his junior tree-lovers planted 200 bear root saplings around town.

“It’s a good learning experience for when they are young,” he said. “Then when they’re older, they can see the fruits of their labor and see the good they are doing for the village.”

The results of one such project can already be seen in front of Eastchester Town Hall, where a group of trees now stand tall.

“The Girl Scouts are able to watch the trees grow and hopefully will follow up in later years to do good for themselves and their neighbors.”

Marks is committed to keeping the county green, even when it isn't Arbor Day. Aside from his job with Almstead Tree and Shrub Care Co., where he addresses concerns clients have about their landscapes, he dedicates time to pruning the village of Bronxville for the Bronxville Beautification Council and preserving large trees for the Bronxville Green Committee.

Marks might also conduct tree-hazard evaluations or diagnose insect-related issues that could interfere with the health of local landscapes.

“From the time I was a young kid, my mother couldn't keep me out of the trees,” Marks said. “I was climbing out of my playpen from when I was a year old.”

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