In this month’s History Bit, we shine a spotlight on the Webster Arboretum, and a beautiful little tree with the peevish name, the crabapple.
Most people probably don’t realize that the flowering crabapple is the Town of Webster’s official tree. According to the Webster Arboretum website, that designation can be traced back to Elizabeth Sykes, a member of the Webster Country Gardeners Garden Club. Back around 1970, she urged the Town to adopt the tree as the Town Tree. (No one seems to know why she chose the crabapple).
Sykes then asked Jean Thompson and Carole Huther to approach the Town about establishing a crabapple arboretum. The perfect location seemed to be a parcel of land the Town had purchased several years earlier, two family farms on Schlegel Rd. owned by Herman Rieflin and Walter Wright. On June 21, 1971 the Town accepted the proposal and set aside 20 of the 80 acres for the arboretum.
Of course the first plantings were crabapple trees.
In the years since it was established, the Webster Arboretum – officially known as the Webster Sesquicentennial Arboretum at Irving Kent Park, and now about 40 acres – has seen many improvements and expansions, especially in anticipation of the Town’s sesquicentennial celebration in 1990. The beautiful results of those efforts and continuing support from the Town of Webster, Webster community members and a dedicated team of volunteers can be seen today in its bountiful gardens and along its flower-filled paths.
The Webster Arboretum is located at 1700 Schlegel Rd. To read more about this beautiful park, visit the Arboretum website.
Discover more interesting bits of local history at the Webster Museum, 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster. It’s open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Visit the website to learn more.
P.S. If you’re enjoying these History Bit features and would like to read more of them, check out the link on the right of the blog home page, where I’ve posted all of the History Bits since September 2022.
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(posted 9/4/2023)
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Interesting article. I have two old flowering crab trees in my front yard. I wonder if the previous owners planted the trees because they are Webster’s ‘official tree’; the timing would be about right. I think the flowering crab is perfect for Webster. It is not the proud and towering oak, and calls little attention to itself; it is a humble tree, but strong and long lasting. When in bloom, it is breath-taking. Its fruit feeds wildlife, and its foliage gives shade. It is a neat tree, not messy like the willow; the leaves are small and never accumulate to the point of causing harm to the grass below. The flowering crab blooms for 4-6 weeks – and then it is a bit of a show-off. The pedals are fleeting but fragrant. Like a young lady wanting to be noticed, the flowering crab in full bloom shows its true and full beauty, then quietly and calmly returns to its modest, understated and unassuming self. Strong. Loyal. Humble and beautiful. Yep, I think the flowering crab is indeed the perfect tree for Webster. Thank you Ms. Sykes – great selection. And thanks, Missy, for making me a bit smarter.
Much like the flowering crabapple, your comments are always so insightful and elegant. Thank you for brightening my day!