Replant Mount Oread adds new trees at Sunnyside Avenue, Sunflower Road

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas recently held its annual fall Replant Mount Oread event. What started as a spring tradition in 2012, Replant has grown into a popular event, inviting the KU community to engage in a day of tree planting and make “Trick or Trees” part of their fall holiday festivities.

During this fall’s project, the Campus Tree Advisory Board, in partnership with Campus Operations, planted 19 new trees along either side of Sunflower Road, south of Watson Library, and along the south side of Sunnyside Ave, just north of Lot 61. Species of oak, honeylocust, sycamore, elm and redbud will add color and shade to this area of campus.

More than 35 faculty, staff, student, and community volunteers joined staff from Facilities Services and the Center for Sustainability to assist with planting, which was completed in less than an hour and a half – a record time for Replant Mount Oread – thanks to a few expert volunteers sent by Turner Construction and Audrie Seeley Landscaping. A number of afternoon volunteers consisting of KU faculty, staff, and students wrapped up the event by mulching the newly planted trees, a necessary step for their establishment and health. 

Replant Mount Oread is a student-initiated project aimed at raising funds to provide trees and shrubs for campus community planting projects in areas around campus targeted for landscaping needs. Through the support of donors, the program has planted more than 115 trees and numerous shrubs on campus.

The Campus Tree Advisory Board received funding for this fall’s planting from Minuteman Press and Sabatini Architects, whose contributions provided lunch to volunteers, and from Turner Construction and Audrie Seeley Landscaping, whose both, in addition to sending valuable volunteers, also donated toward the purchase of trees. For anyone interested in assisting with Replant Mount Oread’s spring 2017 planting, please visit www.kuendowment.org/replantmtoread. 

Replant Mount Oread is part of the university’s efforts to meet Tree Campus USA standards. This marks the fourth year in a row that KU has been honored by the Arbor Day Foundation with this recognition. Tree Campus USA is a national program created in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation and sponsored by Toyota to honor colleges and universities that practice effective campus forest management and engage staff and students in conservation goals through activities such as Replant Mount Oread.

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