WEST HAVEN, CT — On Tuesday, United Illuminating (UI) Key Account Manager Greg Milano and Mayor Dorinda Borer marked the planting of an eastern redbud tree on the southwest corner of the West Haven Green. The ceremony involved shoveling soil to dedicate the tree, with Milano and Borer joined by UI Vegetation Management Lead Eric McConnell, City Tree Warden Leo Kelly, and UI Community and Government Relations Specialist Elizabeth Esposito.
The tree, along with another planted nearby, was donated by Avangrid, UI’s parent company based in Orange. Both trees were purchased from and installed by Van Wilgen’s Garden Center in North Branford.
The planting event was part of UI’s effort to promote the state’s “Right Tree, Right Place” standards. These guidelines encourage planting trees that grow to their full size without interfering with overhead wires or underground utilities, as explained by Esposito.
The location at Savin Avenue and Church Street was reviewed and approved by McConnell and UI’s Vegetation Management Department. The redbud species was selected by Kelly, who also approved the planting site on behalf of the city.
Known as a symbol of spring, the redbud tree is celebrated for its striking pink blossoms and heart-shaped leaves, which change from reddish to green in summer and yellow in the fall, according to the Arbor Day Foundation.
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