In a true act of community spirit, the Johnson Tree Board recently relocated a 10-year-old crabapple tree from the flood-prone grounds of the Johnson Public Library to a new home in the Johnson Arboretum. With the library set to be moved across town this spring, the tree, originally planted in 2015, would have been destroyed if left behind. 

Thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers, the tree - affectionately referred to as the “most-traveled tree in Lamoille County” - was successfully moved and replanted with care and precision. “This project was community at its best,” said longtime volunteer Sue Lovering.

Noel Dodge, Johnson Tree Warden, dug up a photo from the original planting day in 2015, when the crabapple was just a 2-inch caliper sapling. That image was featured in the 2016 Town Tree Plan — a reminder of how much growth, both literal and figurative, can happen in a decade.

The crabapple now joins a growing collection of native and ornamental trees at the arboretum, where it has already started to leaf out and will continue to bloom and offer beauty for years to come.  Learn more about the Johnson Arboretum and plan a visit!

Photos of Tree Relocation

Photos courtesy of the Johnson Tree Board.