Novi Celebrates Arbor Day

From The City of Novi: It’s hard to envision Novi as a forest. But to Forestry Asset Manager Tiffany Giacobazzi, that’s exactly what it is. It’s not a traditional forest as one tends to envision, but if trees were to disappear in neighborhoods then residents surely would notice.

In Novi, there are more than 37,500 public trees, not including those in woodlands, and about 500-800 new trees are added to that inventory every year. Trees play a vital role in the community, from the obvious environmental benefits to improving home values and dampening sound.

“I love helping people realize their forest is the tree standing in their yard or in their community park,” Giacobazzi said. “I like working with homeowners on how to care for and maintain their trees. Educating people about trees and what they do for us is exciting and never boring.”

The biggest day of the year for that education is Arbor Day, which takes place from 9- 11am on Saturday, April 29, at Rotary Park. Residents are invited to join the City for the planting of a ceremonial tree, spring cleaning of the park and helping Novi celebrate 25 years as a Tree City USA.

Giacobazzi, who has a degree in forestry and is a certified tree farm inspector and arborist from the International Society of Arboriculture, said events like Arbor Day help create a sense of place and offer respite from the hectic city life.

“To me there is nothing better than going into a park or woodland where you cannot hear the cars, cannot hear the city and it is just quiet and peaceful and you can think,” she said. “The world would be a sad place if there were no natural areas.”

To learn more about Arbor Day or the trees in Novi, visit cityofnovi.org or contact the forestry division at 248-735-5640.

Novi trees by the numbers:

• 37,500: Number of public trees
• 500-800: Number of trees planted each year
• 3,100: Number of trees pruned each year
• 250: Number of hazard or dead trees removed
• $500: Annual benefit a 25 to 35-year-old Maple has on the City of Novi
• 25: Years Novi has been a Tree City USA

Image Courtesy of The City of Novi