Recent “Ask Stewart” articles
Hey Stewart,
What is the Town of Front Royal (a Tree City for 27 Years) doing to celebrate Arbor Day this year?
Joan
Arbor Day—which literally translates to “tree” day from the Latin origin of the word “arbor”—is a holiday that celebrates the planting, upkeep and preservation of trees.
The first American Arbor Day was originated by J. Sterling Morton of Nebraska City, Nebraska, at an annual meeting of the Nebraska State board of agriculture held in Lincoln. On April 10, 1872, an estimated one million trees were planted in Nebraska. Today Arbor Day is celebrated in all 50 states, DC and US territories.
Join me, Stewart the Squirrel and my friends the Tree Stewards downtown at the gazebo for a day of fresh air, live music, food trucks, tree giveaway, native plants, and hands-on ways to connect with the outdoors. Meet local environmental and conservation groups, learn something new, and celebrate the place we all call home.
Beginning at 10:00 am, the Tree Stewards will be giving out 500 free native trees! We will provide information about the native tree you select, as well as instructions for planting and care. The trees are limited to one per household, and they go quickly.
New this year, we’re excited to welcome cohosts Shenandoah National Park Trust and the Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, alongside dozens of local partners working to protect our natural spaces.
It’s part festival, part education, and all community.
Come by, stay awhile, and celebrate Arbor Day the Front Royal way.
Pal in the Trees, Stewart
Hey Stewart,
What’s going on with the Tree Stewards in 2026?
David B.
2026 looks like it will be a TREE-mendous year for the Warren County/Front Royal Tree Stewards!
Work sessions happen every month. April has Arbor Day and Lone Pine festivities. And, mark your calendar, the All About Trees class will be conducted again this year, starting the first week in September.
If you have trees on your property, the All About Trees class with teach you how to care for them.
If you don’t have trees on your property, you can enjoy planting and pruning trees around Warren County.
If you are new to the area, you can meet people who are interested in making Front Royal a better place to live and work.
If you are a long-time resident, you can give your time and talents to sustaining the natural beauty of Warren County for future generations.
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second-best time is now.
Make 2026 the year that you plant a tree in Warren County.
Pal in the Trees, Stewart
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Hey Stewart,
If you could only plant one tree, what would it be?
Jimmy P.
When I bury an acorn and forget where I buried it (after all, I AM a squirrel), I hope it will grow into a White Oak (Quercus alba).
Known for its longevity and stately presence, the white oak is a cornerstone of forests and landscapes across eastern and central North America. This tree can live for hundreds of years, providing shade, shelter and food for generations of wildlife.
Reaching up to 80 feet tall, with a broad, spreading canopy, the white oak is perfect for parks, large yards, and naturalized spaces. Its acorns are a vital food source for birds, deer and small mammals such as myself, while its branches and foliage make great places for nests. In the autumn, its leaves turn rich shades of red, orange, and brown, adding seasonal beauty to any landscape.
Resilient and adaptable, white oaks thrive in well-drained soil and full sun. Hardy in zones 3-9, they are a long-term investment in both environmental health and landscape charm.
- How do you make an oak tree laugh?
Tell it an acorny joke! - What does a park ranger call an acorn?
An oak… in a nutshell
Pal in the Trees, Stewart
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Hey Stewart,
Last Saturday, I saw a bunch of people planting trees at
Burrell Brooks Park next to the library. Was that you?
Mary Ellen on Main Street
YES, it was us, Mary Ellen!
On 9 December, during our first snowfall of the season, 20 people planted 20 trees in honor of the 20 year anniversary of the Front Royal/Warren County Tree Stewards.
A big thanks to the Warren County Parks & Recreation Department! The Director Dan Lenz (a founding member of Tree Stewards), with the support of County Administrator Doug Stanley, provided the equipment (backhoe), operator (Wes), and utility inspector (Clark) to dig the holes for planting the trees. The inspector knew where all the underground plumbing pipes and utility electric lines were located, and the backhoe operator found only rocks and soil in the tree planting locations.
The tree planting operation was led by David Means, and ably supported by Leslie, Vinnie, Ryan, Cheryl, Peg, Margaret, Peter, Melaney, Jessie, Deborah, Chris, Henry, Vicki, Joan, Bill, Kim, Melody, Richard, and Tricia. Here is the list of trees we planted:
4 October Glory Red Maples (acer rubrum)
2 Multi-stem Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadenis)
4 Multi-stem Dura Heat River Birch (Betula nigra ‘Dura Heat’)
4 Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
4 Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica)
2 American Linden (Tilia americana)
What a TREE-mendous day!
There will be an upcoming ceremony commemorating the planting and the 20 year anniversary with a plaque. Stay tuned!
Pal in the Trees, Stewart
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Hi Stewart,
What can you tell us about the Christmas tree?
John in Front Royal
Merry Christmas John,
The Christmas tree is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer such as spruce, pine, or fir or an artificial tree of similar appearance, associated with the celebration of Christmas. The modern Christmas tree was developed in early modern Germany.
The tree was traditionally decorated with roses made of colored paper, apples, wafers, tinsel, and sweetmeats. In the 18th century, it began to be illuminated by candles which were ultimately replaced by Christmas lights after the advent of electrification.
The Christmas tree became very common in the United States in the early nineteenth century. The first mention of the Christmas tree in American literature was in a story in the 1836 edition of The Token and Atlantic Souvenir, titled “New Year’s Day,” by Catherine Maria Sedgwick, where she tells the story of a German maid decorating her mistress’s tree.
The TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) was influential on the pop culture surrounding the Christmas tree. The term Charlie Brown Christmas Tree is now used to describe any poor- looking or malformed little tree, usually the last one to be sold.
PLANTING LIVE TREES
Each year, 33 to 36 million Christmas trees are produced in America, and many people like to use live trees which can be planted. Here are some tips for a successful planting:
1. Limit the amount of time your tree is indoors — 7-10 days is ideal. Daily watering is necessary to keeping your tree healthy.
2. Move your tree to a sheltered outdoor space to allow your tree to acclimate back to the cold. Continue watering it daily. Choose an open, sunny planting spot. Research the type of tree you have and its growth potential.
3. Dig the hole as early as possible in the season. If you’ve waited too long to dig and the ground is already frozen, try pouring boiling water onto the spot and then digging. Dig wide but not deep. Using a shovel, dig a hole twice as wide as the size of the root ball to give the roots a chance to spread. But don’t go any deeper than the height of the root ball.
4. Remove root ball coverings. Place the tree in the hole. Fill the hole back in. Tamp the soil gently, but don’t pack it in tightly. Stake your tree to keep it upright.
5.Water the newly planted tree. You do not need to use any sort of fertilizer – just plain water will do.
6. Mulch around the tree. Add a couple inches of mulch around the base of the tree as an insulating layer.
7. Monitor soil moisture. If your winter conditions are dry, occasionally water the tree to keep moisture near the roots.
Your Pal in the Trees, Stewart