By Barbara Wooten
The Cannon Grange celebrated its 124th birthday with a tree planting along the Norwalk River.
With a generous donation from Patricia & Frederick Quell and the volunteer help of the Puches and Duke families, multigenerational planters, a beautiful Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud) was planted April 21 2023 on Earth Day. This ornamental pollinator tree fitting for its riparian buffer edge of the river has a history that is perfect for the Grange’s mission. This native tree has both nutritional value with its edible flowers and medicinal uses in its long history in North America and Eurasia.
The 1899 Cannon Grange building owns over 100 linear feet of Norwalk River waterfront by the Cannondale Bridge. This precious resource will be planted over time and slowly remove some of its many invasives by volunteers as the Grange celebrates its 125th in 2024.
As in 1899, the Cannon Grange which originally served as a home to many community anchors again hosted others.
On Saturday, April 22, 2023, the Cannon Grange and Wilton Go Green came together for the Wilton Go Green’s inaugural “repair cafe” event. The Cannon Grange welcomed all with a children’s seed planting of peas with a hands-on activity outside. All could view the beautiful new tree which is a member of the pea family.
The Eastern Redbud is an ornamental multi-stemmed tree with striking pink-lavender spring blossom and butter-yellow fall color. It enjoys a riverside location in partial sun and shade. It is a draw for butterflies and other pollinators. It is a recommended tree of the New England Wildflower Society and Dr. Douglas Tallamy, for such sites offering spring flowers, fall colors, fragrance, and shade. It offers nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, nest sites for birds, and food for caterpillars It is a magnet for two dozen other species. Beloved for its colors in April and May, it offers heart shaped leaves that turn butter yellow in the fall. It has a small stature and can therefore grace locations under utility lines. Most of all, it loves the edges of woodlands and a location such as the Grange provided here.
We of the Grange intend to highlight our piece of the Norwalk River with additional planting in the future.