Ann Fisk: Choose native trees to plant

I just read the article concerning a grant received by the city of Greenfield for the sole purpose of planting shade trees “City seeks funding to mitigate ‘hot spot,’” Recorder, Aug. 14]. It’s welcome news. However, I caution the committee to plant trees that are native to this area.

I was employed at 48 Sanderson St. for 12 years. There were two beautiful ornamental pear trees planted on the north side of the building when I first started. Over the years I watched those trees slowly dwindle to a few branches and they finally had to be removed. The main cause was the trees did not shed their leaves until late fall and early snow load caused many branches to break.

The same thing happened to several of the same species of tree here in Montague Center. One tree near the post office had two branches left, it looked a person pointing east.

Please choose your trees carefully so they may provide much-needed shade for generations, not years.

Ann Fisk

Montague