First Celebration Trees Planted At CUE Haven
Since 2010, CUE Haven has offered people the opportunity to plant memorial trees for departed loved ones. On the 15th of September, 2011 we planted the first of what we hope are many trees to celebrate milestones of life.
Doug and Erin migrated to New Zealand several years ago and the family is moving overseas at the end of the year. They have four children, all of whom were born in New Zealand. Erin contacted us saying that the family wanted to leave some “roots” in New Zealand and have a place here that they could come back to in the future. She asked if each of the children could plant a tree at CUE Haven to celebrate their Kiwi roots.
We thought it was a fantastic idea and on Thursday, 15th September, the family came out to CUE Haven to plant the trees. Emma planted a Puriri (Vitex lucens) tree and Benjamin, Ryan and Samuel each planted a Totara (Podocarpus totara).
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Puriri trees are long lived trees and are especially valuable because they are a year round food source for many different birds, especially the kereru (native wood pigeon). The tree has red berries and lovely pink flowers that are in bloom for a long period. It has the strongest wood of any New Zealand native trees and the Maori use the leaves for many medicines and rituals.
The Totara is one of the most majestic and long lived of the New Zealand native trees. The Maori often carved their large 100 person wakas from a single totara trunk. The plant is also valued for its many medicinal qualities.
The weather was perfect and the children were all a big help with the planting.
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We look forward to having the family come back to see how their plants have grown to become magnificent large trees in the forest at CUE Haven.
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