To the editor:

It was good to see the article about the Bainbridge Tree City status. For the last five years, the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum has sponsored a popular annual spring walk in regard to Winslow’s heritage and champion trees.

Unfortunately, a number of trees in this category are already lost due to development. The tree walk helps to identify trees that are of historic value and therefore heritage trees, as well as those that are champions in their own way.

Dr. Olaf Ribeiro, world renowned plant pathologist, has done much to preserve some of these trees and he will be conducting the hour-and-a-half walk, providing education with anecdotal and entertaining information.

The museum cares for three historic trees found on its property. Each over a hundred years old, these trees were planted by a turn of the last century arborist and Bainbridge islander, Robert Albert Cave.

After coming around the horn of South America by ship from Kew Gardens near London, England, they, with a notable group of others, were planned for by Mr. Cave and located around what was then called Madrone and is now called Winslow.

Most of them have been destroyed. The three on the museum grounds were planted at the site which was once the location of the home of Henry Knox Hall, one of the Hall brothers who established the large shipbuilding facility, first at Port Blakely and later at Eagle Harbor.

This year’s Tree Walk will be on Friday, April 20. It will begin at the museum, 215 Ericksen Ave. Space is limited on the walk so one may easily hear the leader. Call the museum for reservations, 206-842-2773 and walk times to reserve your place.  The event is free to museum members, $4 donation suggested for non-members.

CAROL MCCARTHY, VOLUNTEER

Bainbridge Island Historical Museum