Stewarding A Living Legacy: Behind Davey Tree's Partnership with Holden Forests & Gardens

At the center of Cleveland Botanical Garden, where the CK Patrick Perennial Border, Woodland Garden, Hosta Hill and Lower Restorative Garden meet, one longtime resident has had a front-row seat to it all: a northern red oak. Standing nearly 100 feet tall and estimated to be close to 150 years old, the tree has long helped define the surrounding landscape. Its beauty, size, age and designation as a tribute tree have made it a notable landmark within the garden.

Why Mature Trees Matter

Mature canopy trees like this one are among the most valuable and irreplaceable parts of the Garden’s living collection. They shape the character of a place, influence the growing conditions beneath them and provide ecological benefits that take decades to develop. Their canopies intercept stormwater, moderate temperatures, store carbon, support soil health, and offer habitat for insects, birds, mammals, fungi and many other organisms.

But caring for mature trees also requires asking difficult questions. How do you know when a beloved tree is healthy, declining or potentially hazardous? And how can a public garden make the best decision when the answer is not immediately visible?

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