A new orchard at Dr. Charles Drew Elementary School is already producing fruit after surviving an unusually dry August.
All the saplings planted in the spring survived the summer, making it likely they will have long-term viability, said Mary Glass of the Arlington Tree Connection advocacy group.
“I’m amazed” that all made it through, Glass said. “Any time you plant a young tree like this, it has a lot of shock.”
A ceremonial dedication of the orchard took place on Saturday during Green Valley Day. Students and those living nearby were saluted for maintaining a watering schedule that helped the young trees survive.
The ribbon cut during the ceremony was of two colors, with purple symbolizing Drew Elementary and green the planted trees.
Planted trees, vines and bushes include those producing pears, blackberries, grapes, raspberries, serviceberries and persimmon. Some trees have produced quantities of fruit already, while much more is expected in 2026.
The Arlington Tree Connection helped coordinate the effort alongside members of the Green Valley Civic Association, Community Association of Resources Education and Enrichment, and Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
The initiative has the support of Arlington Public Schools and the Dr. Charles Drew PTA. Nathan Steele, a teacher at the school, has helped lead efforts, along with Portia Clark and Glass.
It’s part of a project funded through the state government’s Virginia Trees for Clean Water initiative, sponsored by the Virginia Department of Forestry.
The tree-planting initiative is one of a series conducted across the county in an effort to increase the overall tree canopy in Arlington.
At the ceremony, the Green Valley Civic Association honored project partners with its Gold Star Award.
The annual Green Valley Day festivities drew crowds both from the neighborhood and broader community.
