We wrapped up our community tree planting season this month with a perfect, sunny day at the Armed Forces Retirement Home, where teams of enthusiastic volunteers added 40 trees—including American elm, autumn maple, bald cypress, river birch, and many more species.
Looking back on our busy season, we’re proud to have planted nearly 400 trees at community plantings across the DMV, all made possible by our dedicated Team Leaders, sponsors, and hundreds of hardworking volunteers.
Part of what made the final planting so special was the location: the Armed Forces Retirement Home—also known as the Old Soldiers Home—which is a residential community for retired and disabled veterans that has provided housing, medical care, and a place of refuge for our nation’s veterans since 1991.
Our partnership with the Home has deep roots. For over 10 years, Casey Trees has worked closely with the Armed Forces Retirement Home to reforest parts of the more than 200 acres of wooded land. Together, we’ve planted around 1,000 trees around the space, replacing fallen trees and strengthening our city’s vital green canopy.
But planting is just the beginning—we also care for the trees year-round to ensure they grow and thrive for decades to come. That’s why this month, through a special partnership with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), over 150 volunteers came together to restore and beautify the grounds. Collectively, they weeded and mulched nearly 300 young trees, planted 30 trees, and touched up the historic, nine-hole golf course–all in one morning.
What makes our work there so rewarding? On several occasions, residents have approached our team to share words of appreciation for the trees, which provide much-needed shade, beauty, and fresh air for the veterans who call this place home as well as the surrounding neighborhoods.
So while spring planting season has wound down, we’re busier than ever watering and caring for trees across the city during the warm months ahead. We hope you’ll join us at one of our upcoming tree care events, where together, we’ll mulch, water, and weed young trees to help them thrive through the summer.
If you’re interested in visiting the Armed Forces Retirement Home yourself, check out upcoming events hosted by the Friends of the Old Soldiers Home, or plan a visit to the historic Lincoln’s Cottage located on the grounds.
Scroll down for more photos from our community tree planting at Armed Forces Retirement Home!
