We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Just before last summer’s county fair began, the Blaine County Fair Board rolled out a new idea to create some greenspace at the fairgrounds. Speaking generally about the new Memory Lane, board member Dale Williams said, “The idea is to have a way for folks to plant a tree in honor or memory of a loved one.” During the 2017 fair a map of the fairgrounds was posted showing proposed locations for the trees.
Debbie Ramberg has worked in the open exhibits for several years at the fair and was the Fair Manager’s Assistant this year. She got interested in the idea of planting trees and last week she planted the first two trees on the southwest edge of the Commercial Building. The Memory Lane project has started in earnest. The two maple trees are in memory of her son, David Lotton, and her father-in-law, Ray Ramberg.
Initially the dry ground and rocky soil posed a problem. Board member Loren Skoyen stepped up with a powered post hole digger and loosened the soil. Debbie said, “Once the soil was broken up I could work it with a shovel. I decided to add a bag of potting soil in the hole for the tree and added mulch on top of the ground. The trees look very nice.” Travis Hamilton drove some steel posts and tied the trees for stability. He will also water the trees for a time this summer.
According to Debbie this is an excellent time to buy and plant trees for Memory Lane. She said, “The trees I got were heavily discounted as stores are trying to reduce their inventory of live plants before winter. There are some good bargains out there. Nurseries also say fall is a good time for planting to let the trees get a start before they are dormant for the winter.”
The fair board devised a map to show the areas where they would like to see trees planted. Locations are along the road that runs by the airport, within the main parking lot where the pennants currently separate the parking areas and a few other locations. Adding plaques with information about the trees and to whom they are dedicated and benches for resting are also options in the green areas to be created.
To learn more about how you can add trees to the Memory Lane project, call Debbie Ramberg at 945-3841 or Fair Manager Wendy Warburton at 262-3185. They can help you with choosing a place to plant a tree or trees.
