Nash Community College continued its long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship on Wednesday afternoon, recently hosting a tree planting ceremony in front of the Campus Store. Faculty, staff and students gathered to participate in the event, which reinforces the college’s dedication as a recognized Tree Campus USA institution since 2014, one of the first four community colleges in North Carolina to earn the designation.
This year, the college planted two new trees on campus:
- Viburnum macrocephalum (Chinese Snowball) – This tree form has been carefully trained to grow from a single stem rather than its natural multi-stemmed shrub structure. By removing lower branches and encouraging a central leader, the plant forms a rounded canopy that produces large, snowball-like white flower clusters each spring.
- Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii) – A member of the white oak family, this species is a significant host plant for the larvae of the Imperial moth (Eacles imperialis) and various butterfly species. Its sweet acorns (favored by wildlife and even edible for humans) give it the common names “cow oak” and “basket oak.”
The tree planting was led by Ken White, Master Gardener, who provided educational insight into the species selected for this year’s ceremony. White discussed the factors that influenced the choice, including campus landscape needs, benefits of the tree, and long-term growth considerations.
“We want each tree planted on campus to serve a purpose…environmentally, visually and educationally,” White shared about the event. “This selection supports our efforts toward a healthier campus environment.”
The annual planting aligns with NCC’s ongoing initiatives to enhance green spaces and promote environmental awareness. The event also serves as an opportunity for students and employees to learn more about ecological preservation and the importance of intentional landscape planning.
NCC continues to champion green practices across campus as part of its Tree Campus USA designation, which recognizes institutions that effectively manage campus trees, develop community relationships around urban forestry, and engage students in conservation-minded activities.
