As you walk or drive around Tumwater in the spring you will see many flowering trees. But one variety in particular stands out - a non-fruit bearing tree with pink blossoms, called "thundercloud flowering plum". You will find many of these aging trees scattered throughout the streets and yards of the older parts of Tumwater. But do you know how they got there?
I figured that there must have been some kind of civic tree planting initiative that occurred many years ago, as these trees are too unusual and plentiful to have gotten there through random plantings.
A few years ago I had an opportunity to ask Jim Brown, about the origin of these trees. Jim grew up in Tumwater, was a former City Councilmember and City Public Works Superintendent (1966-86) and affectionally known as "Mr. Tumwater". He told me they originated around 1980. Apparently, the State had a bunch of surplus trees and asked if anyone wanted them. Jim snapped them and planted them on streets throughout the City and in anybody's yard they'd let him. It wasn't like there was an elaborate selection process, and Jim noted he wasn't particularly attached to the trees, it was just an opportunity for some free trees.
But here we are over 40 years later and these aging trees continue to bloom, adding color and vibrancy to Tumwater every spring. Many of these trees have since passed on (as Jim did a few years ago) due to the toll of time, damage from ice storms, or the victim of poor pruning and disease. But you still see spots of pink blossoms around town.
We are gradually replacing these trees with newer ones or other varieties that are more disease resistant and easier to maintain. But the legacy of Jim's initiative continues to live on well beyond the person who planted them.
What kind of community will we leave behind for our children's children? Next time you have an opportunity to plant a seed, either literally or figuratively, think about Tumwater's flowering plum trees.
Mayor Pete Kmet
