Taylor Schwartz standing by the Red Maple planted in the spring of 2012

One cannot help but wonder how Taylor Schwartz, an 8th grade student at Paxon Hollow Middle School, finds time to water a tree in addition to all of her other extracurricular activities including participation in chorus, sewing club, sign language club, and in her leadership role on the Student Council. But that is not all she does. She also participates in volunteer activities at her Hebrew School. For her Mitzvah, she ran a project that involved collecting books, stuffed animals, and toys for underprivileged children.

Taylor began watering a Red Maple tree at New Ardmore Park in 2010. Now in its third summer in the ground, the tree has grown quite large and no longer needs to be watered. “I was surprised how big that tree got in such a short span of time. Last summer it was not much bigger than the one I’m watering now.” Her new tree, also a Red Maple, is sited close to the first. It was planted during the spring of 2012. Taylor is anxious to compare its growth over the course of this year with that of her first tree.

Taylor Schwartz standing by the Red Maple planted in 2010

Taylor walks to the park from her home, usually in the company of friends. She fills her watering bucket with water from the nearby stream. “Some people think there isn’t anything you can do to help the environment, but anyone can water a tree. It’s easy and it doesn’t take much time.”