This weekend, the City of St. Louis Park is showcasing something a bit out of the ordinary on their social media pages: a competition, but not for people, rather for trees. Dubbed the M.V.Tree contest, four finalists have made it to the top, poised to be judged not on talent or intellect, but on their serene beauty and ecological contributions to the neighborhood. The community is encouraged to read up on these arboreal giants and vote for their pick at bit.ly/MVTreeSLP. Among the top four is a reputed elm tree on Huntington Avenue, venerated by locals.
Described in a social media post obtained by the City of St. Louis Park, the Huntington Avenue elm stands out in the Minikahda Vista neighborhood, where it has been carefully maintained by Rainbow since the 1980s. With an impressive trunk and limb structure and size, this sizable elm has stuck to outgrow its neighboring trees, also providing shelter to various animals amongst its broad canopy. Its esteemed care has made this tree not just a neighborhood's marvel but also a potential must-visit for arborists and nature lovers alike.
The story of the Huntington Avenue elm and its competitors unfolds on the digital landscape, where trees, usually silent and stoic, have their tales told through human proxies. Voting for these leafy sentinels is more than just a nod to their beauty; it is a recognition of their enduring presence and their silent guardianship over the urban spaces they grace. Local fauna, from the common squirrel to gorgeous owls, have made homes in the boughs of the nominated elm, testimonies to its role in the local ecosystem.
The M.V.Tree award sheds light on an often overlooked neighborhood element, one that arguably contributes quietly to not just curb appeal but also to the well-being of its residents — human or otherwise. It's an invitation, almost, to stop and quite literally smell the roses—or in this case, to look up and appreciate the majestic trees. As the City of St. Louis Park amplifies this appreciation initiative, residents are encouraged to cast their votes. The winning tree can claim the unique honor of being a community champion in a world that rather frequently fails to acknowledge the foundational role of our leafy co-inhabitants.
