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Owners, nominators, and tree lovers gather for the annual High Tree Party.

Tree lovers celebrate at 21st annual party

More than 50 tree lovers gathered on the lawn of historic Glen Leven in Oak Hill to celebrate the winners of the 21st annual Big Old Tree Contest April 25.

The grounds of the antebellum home are home to 13 of the 33 winners, including one of the largest yellowwoods in the state. Under a towering walnut tree, contest judge Robin Bible presented certificates to the owners and nominators of winning trees.

After the winners were recognized, "Nashville's Johnny Appleseed," Joe Thompson, received the Victor Johnson Award for his contributions to Nashville's urban forest. (See story below.) It was literally a homecoming for Thompson—he was born at Glen Leven in the early 1900s.

Following the awards, guests enjoyed tree-related refreshments inside the stately home.

Tree Foundation president Betty Brown presents Joe Thompson with a wooden bowl commemorating his Victor Johnson Award as Foundation board member Joan Armour looks on. Local woodworker Pat Matranga made the bowl from deadwood removed from a tree on the Glen Leven property.

Joe Thompson receives Johnson Award

Nashville Tree Foundation honored Joe Thompson with the Victor Johnson Award for his contributions to Nashville's urban forest at the annual High Tree Party Friday at Historic Glen Leven, 4000 Franklin Pike.

Describing him as Nashville's Johnny Appleseed, Foundation president Betty Brown said Thompson, an insurance agent with the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Agency for over 60 years, has a great love for trees.

"He has planted trees all over Nashville in the yards of friends, family, neighbors, and his insurance clients, "Brown said, "He has planted numerous trees on the lawn of First Presbyterian Church in honor or in memory of friends and family. On many Sundays he could be seen walking the church ground with his watering can."

Brown presented the business leader and civic volunteer with a bowl and pen hand crafted from a log rescued form the walnut tree in front of Glen Leven, the house where he was born in 1919.

Perhaps the biggest tree he has planted is on the lawn of Glen Leven Presbyterian Church, next door to the Glen Leven Mansion, said Joan Armour, a founding board member of the Foundation.

Foundation Board member Alice Ann Barge said, "Joe picked up acorns from the big oak tree at Belle Meade Country Club every year and kept them in his refrigerator over the winter. In the spring, he would plant the acorns in pots, set them outdoors. After they sprouted, he would give them to friends all over town with instructions on how to keep the squirrels away until they were ready to plant."

"During ReLeaf Nashville, he gave 10 to 15 pots to families who lost trees to the 1998 tornadoes," Barge said.