At Viles Arboretum, we believe that connections with nature can last a lifetime. Sometimes those connections are quiet - a moment spent listening to birds, feeling the texture of bark, or wandering along a trail. Other times, they are woven into the stories of families and communities, growing stronger with each visit. This fall, one such story came to life when a family returned to see a very special tree they had helped plant more than a decade ago.
That day in 2012 was a moment of history and community. Chapman had brought the young apple tree as a gift from one of the original Ohio orchards established by his famous ancestor more than two centuries ago. The Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine and Viles Arboretum held a ceremony to welcome this living piece of heritage, celebrating both the legacy of the past and the promise of growth for generations to come.
Among those who helped plant the tree was eight-year-old Kathryne Clay, who traveled with her parents from Cape Elizabeth. On our walk to find the tree, Kathryne's parents shared how meaningful the experience had been for their family. "That day is part of our family history," they shared, "and we continue to visit the tree as often as we can."
A couple stopped by the Visitor Center looking for help finding a particular tree. As we walked to together, they shared that this wasn't just any tree. It was a descendant of one of Johnny Appleseed's original apple trees, planted here in 2012 by John Chapman, a descendant of Johnny Appleseed himself.
Eight-year-old Kathryne Clay with John Chapman in 2012 at the planting ceremony.
Kathryne visits the tree she helped plant in 2016.
Over the years, Kathryne and her family have returned to watch the tree grow, revisiting it through changing seasons and making new memories with each visit. Their story illustrates how nature can connect us not only to the world around us, but also to our own histories, our families, and the communities we belong to.
The Johnny Appleseed tree continues to thrive at Viles Arboretum in the Community Forest. It's a living reminder that the bonds we form with the natural world, whether through planting, exploring, or simply pausing to notice, are connections that grow over a lifetime.
The Johnny Appleseed Tree in 2025.
