By Harvey Winje

Sue Hunter Weir writes here about an “Allée Dream Coming True” ”“ the hope and reality of trees lining both sides of the road into Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery with each tree”'s canopy touching in the center and framing an arch over the path. This desire by cemetery planners decades ago may have been inspired by allées like Austrian artist Gustav Klimt”'s (1862-1918*) vision when he painted the tree-lined allée pictured here.

Patrick Cabello Hansel writes here about “Rebranding Phillips as a Community of the Arts” and advocates for “Avenues of the Arts” in Phillips”; allées lined with art as well as trees.

Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926*), Italian architect and mosaic artist, brought his love of aesthetics to buildings and streets extolling that “color in certain places has the great value of making the outlines and structural planes seem more energetic.”

Tree planting combined with art ten years ago as large, symbolic puppets from In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre enhanced the planting of 150 trees along the Pioneer and Soldiers allée by over 200 people.

We have beautiful trees and tremendous art. There is no time like the present to increase making more pathways of trees and art, making more allées of energy. The French Marshall Hubert Lyautey (1854-1934*) asked his gardener to plant a tree. The gardener objected that the tree was slow growing and would not reach maturity for 100 years. The Marshall replied, ”˜In that case, there is no time to lose; plant it this afternoon!”'

Oddly and coincidentally appreciation of the effect of these allées can lead to a curious association with the scientific definition called Allée Effect — named for Warder Clyde Allee who discovered that in animals and people aggregation can improve the survival rate of individuals, and that cooperation may be crucial in the overall evolution of social structure (see a longer definition on page 7).

An increase of trees and art along our streets and avenues will enhance our community with allées of energy.

*Note: Klimt, Gaudi, and Lyautey were contemporaries of the beginning of Layman Cemetery in 1853 now renamed Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery at Lake Street and Cedar Avenue.

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