For Immediate Release
March 3, 2006

Media Contact:
Emily Coleman Dibella (703) 799-8607
edibella@mountvernon.org

MOUNT VERNON, Va. – George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens will plant 65 oversized, mature trees with the largest scheduled to be hoisted by crane over the historic “Texas Gate” entryway on Monday, March 6 at 10:00 a.m. The trees – some as large as 40 feet high and weighing four tons – will be planted near the Ford Orientation Center and the Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center, new visitor facilities opening October 27, 2006.

Purchased from Halka Nurseries in Englishtown, NJ, the trees are a critical shield between the new buildings and Washington’s Mansion and surrounding historic area. “Rather than waiting for trees to grow over several years, I felt strongly that the Orientation Center and Museum and Education Center should blend in from the very beginning,” said donor Robert H. Smith, a business executive and philanthropist from Arlington. “The best way to achieve this is to plant impressive specimens that will have an immediate presence in the landscape.” Smith and his wife, Clarice, who are major donors to Mount Vernon’s capital campaign, have committed additional funds to the “big tree” project. The Smiths have accomplished similar mature tree plantings at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland.

Mr. Smith and Mount Vernon’s horticulturist, Dean Norton, traveled twice to New Jersey to select Elm, Maple, Tulip Poplar, Oak, Beech, and American Holly trees, varieties which would have been found in George Washington’s woods in the 18th century. “These trees are vital to our overall landscaping plan, so it was important to choose species that are historically accurate,” said Norton, who also explained that the best time to plant trees is in the winter when their systems are dormant.

The Ford Orientation Center and Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center are the major components of a $110 million campaign by George Washington’s Mount Vernon to restore the “Father of Our Country” to his rightful place of honor and distinction in America. These state-of-the-art buildings, designed by GWWO Inc./Architects of Baltimore, Maryland, will complement the historic area experience by illuminating fascinating chapters of Washington’s life including early adulthood, military leadership, and the presidency.

The Ford Orientation Center is made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund. The Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center is made possible by a $24 million donation by the Las Vegas-based Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.

MEDIA WELCOME TO COVER. PLEASE CALL EMILY COLEMAN DIBELLA IN ADVANCE AT (703) 799-8607 TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS.

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