2024 Best Tree Story Award: One Special Crabapple Tree

Best Tree Story Award: One Special Crabapple Tree

Along York Avenue toward York Park, there’s a tree that stands out from the rest. With deep, maroon-colored leaves, the lone crabapple tree is hard to miss among the surrounding greenery.

While its striking appearance is likely the first thing you’ll notice, the crabapple tree’s heartwarming story is even more notable for Edina residents Mike Menzel and Kathy Iverson.

Planted at York Park 14 years ago, the crabapple tree represents Menzel and Iverson’s two youngest grandchildren, Beatrice and Zane. They have grown up alongside the tree since they were preschoolers and are now 16 and 18 years old respectively.Menzel and Iverson pose by their crabapple tree at York Park

“The tree is special because of its beauty and because of our wonderful grandchildren,” said Menzel. “With climate change bearing down on children, we try to do efforts small and large to address this catastrophe.”

As part of the City’s efforts to recognize significant trees in Edina, Menzel and Iverson’s crabapple tree received the Best Tree Story award in the 2024 Tree Recognition Campaign.

“We were happy to receive the award. It’s very sweet and nice,” said Iverson.

In addition to the crabapple tree in York Park, Menzel and Iverson have planted a number of other trees that are scattered around the Twin Cities to honor family members.

Menzel and Iverson's crabapple tree in fallThey chose to plant a crabapple tree because the surrounding area lacked ornamental trees, and the tree serves as a pollinator and provides fruit for birds, squirrels and rabbits.

“When they’re small and little, animals love them. The bark tastes better because it’s a fruit tree,” said City Forester Luther Overholt.

If the bark gets chewed away too much, though, the result can be devastating and the tree is unlikely to survive. To protect their crabapple tree when it was still young, Menzel and Iverson added mulch around the base and a wire cage to the trunk.

Passionate about the outdoors and the environment, Menzel and Iverson care for other trees around Edina, too. For the last 20 years, they’ve helped water trees on public property during times of drought. Renting a city watering truck from Plymouth, Menzel and Iverson are able to water lots of trees at once.

“Part of our job is to protect our trees. We are an advocate for them,” said Menzel.

Recently, Menzel and Iverson have taken an interest in tiny forests and they hope to plant one in the future. Made up of all different kinds of tree species that help each other grow into a self-sustaining ecosystem, tiny forests grow quickly with minimal maintenance.

If you have a tree that deserves special recognition, you can nominate it for the 2025 Tree Recognition Campaign now through Oct. 15 using the Tree Nomination Form. To donate your own memorial tree or bench, fill out the Parks & Recreation Department’s Donation Form.

“It’s very special that the City honors trees. It means they’re taking climate change seriously, they value trees and recognize them,” said Menzel.