2024 Fullest Canopy Award: A Generational Tree

For 50 years, Carolyn Schroeder and her family lived in the same red-brick house on Arden Avenue. Among the five decades of fond memories made in the house before they moved in 2018, many involve the towering silver maple tree in the middle of their backyard. Cragg's four kids, Jack, Aloisa, George and Harold, posing with the silver maple tree

From cocktail hour with her husband to dance shows and shooting hoops, Schroeder and her family enjoyed every moment with that tree. Setting up birdfeeders in the tree, Schroeder made it a home for goldfinches, cardinals and woodpeckers, too.

“Our family grew up under that tree,” said Schroeder, days before she passed away on July 25 at age 93. “We had lots of fun times under that tree.”

Shading the house’s black-shingled roof and most of the backyard, the tree is hard to miss; the top of the tree is even visible from the sidewalk across the street.

“Anyone who ever comes to our house comments on it. It’s the perfect candidate for the Canopy Award,” said current resident Jenna Cragg.

Schroeder’s kids were outside all the time playing under the shade of the tree. Her son would stand with his arms around the tree to see if he could wrap his arms around it. He could never do it, even after he grew up.

View of the tree from across the street“We were very proud of the tree,” said Schroeder. “We were very happy to have that tree.”

Years later, Schroeder’s daughter, Lisa Kennedy, still remembers playing in the leaves every fall with her younger sister. Collecting many of the tree’s fallen leaves, the sisters would design a house using the leaves to outline all the rooms.

Fall is a highlight for Cragg, too, as she loves to soak in the tree’s stunning autumn leaves.

“In the fall, the tree drops a lot of leaves, so we’re blanketed with beautiful fall colors,” said Cragg. “It’s just gorgeous.”

Cragg and her family moved into the home five years ago. Despite living in the home for only a fraction as long as Schroeder’s family, they’ve come to enjoy it just as much. Like Schroeder’s family, Cragg and her family spend a lot of time outside, and the tree provides shade for meals and friends and family gatherings.

“It’s such a centerpiece in our yard. It’s the first thing you see,” said Cragg. Schroeder standing with the tree

“We’re lucky to live in a city with so much natural beauty, and it’s fun to have our tree recognized,” said Cragg. “It’s great that the City is taking pride in natural elements that make the neighborhood so special.”

If you have a tree that deserves special recognition, you can nominate it for the 2025 Tree Recognition Campaign before Oct. 15 using the Tree Nomination Form.

“It’s great that the City is recognizing trees in Edina. I was very excited about it, because the City hasn’t done anything like it before,” said Schroeder.