The storybook words from Hill School's Head of School, Treavor Lord, appropriately began The Polly Rowley Arboretum dedication ceremony with, "Once upon a time there was a little school in Middleburg, Virginia…" As he addressed students, alumni, and friends in honoring Mrs. Rowley, for her tireless leadership in the creation of the school's arboretum, Lord's words of the school's history reminded us all of the many ways Hill School has matured, and we along with it. In just the last quarter century, the grounds have grown from 4 areas to 137 thanks to the 1991 donation by Mr. Stephen C. Clark Jr. The school's 5 modest rooms have blossomed into a prodigious campus, and the once absence of trees has now grown to become the Polly Rowley Arboretum, with hundreds of hand-picked specimen varieties.

Already recognized by the Smithsonian's prestigious Archives of American Gardens and made part of The Garden Club of America Collection, this dedication rounds out years of continued contribution by Mrs. Rowley and many other dedicated "Hillscape" helpers. Guest speakers Mike Morency, Bob Dornin, Lois Johnson-Mead, and Carly Goins, each took their turn with heartfelt words for not only for guest of the honor but for their very personal and moving memories of Hill School throughout their years there. I can share, hearing each of their stories made me wish I too was a Hill graduate.

Not wanting "limbed up street-trees", Mrs. Rowley set out to find trees of interest from around the world, with their only true qualification in being able to grow in zone 6. As the first trees began arriving in 1993, Polly shares, "There were many positive comments as soon as they were planted, that indicated to me that the unusual was definitely acceptable." Themes took place including, "a tree circle with eight local natives on points of the compass." Ten years would pass before the arboretum was largely in place, though it has been and will be added to continually.

Polly Rowley has the clear eyes of a visionary and speaks with a smile. But her explanatory words about the beginnings of the arboretum were ones of determination. A get-the-job-done personality, the arboretum was, and still is her passion. One gets the feeling, be it trees or anything else she sets her mind to, being wishy-washy is not part of her make up. Addressing those in attendance, Mrs. Rowley said, "The Hill School is on the front of an educational paradigm in how they consider the importance of place across their entire curriculum. The natural world is part of this. We must start children early through education and daily life, to incorporate respect for all of life. That includes human life, and plants, and animals from around the world. Respect for all that life that covers our planet earth and provides the oxygen we breathe, the food we eat, and the beauty we crave."

Polly went on to say, "My hope for the future of this arboretum is to have it become accredited, hire a horticulturist as the director who can incorporate ideas from other arboretums, and connect Hill School to its arboretum by keeping current with new horticulture and needs of teachers in this elementary school. It is pursuing a place-based education. Ultimately, this position would help further knowledge and attitudes of the whole community that will help save the planet for the good of all life."

For the children of Hill, preparation for Arboretum Day began with a Wednesday assembly. There, they got a bit of Hill School history and a chance to meet Mrs. Rowley. The Friday, October 5th celebration of Hill's first annual Arboretum Day was blessed with beautiful weather. Children singing, "Trees" by Fran Avni, were lead by Hill School's Dr. Lyman, and joined by guests in the chorus - Trees, trees, trees, trees, Home for the birds, Home for the bees, Home for the animals, home for the squirrels, Trees are a part of our beautiful world.

True to Hill School's place-based curriculum, the students and teachers began their morning spread throughout the arboretum and the school's playing fields learning about trees. Split into tree themed groups. The entire school was broken up into cross-grade level groups of about 14 students, one student from every grade and each group had a tree name. Each group took part in activities such as tracing leaves and bark, playing games and doing scavenger hunts.

Treavor Lord explains, "Some of these kids had parents who were at the school when Polly started planting this arboretum. That was twenty-five-plus years ago. Their parents ran around the school when there were no trees and now they're running around the school and feel like it's always been this way. So part of what we are trying to do with this Arboretum Day gives the kids some perspective. It's not just that these trees weren't always here. It's that the world wasn't always the same."

Mr. Lord makes reference to the Slippery Elm tree that symbolically sits at the top of the hill that gave the school its name. It was one of the few trees that were there before the arboretum started taking root. It's one living thing that not only seen it all but likely appreciates the company of so many trees now.

In case any if your asking, arboretum, what arboretum? The dedication featured the unveiling of a new, very illustrative Arboretum sign. The sign can be found by entering Hill School's main entrance, continuing straight up the hill and looking for it on the right. The paragraphs of informative text are titled "A Transformational Gift". It reads in part; The Arboretum's primary goal is to provide a setting for children of all ages to enhance and develop their powers of observation: to learn about trees and flowers, to listen to frogs and ducks, to observe birds and butterflies, to walk a dog, or to make a new friend.

Lest we forget, while Middleburg has surrounding parks, quite honestly, the closest thing to a true in-town park, is Hill School's campus and the now, Polly Rowley Arboretum. Like many of the other facilities at Hill, the grounds are not only enjoyed by students, faculty, alumni, the whole community has always been welcome. It's just so like Hill School to have received a special donation of land, another one of the wonderful trees, and then to share it with everyone.

In closing, Mr. Lord told us, "The moral of the story is this; The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is now, and everyone at Hill School is grateful that Mrs. Rowley decided to be such a good friend to the school more than twenty years ago, so that we can enjoy her beautiful trees now, and remember to keep planting more for the next generation of children."