A well-known local author and a well-known local tree were honored Friday at in Rosemont.
The Sacramento City Unified School District and Rancho Cordova Historical Society honored by planting a white almond tree behind the historic Bradshaw Road school. The tree paid homage to a pink almond tree near the Rancho Cordova Library, which Sato said she admired for years.
"Maybe 30 years ago, I started noticing this tree–the lone pink almond tree on Folsom Boulevard," Sato said to the crowd gathered at Friday's ceremony.
About 10 years later, she noticed the tree had been chopped down.
"It was like an arrow hit my heart," she said.
Eventually, she noticed sprouts growing from the stump. During an oral history interview with Jo Ann Cabral Wilson and the Rancho Cordova Historial Society, she asked that something be done to save the tree.
"She said, 'Jo Ann, don't let anything happen to my tree,' " Cabral Wilson said.
Cabral Wilson said eventually, part of the pink almond tree would be grafted onto the white almond planted Friday and onto a tree in her backyard.
The pink tree has also received protection from Rancho Cordova Public Works staff, she said.
Newly planted tree links old and new at historic school
When Sato asked for the tree experts in attendance to help plant the almond tree, stepped forward.
They were assisted by current Edward Kelley preschoolers, who also sang a song about almonds and a song in Japanese.
"This is going to be the happiest tree," Sato said after shoveling dirt around the plant.
Sacramento City Unified School District Superintendent Jonathan Raymond praised Sato at Friday's event.
"You got your beginning at this school just like these children across the way got their beginnings at this school," Raymond told Sato.
In turn, Sato praised Edward Kelley School and said she wished more schools in the district could be like it–more grass than pavement, and a focus on each child.
"As far as I'm concerned, this should be the role model for all the schools," Sato said. "Here, everybody got individual attention."
