Meet Terry Stanton

Terry Stanton Pictured Here With Marriage Trees

Champion Trees From the Leelanau Peninsula

Let him tell you the story of his great grandparents' Leelanau Peninsula marriage tree tradition and why he believes marriage trees are critical to helping the earth.

When Ian and Nancy Asken read about their neighbor, Terry Stanton, in a Traverse City Michigan newspaper (click here to read the article), they were inspired to plant marriage trees on the property of their Omena, Michigan summer home to commemorate their 20th wedding anniversary.

Terry Stanton (pictured above with two champion marriage trees on the Leelanau Peninsula) had talked to his local newspaper about the exciting and beautiful historical tradition of his and many others' relatives planting marriage trees on their homesteads around the Leelanau Peninsula when they got married. Terry thinks it's time to bring that old tradition back, which is why is on a mission to get people to plant marriage trees.

Terry is worried about the current state of the earth, but not so worried that he's paralyzed.

He believes that global warming is a reality, and while many are stymied by just what to do about it, he's a man of action.

Planting Trees in Honor of Marriage as Part of a Solution

Stanton sees the planting of marriage trees as a way to do something tangible about global warming, which is why he is touting the idea that couples re-institute an old custom of planting marriage trees in order to honor their marriage.

My relatives talked to me several times about the tradition of the marriage tree. I was told that when someone got married around The Leelanau Peninsula, often two trees would be planted on the family's property; one for the bride, and one for the groom. A house would then be built near the trees.

He also says:

I think it would be great if people planted trees on their own fmaily property, just like what was done in the old days. They could even decide to plant in places like Conservacy land. The more we can get people excited about the idea of planting trees to honor a special event in their life, the better for our world."

Targeting Champion Trees and Northern Michigan

His own family tree in Northern Michigan reaches back several generations, with three sets of great-grandparents who settled in Copemish, Northport, and Solon. Ask Terry about going on a tour around the Leelanau Peninsula where he'll show you several sets of beautiful marriage trees.

Terry is also an enthusiastic supporter of The Champion Tree Project International. He points out that most of the marriage trees he knows about are over 150 years old, which makes them champion trees.

"These old trees have survived longer than an other species, which is why I think it's smart for us to be preserving their genetics. They're a proven strong breed, and we're going to need trees like these in future years in order to survive the current embalances on the planet."

Terry's Words of Wisdom:

Couples getting married might want to re-start this tradition. It would help symbolize their commitment to each other, and it would help the environment at the same time."

Trees act as a kind of sponge to clean up the toxins in our environment. They breathe and filter out many of the poisons that are causing global warming.