"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." -- Chinese Proverb Trees are the silent observers of time. Some of the biggest oaks and maples that dot the southwest Michigan landscape started as saplings around the time our corner of Michigan was settled. These giants have stood through sunny days, blizzards, and droughts. They’ve endured through economic prosperity, recessions, and wartime. They’ve seen fashion trends and social fads come and