Larry Isom planted two sugar maple trees at the Lake Panorama dog park in November 2021. He and his wife, Heather, who own Isom Tree Farm, donated those trees and installation. Now money is being raised to plant 13 trees, with 11 along Panorama Road near Lake Panorama’s main west entrance and two at Sunset Beach. Five of the trees planned are sugar maples, which Isom will plant using this tree spade. Photo by Susan Thompson
At least a dozen trees along the west entrance have been removed with both storm damage and disease as culprits.
By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times
In 2012, the Lake Panorama Association conducted a fundraising campaign to plant trees along Panorama Road at the main west entrance to the lake. In the early days of the lake development, pine trees lined both sides of the road north of where a guard shack was originally.
As those trees reached the end of their life span, they were removed, but no replacements were planted. LPA members provided the impetus for the fundraising campaign, and a number of trees were planted to replace those that were lost.
Ten years later, the same situation exists. At least a dozen trees along the west entrance have been removed with both storm damage and disease as culprits. The trees planted in 2012 helped cushion the blow of these more recent losses, yet gaps remain where trees once stood.
Some members have contacted the LPA to ask if there are plans to replace trees along this iconic entrance to Lake Panorama. In 2012, Friends of Lake Panorama, a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity, did not exist. Now LPA is working with Friends on a fundraising campaign that will give donors who itemize at tax time the opportunity to deduct their donations.
The LPA has partnered with Isom Tree Farm on a tree planting plan. It calls for 11 new trees to be planted along Panorama Road north of the guard shack. The plan also includes the addition of two trees near the sports court at Sunset Beach.
Five sugar maple trees would be planted with a tree spade with four along Panorama Road and one at Sunset Beach. Larry and Heather Isom, who live on Burchfield Cove and own Isom Tree Farm, plan to donate one sugar maple.
The plan also includes eight nursery trees — two red maples, three London planetrees and three autumn blaze maples. One autumn blaze maple would be planted at Sunset Beach, with the other seven along Panorama Road.
The average cost per tree is $400. Those interested in funding a single tree would make a $400 donation. Larger and smaller donations also are welcome. Once fundraising is complete, all donors will be recognized in a story in the LPA Prompt and the Lake Panorama Times. Donors of $500 or more can make their donation in honor or memory of someone and will be recognized on the Friends of Lake Panorama website.
The total cost of this tree-planting project is $4,500. It is hoped this goal can be reached by the end of March so trees can be planted as soon as spring conditions allow. The LPA will take care of watering, deer protection and fertilization.
Donations to Friends are tax-deductible; all donors receive a letter of thanks to use during tax preparation. Donations can be made by check payable to Friends of Lake Panorama and mailed to Friends, P.O. Box 488, Panora, IA, 50216. Donations also can be made through Venmo @Panorama-Friends, or by credit card at friendsoflakepanorama.org.
This photo shows the size of the nursery trees available from Isom Tree Farm. A fundraising effort to plant 13 new trees on the west side of the lake includes plans for eight nursery trees — two red maples, three London planetrees and three autumn blaze maples. Photo by Susan Thompson