What happened to Esperanza, a Douglas fir?

A Douglas-fir, named Esperanza, once stood on the grounds of Spruce Elementary in Lynnwood. Why did it come down?

Teacher Jennie Warmouth and an after-school art and ecology club launched a year-long investigation to find out.

She will present her findings Saturday, Oct. 17, from 4-6:30 p.m. at Graphite Arts Center, 202 Main St., Edmonds, in a presentation called “Esperanza Speaks: Growing Hope Through Art & Action.”

Graphite will open at noon. Participants can create and look at artwork from 4-5 p.m. From 5-6 p.m., student artists and guests will share stories and poems about how their love of trees has impacted them.

Participants can record their own tree stories to be preserved alongside Esperanza’s in a community archive.

Art Start Northwest is hosting the event. Special guests are Nalini Nadkarni, National Geographic explorer at large; tree ecologist Rena Priest; state poet laureate and National Geographic explorer; and Kiliii Yüyan, National Geographic photographer

More information: schoolprograms@artstartnw.org.