Wild About Utah Tribute to Alice & Allen Stokes
Alice Stokes Obituary - Logan Herald Journal
"A Life In Full", Brittny Goodsell Jones, The Herald Journal (Courtesy www.USU.edu)
Allen & Alice Stokes Nature Center, Logan, Utah

A memorial service for Alice Stokes was held at the Sunburst Lounge of the Taggart Student Center, Utah State University, on Saturday, May 9, at 3 p.m.
Recording courtesy Utah Public Radio

1. The tree is a native canyon or bigtooth maple (Acer grandidentatum) just like the one planted for your father [Allen Stokes]. They will be the only two bigtooth maples on campus grown from seed. The others are cultivated varieties that have been grafted onto rootstock of other maple species.



2. The trees will be partnered in the BNR courtyard, such that they will cross-pollinate and produce viable seed and healthy offspring. Interestingly, such viability of seed and offspring is greatly reduced if individuals of the species are self-pollinated. Thus, the maintenance of the species really does depend on the union of germ cells from two or more individuals.



3. It is quite possible that grafts will form between roots of the two maples, which in turn mean that water, nutrients, and hormones could be exchanged between them.



4. The university requires a standard amount for planting a memorial tree on campus. Funds in excess of purchasing a tree and providing a memorial plaque at the base are used for purchasing additional trees on campus and caring for them. The purchase of new trees is overseen by the Facilities Division of the university, working closely with the Arboretum Committee on campus. Great care is taken to secure trees that are not already on campus, thus increasing the educational and scientific value of our collection. In this sense, the tree memorializing your mother [Alice Stokes] will have a significant magnifying effect.