Mayor Bloomberg Plants 50th Oak Tree at 9/11 Memorial Plaza (Updated X6)

At the World Trade Center site, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and 9/11 Memorial President Joe Daniels planted the 50th tree on the plaza of the 9/11 Memorial, which opens in less than a year. Tree plantings began on Aug. 28 when the first 16 trees were planted. The design for the plaza calls for more than 400 trees. By the time of the 10th anniversary, about 250 trees will be in place.

Updated: "I think this is just another step. It’s a small one, it’s a symbolic one, but it shows that the World Trade Center site is progressing, and particularly the memorial which will be done on time and on budget," Bloomberg said after the planting.

See more pictures and read more about the 50th tree planting at DNAinfo.com.

The swamp white oak trees have been growing in a New Jersey nursery since 2007. The average height of the trees is currently 30 feet. They are expected to reach heights of 80 feet.

Bloomberg and Daniels were joined in the milestone planting by First Deputy Mayor Patricia E. Harris, 9/11 Memorial architect Michael Arad, Maurice R. Greenberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CV Starr & Company, Inc. and Chairman of The Starr Foundation and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Executive Director Chris Ward.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff