Davidsan’s Japanese Maples will be closing due to the owner’s retirement, although customers still have a short window of time to place orders.

In a written statement, owner Gale Myers said, “During this last year full of major changes in the country, the world and our lives, including COVID, each of us has had the opportunity to consider how we want to move forward with our lives.  After extensive thought about these projects that will continue over the next year, I have chosen to move toward retirement.”

Myers noted that Davidsan’s is involved in several large projects, including planning, designing and supplying more than 1,000 trees and many pieces of granite statuary to honor the 20-plus-year relationship between Springfield and Springfield’s sister-city, Ashikaga, Japan. Myers traveled with University of Illinois Springfield to Ashikaga several times at the start of the partnership and says she was influenced by the Japanese people and their culture.

Davidsan’s, which is located on a 22 acre site in New Berlin, will be open by appointment only through May 1. Emailed orders for trees will be accepted through April 20.

“My hope and vision is that all of the trees, granite lanterns, benches and sculptures that we have shipped all over the country – and that will be planted in Springfield – can be beautiful symbols of contemplation and inspiration, each one adding to the well-being of the people of our world community,” said Myers.