Georgia: Celebrating Arbor Day Across the State

Here’s a summary of just some of the Arbor Day events happening in cities across the state in 2011 in celebration of Arbor Day! Keep checking back. We’ll post more events as we receive them.

Mansfield – The city will celebrate Arbor Day today, February 11, 2011.  They will be recognized as a Tree City USA.

Smyrna Arboretum

Smyrna - Keep Smyrna Beautiful, Inc. and the City of Smyrna will celebrate Arbor Day on Saturday, February 19^th.  A ceremony will be held at 11:00 a.m. in the Arboretum by the Community Center at 200 Village Green Circle.  A light lunch will follow the ceremony.  This is a free event that is open to the public with reservations required.  In the event of inclement weather, the event will be held inside Community Center.  An educational display can also be viewed in the Center’s lobby through the month of February.  Call Keep Smyrna Beautiful at 770-431-2863 to make reservations.

Norcross – The Norcross Tree Preservation Board would very much like to share Arbor Day with you.  We will be planting a Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) in front of Norcross Fire Station 1, located on Lawrenceville Street.  Arbor Day is February 18, and the time will be 2:00 PM.  We will also be serving refreshments in the Welcome Center next door. Trees are a very important part of our city and the Norcross Tree Preservation Board is excited to be adding another beautiful tree to our town.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Decatur – Announcing they are a new participant in the Tree City USA program on Feb. 18th, along with a tree planting and the Nally Tree Festival in the Decatur Square on Feb. 12th, noon – 3 p.m.

Avondale Estates - Celebrating Arbor Day Friday, February 18 at 2:00 p.m.

Duluth – Friday, February 18, 2011- 10 a.m. Downtown Duluth.

Atlanta – Visit the Trees Atlanta Web Site for a full list of programs incluting a tree planting on Beltline and the planting of a Liberty Elm at Georgia Tech.

Saturday, April 2, 2011, 11am-4pm – 5th Annual Urban Forestry Festival to celebrate Southwest Atlanta’s urban forests at the Outdoor Activity Center, sponsored by WAWA. http://atlantaga.creativeloafing.com/Events/5th-annual-urban-forestry-festival/7965413

Woodbine – Friday, February 18^th – Memorial Trees dedicated on the Woodbine Riverwalk for Donnie Bennett, Ranger 1 Georgia Forestry Commission, Camden Unit.  Plan to begin dedication at 11AM.

Oxford – Arbor Day Celebration to be held Saturday, February 19, 2011, 10:00 A.M.-12:00 Noon at the New City Hall meeting room and adjacent park. All citizens and friends of Oxford are cordially invited to celebrate our trees and learn more about this essential resource we share but often take for granted. Activities inside: Reading of Arbor Day proclamation by the Mayor, Presentation of Tree City and Growth awards, Dedication of new trees at City Hall, Announcing Palmer-Stone Elementary student winners of art contest (graphic and writing), Display about Oxford’s trees and their worth (property values, energy savings, aesthetics), Information on caring for trees and dollar value of City Hall’s new and old trees. Refreshments Activities outside: Educational game with prizes for all attending elementary and middle school students, Attendees can assist (bring gloves, shovels, rakes) or observe Cousins Middle School students in demonstrating proper planting of one new tree (avoid strangling and burying alive) and proper mulching (avoid smothering). Attendees may take home seedlings provided through the generosity of the Service Guild of Covington and facilitated by the Georgia Forestry Commission.