January 21st will find the 8th annual Crawfordville Arbor Day celebration – and tree giveaway – at Hudson Park. Starting at 10am on Saturday, more than a thousand trees will be given away for free.  The young trees are all pot-grown and several feet tall.

Festival goers may choose from among the following trees:  river birch, bald cypress, southern red oak, turkey oak, sugarberry, pignut hickory, parsley hawthorn, and flatwoods plum.  A few fringe tree, chickasaw plum, dogwood, chinkapin, and eastern mayhaw may be found as well.  In addition, the Florida Division of Forestry will give away several hundred longleaf pine and other pine seedlings.

Every person who attends may take home one free tree in a pot plus several bareroot pines.  After 12 noon, any number of the remaining trees may be taken for a requested donation of $3 per tree.

If you want a free tree for your yard but don’t know what tree would be best, help will be available.  Tree-giveaway volunteers are all experienced gardeners or Master Gardeners and will be able to answer questions and give advice.

Don’t forget to bring your empty, black-plastic plant pots (6-inch diameter or larger).  You can trade them for chances to win a beautiful willow tree from Just Fruits & Exotics Nursery.  You may also purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win a large shumard oak donated by Purple Martin Nurseries.

Families will find delightful music, food, and exhibits.  The Iris Garden Club will sell baked goods to raise scholarship funds.  Artisans, craftsmen, and other vendors will be selling their wares.  Bring a canvas bag to hold everything you will acquire.

Arbor Day is a nationally celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care.  “Trees provide welcome shade in hot weather and reduce electricity bills,” said Wakulla County Commissioner Lynn Artz.  “Trees also provide food and shelter for wildlife and beautify our county,” added Jeannie Brodhead, President of the Iris Garden Club.

The Iris Garden Club of Wakulla organizes this annual event.  The festival will be held rain or shine.  For more information, please contact Lynn Artz  (320-2158; lynn_artz@hotmail.com).

The Annual Arbor Day Festival is organized by the Iris Garden Club, with the Florida Division of Forestry, Sarracenia Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, Just Fruits & Exotics, Purple Martin Nurseries, and the Wakulla County Parks and Recreation Department.

Photo Gallery of Arbor Day Free Trees

Bald Cypress	Chickasaw Plum	Longleaf Pine	River Burch
Fringe Tree	Parsley Hawthorn	Pignut Hickory	Southern Red Oak



Chinkapin		Eastern Mayhaw		Dog Wood
Sugarberry		Turkey Oak

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