January 17 Arbor Day Celebration Quickly Approaching

tree graphic 75.gif Save the Date!

January 17th will bring the first festival of the new year – the annual Crawfordville Arbor Day celebration at Hudson Park from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. What began five years ago as a free tree giveaway has grown to be much more.

Families will find delightful children’s activities, music, and food. Numerous vendors will display their wares. Enjoy interesting, informative exhibits while munching on kettle corn.

A farmer’s market is being added to the festival this year. Seasonal local produce for sale may include mushrooms, greens, onions, cabbage, potatoes, lettuce, and citrus.

The Tallahassee Garden Club will be among the new vendors. They will bring their cookbooks, caladium bulbs (20 varieties), prism chimes, birdhouses, and coreopsis stepping stones. Bring a canvas bag to hold everything you will acquire.

{sidebar id=1}If you have empty, black-plastic plant pots (6-inch diameter or larger), bring those, too. You can trade them for chances to win a beautiful, large tree from Just Fruits & Exotics Nursery.

Of course, hundreds of free “baby” trees will be looking for new homes. The Iris Garden Club will offer 500 bare root trees including redbud, Florida sugar maple, bald cypress, rusty blackhaw, and black gum (or tupelo). Just Fruits and Exotics will give away a variety of native trees in 1-gallon pots. The Florida Division of Forestry will give away 500 longleaf pine seedlings.

Arbor Day is a nationally celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care. Florida celebrates Arbor Day on the third Friday in January. According to County Forester Kawika Bailey ‘arbor’ is the Latin word for ‘tree.’ “This is the fifth year we’ve celebrated Arbor Day in Crawfordville,” said Jeannie Brodhead, President of the Iris Garden Club.

The Iris Garden Club of Wakulla is the main organizer of this annual event. To participate as a vendor, exhibitor, or volunteer, please contact Lynn Artz (926-8756; 320-2158(c); lynn_artz@hotmail.com).

This article originally published on December 29, 2008.

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