Several local agencies have joined forces to produce tree giveaway events in observance of Florida's Arbor Day which is Friday, Jan. 19. Escambia and Santa Rosa counties along with the Florida Forest Service will hold events Friday, Jan. 19 and Saturday, Jan. 20. Escambia County will hold its tree giveaway and public planting from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 20 at Barrineau Park Community Center, located at 6055 Barrineau Park Road, Molino.
Support for the event is provided by the Florida Forest Service and Escambia County UF/IFAS Extension. Each attendee will receive two free native one-gallon trees. Species available include tulip poplar, Chickasaw plum, Shumard oak, and fringetree.
Escambia County will also host its second annual Arbor Day Mail Art Contest this year. To participate, mail a drawing, painting, or mixed media artwork with the theme, “Strong Trees, Strong Communities” to Arbor Day Art Contest c/o Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment, FL 32533. Please include your name, age, and contact information on the back of your artwork. Contest entries must arrive by mail or be dropped off by Jan. 18 and will be judged at the tree giveaway on Jan. 20 at Barrineau Park Community Center.
First place winners of the art contest will receive prizes including a seven-gallon tree, a shovel, and a tree book. Second place winners will receive a tree book and and third place winners will receive gardening gloves. Categories include children (12-under), teen (13-18), and adult (over 18). All participants in attendance at the tree giveaway will receive a special edition Arbor Day water bottle featuring last year’s winning design.
Santa Rosa County will host tree giveaway events from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Friday, Jan. 19 at the Navarre Gardens, located at 7254 Navarre Parkway and at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 20 at the Milton Garden Club, located at 5256 Alabama St. Both events will be held rain or shine or as long as trees are available.
Support for the event will be provided by the Florida Forest Service, Milton Garden Club, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Santa Rosa County UF-IFAS Extension, Master Gardener Association, Santa Rosa Green Up Nursery and Keep Santa Rosa Beautiful. The events will include plant displays, planting demonstrations and a one-gallon containerized tree giveaway.
For more information, contact Mary Salinas, residential horticulture agent at the UF/IFAS extension office in Santa Rosa County, at 850-623 3868, or at [email protected].
