YOUNGSTOWN, Fla. – On Florida’s Arbor Day, celebrated the third Friday in January, we are reminded of the impacts that trees and forest-related industries have on our community.
Forest products always have played a crucial role in our area, from ribs and masts of sailing ships, turpentine stills and mills. We have lived among native trees that provided comfort, health and beauty.
Through collaboration with the Arbor Day Foundation and corporate sponsors, the Florida Forest Service is celebrating Arbor Day through a series of tree giveaways, plantings and educational programs.
In Marianna, the Florida Forest Service is giving away 200, 1-gallon potted trees and 500 seedlings. This event will be Friday, Jan. 18 at 9 a.m. at Chipola College in front of the student center, 3070 College St., Marianna, FL 32446. Potted trees will include red maple, yellow poplar, southern red oak, live oak, pignut hickory, baldcypress and redbud. Seedlings will be river birch and winged elm.
For more information, contact Jackson County Forester Barry Stafford at (850) 482-9509 or Barry.Stafford@FreshFromFlorida.com.
In Panama City, Forest Service personnel are giving away 500, 3-gallon, wind-resistant trees at Florida State University Panama City campus, 4750 Collegiate Drive, Panama City, FL 32405, starting at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18. There also will be a tree planting on site to help with canopy recovery.
An additional 500 trees will be distributed Saturday, Jan. 19 at Texas Road House, 15660 Panama City Beach Pky, Panama City Beach, FL 32413 beginning Saturday at 9 a.m. Available tree species will include, river birch, red bud, sand live oak, blackgum, and baldcypress.
For more information on this event, contact Bay County Forester Joe Vanderwerff, at (850) 628-6754 or email Joe.Vanderwerff@FreshFromFlorida.com.
The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres. Learn more at FloridaForestService.com.