Arbor Day Events

Official Press Release:

Welcome Spring with Arbor Day Workshops and Exhibits Saturday, April 3, in Byrd Park

Get a head start on spring on Saturday, April 3, at Stay Co₂ol with Trees, a free Arbor Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Carillon in Richmond’s Byrd Park.  During the festivities, Richmond will receive Tree City USA recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation for the 19^th straight year.

Rain or shine, you will find both fun and information about the many ways trees make our lives better. You also will learn about the work of related community organizations and businesses.

Children can climb a tree, bounce in an inflatable castle, enjoy art activities supervised by the Visual Arts Center of Richmond, and meet the Richmond Flying Squirrels mascot “Nutzy.” And they can expect a visit by a city firefighting unit between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Adults will also have several fun events in which to participate:

* Six workshops on planting, identifying trees, pruning mature trees, why native plants are needed, assessing the extent of decay inside a trunk, and tips for using a professional arborist’s tools.

* Talking with experts about tree selection, tree care, protection during construction, horticulture and gardening.

* Shopping for everything from plants and artwork to composting bins and rain barrels.

* Getting a free bare-root tree, (while supplies last!).

The acoustic band Van Driver will perform while fans meet and greet representatives of WRIR 97.3 and of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, who will also have a drawing for a special prize. Nancy Ross Hugo, the essayist-landscaper and co-author of Remarkable Trees of Virginia, will be the keynote speaker. Richard Nunnally, Richmond Times-Dispatch garden columnist and WCVE gardening show host, will greet his fans and answer horticulture questions at the Times-Dispatch booth. Karl Pokorny, former Richmond city arborist, will offer information and answer questions about protecting trees during construction.

Other certified arborists and a wildlife biologist will present six workshops, from 10:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Then all but the native plant workshop will repeat from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.

* A Professional Arborist’s Equipment – Mark Bennett, arborist, Davey Tree

* Assessing Strength Loss and Potential Hazards in Trees Using a Resistograph – Bill Poad, arborist, Bartlett Tree Experts

* Mature Tree Pruning – Billy Davis, arborist, Arborscapes

* How to Plant a Tree – Norman Brown, arborist, Richmond Urban Forestry

* Tree Identification – Michael Mather, arborist, Richmond Urban Forestry

* Reconnecting the Web: Why We Won’t Save Wildlife Without Native Plant Landscapes – Lou Verner, wildlife mapping coordinator, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

Event attendees will be able to purchase The Earth Machine compost bin at a discount through the Clean City Commission (cash or personal checks only).

Sponsors include the Richmond Tree Stewards, Richmond’s Urban Forestry Division of the Department of Public Works, and Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. Other sponsors include Dominion, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, WRIR Radio 97.3 FM, Davey Tree Expert Co., Colesville Nursery, Glen Allen Nursery, Riverside Outfitters, and Virginia Department of Forestry. Also, Arborscapes, Friends of Forest Hill Park, Ginter Park Residents Association, Hudgins Landscaping Co., James River Grounds Management Inc., Richmond Flying Squirrels, Truetimber Tree Service Inc., Visual Arts Center of Richmond, and the Westover Hills Neighborhood Association.

Richmond Tree Stewards are trained citizen volunteers who help the arborists of Urban Forestry care for trees along city streets. Learn more about Tree Stewards at http://treestewards.rrpfoundation.org/ and www.groups.google.com and Richmond Tree Stewards.