This year marks the 30th year Sidney has been recognized as a Tree City USA community by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
The celebration and tree give-away have become a major part of the Sidney Tree Board’s community work as it strives to maintain a healthy tree canopy in the City of Sidney.
In preparation for the give-away, board members evaluate what they feel are trees that will not only work well in Sidney, but also provide diversity within the tree canopy.
“If you just have a few species of trees and a disease or insect comes in that affects that species it can have a devastating result on the overall picture. But if you can have a wider variety of trees, then the affect doesn’t harm as large a percentage of your canopy.” says Board Chair Tom VonSeggern.
VonSeggern adds that with this being Sidney’s 30th year as a Tree City USA community, three evergreen species of trees will be added to the give-away to further broaden the diversity of tree species in the community.
This year the board is offering ten different species of trees to Sidney residents. Seven deciduous species include Prairie Expedition Elm, May Day Tree, Bur Oak, Newport Plum, Profusion Crabapple, Kentucky Coffeetree, and Canada Red Cherry. Three evergreen species include Bosnian Pine, Swiss Stone Pine, and Austrian Pine. Tree descriptions and pictures can be found on the City of Sidney’s website at www.cityofsidney.org.
Gates open at 7 a.m. and residents from within the city of Sidney can browse trees and decide which would be best in their yard. They will then sign in, and can designate their tree preference.
The Arbor Day celebration begins at 8 a.m., followed by speaker Amy Seiler from the Nebraska Forest Service. As part of her program, Seiler will provide information about the different types of trees and good placement for them, then show participants how to properly prepare and plant their tree. Afterward, those attending will receive their trees. About 90 trees are slated to be given away.
The Lodgepole Valley Youth Camp board, which is serving as the day’s hosts, will be hosting an open house and providing coffee and donuts. Local Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts will be on hand to assist participants.