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By Kat Christensen

Don’t miss out on one of the longest standing traditions in The Woodlands! Arbor Day encourages residents to take part in on-going community reforestation and beautification efforts by planting trees in yards, community open space reserves and forest preserves.

The Arbor Day Tree Giveaway takes place Saturday, January 27 from 9 a.m. to noon at Rob Fleming Park located at 6055 Creekside Forest Drive.

Experts will be on hand to answer all your questions and demonstrate the best method to plant a bareroot seedling. Pictured here are Kat Christensen, Sustainable Landscapes Coordinator for The Woodlands Township, and Jayden Kelly, Program Specialist, Texas A&M Forest Service. (Photo by Megan McNairn)

This year, 12 varieties of native seedlings are available including both canopy trees and understory trees, all of which are hosts to our native pollinators.

Canopy trees, which comprise the upper layer of the forest, typically reach heights of 40 to 90 feet at full maturity. The following varieties are available this year: Shortleaf Pine, Nuttall Oak, White Oak, Pecan, Sweetbay Magnolia and Black Willow.  

Understory trees range in height from 8 to 40 feet at maturity and are generally more shade tolerant. These smaller varieties are Persimmon, Flowering Dogwood, Black Cherry, Chickasaw Plum, False Indigo and Button Bush.

Each of these native varieties benefit local wildlife. Flowering trees and shrubs provide nectar for bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Berry-producing varieties offer small mammals and birds a source of food. All are critical hosts for beneficial insects. Read more about these featured species in the Environmental Services online library, just scan the code.

If you have any questions regarding trees in your yard, there will be experts on hand to assist!

This is a free event for residents of The Woodlands.

Event Sponsors: Howard Hughes and Waste Management

The trees in this photo grew from seedlings given away at the very first Arbor Day celebration in The Woodlands. Bill Kendrick from The Woodlands Development Company is shown here standing next to the trees on Slash Pines Drive as they were in 2006.

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Many thanks to The Woodlands 50th Anniversary Sponsors:

FOUNDING – Howard Hughes

LEGACY – Woodforest National Bank

HERITAGE – Waste Connections Inc.

GOLD – Entergy Texas, Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital

SILVER – SVN/JBeard Real Estate, The John Cooper School

PRODUCER – The Woodlands Township