Tree Give-Away Wrap Up
By Sarah Walters – Special to SUNonline/Orillia
Greenhouse gas-gobbling trees will soon be reducing the carbon dioxide load in the atmosphere thanks to Sustainable Orillia’s annual tree give-away last Saturday at Tudhope Park.
Event organizer and Sustainable Orillia secretary Sarah Walters reported that 225 trees and shrubs had been ordered and were being picked up. Trees were provided at a discount by Stone Row Farm of Waubaushene.
After Jim Birchard picked up his tulip tree, he consulted Horizon Tree Company’s on-site staff for advice on planting his new tree. He wanted to replace a tree he had lost in the ice storm and asked about size expectation and planting and location suggestions.
Along with Parklane Landscapes and Rotary Club of Orillia, Horizon was a sponsor of the event and had staff experts on hand; Brent Maw and Jordan Moorehouse advised on planting techniques, location and tips. Fall and spring are the best times to plant, they said, suggesting that people plant what’s already growing in their area. Birchard was grateful for both the tree and the advice.
“It’s good to have free trees available after the ice storm,” he said.
Event volunteer Pat Melnyck noticed that people are looking for well-rooted native trees and shrubs. They were conscious of the many positive contributions trees make, particularly in the turbulent times we’re living in.
“Trees tend to stick around and get memories attached to them,” Melnyck said.
Sustainable Orillia volunteer Sarah Durocher, who was working on the registration desk, believes trees are important to our collective future. She noticed that people who were picking up trees want to care for the environment and for future generations.
“This is at the forefront of people’s minds” Durocher said
(Images Supplied) Main: Sarah Durocher, Sarah Walters and Jocelyn Trudell at Sustainable Orillia’s annual tree give-away.
