City Celebrates Arbor Day

Sidney residents were lined up early Saturday for their opportunity at a free tree.

The tree giveaway was part of the Arbor Day celebration held in Sidney Saturday, April 28.

The event was held at the Lodgepole Creek Campground with the celebration beginning in the lodge.

The gates to the Youth Camp opened at 6 a.m. with sign-up for the tree give-away beginning at 7 a.m. The program started at I a.m. with a welcome speech by Tom Von Seggern and an introduction of Tree Board members, council members and dignitaries.

"On Arbor Day, in Nebraska, we commit ourselves to plan trees for our benefit and the benefit of future generations," said Tom Von Seggern of the Sidney Tree Board.

As part of the celebration, the City of Sidney was also awarded its 32nd consecutive Tree City USA award. The banner was presented to councilman Bob Olsen. In addition to the Tree City USA award, the city received the Growth Award from the Arbor Day Foundation. Von Seggern said the Growth Award can be attributed to the collaboration between the City of Sidney and the South Platte Natural Resources District, and the American Legion to replace the junipers around the War Memorial in Legion Park, Von Seggern said.

Arbor Day was founded in 1972, growing to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, Von Seggern said. He added there are more than one million members, supporters and valued partners of the Arbor Day Foundation.

"During the last 46 years, more than 250 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world," Von Seggern said.

The program included Dana Revell promoting the community garden. She said the community garden offers 20 feet by 20 feet plots. A $30 deposit is required by the City of Sidney, returnable when the person chooses to no longer use the plot.

"You can grow anything you want," Revell said.

The community garden has been restructured, and with it a new name. It is now Deer Run Community Gardens, still located near the northeast corner of Deer Run Park.

She said it is a great place to meet people and exchange ideas of growing flowers and vegetables. Contact Revell at 249-1366 for more information.

Amy Seiler, Community Forester Specialist for the western half of Nebraska, was the guest speaker for the event. She explained the importance of choosing the right tree for the Panhandle area, and the right place in relation to soil quality and sun exposure. She said some trees do well on minimal water while others are more dependent on a constant watering.

She explained the assets and challenges of each tree variety offered at the event. The program then moved outside where she demonstrated how to properly plant a tree.

Trees offered this year include Canada Red Select Cherry, European Mtn Ash, Heritage Oak (English X Bur), Japanese Tree Lilac, Majestic Skies Northern Pin Oak, Princeton American Elm, Profusion Crab

Redmond Linden, Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn and Shademaster Honeylocust.

Von Seggern said there were more people present for the tree give-away this year than last year.