Friday, April 26, 2019

The City of New Smyrna Beach will host its annual Arbor Day Celebration at Riverside Park (299 S Riverside Dr) on Friday, April 26 at 10:00 AM.  This celebration is part of the City’s continued recognition as a Tree City USA from the National Arbor Day Foundation.

Residents Receive One Free Tree Each

City residents will be eligible to receive one free tree on a first-come, first-serve basis with proof of residency.  Available tree types include Live Oak, Crepe Myrtle, and Dahoon Holly.  The New Smyrna Beach Men’s and Women’s Garden Clubs will also have educational tree and gardening displays to view.

In addition, City staff will distribute milkweed seed packets to residents as part of the City’s Monarch City USA designation.  Monarch butterfly populations are on the decline because milkweed plants, their only source of sustenance, are disappearing across the United States.

City is Encouraging Residents to Plant More

“The City is very proud of its status as both a Tree City USA and Monarch City USA, and so we’re asking residents to help us continue being environmentally friendly by planting more trees, milkweed, and other butterfly attracting plants in their gardens,” said Public Information Officer Phillip Veski.

According to the Arbor Day Foundation’s website, “Arbor Day is an annual observance that celebrates the role of trees in our lives and promotes tree planting and care.  As a formal holiday, it was first observed in 1872, in Nebraska, but tree planting festivals are as old as civilization.”

For more information, please call the City of New Smyrna Beach’s Maintenance Operations Department at (386) 424-2202 and visit ArborDay.org and MonarchCityUSA.com.

Press release provided by the City of New Smyrna Beach.