Foley’s Revitalization and Beautification Advisory Board invites the community to the City’s 41st Annual Celebration of Arbor Day. The event will be held at the Coastal Alabama Farmers and Fishermen’s Market, located at 20733 Miflin Road, at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, February 26th.
City of Foley recognized as a Tree City, proudly promotes the planting of trees. Trees reduce erosion, cut heating and cooling costs, produce oxygen, provide habitat for wildlife and add beauty to our environment. The Alabama Forestry Commission, Baldwin County Master Gardeners and Certified Arborists will be on hand to answer any questions you have about trees. Boy Scout Troop 77 will assist in the distribution of trees. The top winning posters will be on display from the Arbor Day Poster Contest. The Foley High School Air Force Junior ROTC will do the Presentation of Colors. There will be an assortment of trees in three gallon containers available, one per family please.
Live Oak Trees will be dedicated and planted in memory of three special people who loved Foley and made our city a better place because of the time they spent here. Dedications will be made in memory of former City of Foley Mayor, Arthur Holk, Coach Ivan Jones and Mr. Danny Younce.
Here is a list of trees being distributed.
- Nuttall Oak: Quercus texana
This species is one of the most well-adapted oaks for general landscape use. It grows quickly, develops a good branching structure, tolerates wet soil as well as moderate drought, and has very few issues with insects and disease.
Provides fall color that changes from yellow to orange to red. Grows 40 to 60 feet high, 35 to 50 foot spread at maturity.
- Willow Oak: Quercus phellos
A handsome oak with willow-like leaves. Foliage is light to bright green in summer and yellow, yellow-brown and russet in fall. Relative fast-growing, it tolerates poorly drained soil. Prefers acid soil and full sun. Grows to 40 to 60 feet high with a 35 to 40 foot spread at maturity.
- Live Oak: Quercus virginiana
This magnificent, broadleaf evergreen tree will be a picturesque addition to your landscape. It grows rapidly when young and may live to be centuries old. Adapts to almost any soil. Live oaks may be used as street trees. Grows to 40 to 80 feet high with a 60 to 100 foot spread at maturity.
- Sawtooth Oak: Quercus acutissima
Is one of the fastest growing trees in its youth, it’s an attractive shade tree with dark lustrous summer foliage and clear yellow to golden brown fall leaves. Adaptable to any soil condition except alkaline. One inch acorns are quite popular with wildlife. Grows 40 to 60 feet tall with a 40 to 60 foot spread.
- Bald cypress: Taxodium distichum
This tree features short needles arranged in pairs along slender branchlets; their coloring ranges from yellow-green in spring to soft green in summer to reddish or orangish brown in autumn. It yields cones that appear as little globes about one inch that contain triangular seeds that are attractive to wildlife. Grows in a pyramidal shape, adapts well to wet and dry conditions. Grows at a medium speed to 50 to 70 feet high at maturity.
- Cryptomeria Yoshino: Also known as a Japanese Cedar
This is a fast growing evergreen tree with blue-green summer foliage and bronze-green winter leaves. It exhibits a loose pyramidal shape and is often planted with others to create a high hedge to block out unwanted sights and sounds. This variety is more shade tolerant and can grow to 10 feet tall and 6 foot around in a few years.
For more information please refer to the Arbor Day Foundation website at https://www.arborday.org/