NEBRASKA CITY – The Arbor Day Foundation distributed about 800 cypress hardwood trees at the children’s program and other celebration activities to mark 150 years of Arbor Day and 50 years of the foundation.

 

Orchard manager Brad Kindler led students in the roots, shoots and fruits dance,  as well as an inventive planting demonstration at Northside school.

Arbor Day Farm Greenhouse Manager Thania Avelar said the cypress trees were part of the foundation’s membership drive this year.

“Our goal is always to make sure that they find a happy house to be planted at, so we decided we would honor our 50 by 150 by providing these trees this year.”

 

She said the conical-shaped trees grow to a height of about eight feet in full sun and come to the children’s program ready for care.

“So one thing to note is they feel light right now and that was purposefully done because we had to transport them so as you receive the tree they should be watered.”

She said if the weather is not ideal for planting, families can re-pot the trees to be transplanted later.

Avelar: “You want to keep it inside and then, as it gets warmer, you can set it outside in a pot and then, ultimately, you do want it in an actual landscape setting. I think this is actually a really fun way to do it and I’m excited to see all of these being planted around.”

Debora Woracek and Bob Fuchs of the Fontanelle Forest Raptor Team introduced the students to a great horned owl named Orion and a Swainson’s hawk named Savannah.

They are among the raptors at the Fontanelle Forest Woodland Refuge, which is open daily.

The afternoon children’s program was held on the lawn at Arbor Lodge.