Nemaha NRD plants Norway spruce at Arbor Lodge

NEBRASKA CITY - Nemaha NRD was on hand at Arbor Lodge to plant a Norway spruce in observance of Arbor Day. 

The Norway spruce was the tree of choice to replace the original Norway spruce that was planted in 1871 in the same location. The original tree, which was planted by the Morton family, blew over because of straight-line winds back in December. 

Director of Landscape and Horticulture at Arbor Day Foundation, Brad Kindler said "now is the time to put this tree back in the ground."

Kindler: "We hope our ancestors and the people that come after us appreciate the tree just like we appreciate the Norway spruce that the Mortons planted."

Norway spruce can survive in standing water for a few months, which make them more versatile and allow them to thrive in Nebraska City. Nemaha NRD General Manager Kyle Hauschild thanked Nebraska City Tourism and Commerce and Arbor Day Farms for inviting NRD to the tree planting saying that it's "something we should try to do every year."

Nemaha NRD is no stranger to planting trees since its inception 50 years ago according to Hauschild. 

Hauschild: "In 50 years [NRD] have planted 100 million trees which equates to about 50 trees per Nebraska resident currently."

Hauschild hopes the new Norway spruce can be the kickstart to the next 100 million trees planted.