The Gastonia City Council presented a proclamation to Juliann Lehman, Keep Gastonia Beautiful administrator and Robert Stroud, the City’s arborist, recognizing March 18 as Arbor Day in the City of Gastonia.
Nationally, Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday of April. However, most states observe a separate Arbor Day on a date of their choosing in accordance with the best tree-planting times. In North Carolina, we celebrate Arbor on the first Friday following March 15. This year, NC Arbor Day falls on Friday, March 18.
“Arbor Day is a great time to learn about tree-planting and how important trees are to our environment, our city, and our lives,” said Lehman. “We thank our mayor and city council for acknowledging Arbor Day this year and urging us to plant more trees.”
Last fall, Gastonia City Council asked the City’s arborist to plant 150 trees around the city to mark the observance of the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day in North Carolina. Since then, the City’s arborist has planted 300 trees: 16 at 10 schools and the rest on public/city property.
When the project is completed, Stroud and Lehman hope to reestablish the City’s native tree canopy, especially in parks and rights-of-way where trees are being lost due to adverse weather conditions and expanding development across the city.
Photo: Juliann Lehman and Robert Stroud accepted the proclamation from the Gastonia City Council on March 15, 2022.
