Upcoming TreeFest gives Wilmington chance to replenish nature
Our family has a couple of traditions that we keep for New Year’s Day. Along with our black-eyed peas and greens for dinner (for good luck and prosperity), we always start the new year with a hike in Carolina Beach State Park. This year, we were delighted to receive a “First Day Hike” sticker from the park ranger at the trail head as part of the nationwide First Day Hikes program organized by the National Association of State Park Directors. The weather was perfect for a hike in the woods, and we passed many families with kids and dogs and smiling folks out enjoying the serenity of the quiet forest.
Carolina Beach State Park encompasses 761 acres of long leaf pine forest and pocosin habitat. The pine needle covered hiking trails wind through forests dominated by long leaf pine, turkey oaks, sand live oaks, and wiregrass. The park contains unique habitats and plants that are found nowhere else on earth such as the carnivorous Venus' flytrap.
Forested areas like these offer many benefits to our community, from offering flood protection and improving water and air quality, to providing shade and oxygen, and providing food and nesting sites for birds and wildlife. In highly urbanized areas, forests and large canopy trees are often removed to make way for development. We can replenish our tree canopies by purposeful planting in our cities, neighborhoods, and in our own yards.
The 26th annual TreeFest event provides an opportunity for residents to receive free native trees and grasses. The event is held Friday, Jan. 19 and Saturday, Jan. 20, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., or while supplies last, at Independence Mall inside the JC Penney corridor.
Households may choose up to five free trees or grasses from the available selection (a $5 donation per household is suggested). All trees and grasses are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Tree species include longleaf pine, water tupelo, red maple, river birch, flowering dogwood, silky dogwood, sugarberry, yellow poplar, pignut hickory, eastern redbud, mulberry, crabapple, and swamp chestnut oak. Indian grass, little bluestem grass, wiregrass, and big bluestem will also be available. Please note that tree species are subject to availability, and some may not be available at the giveaway.
More than 5,000 individual plants will be available during the giveaway, with an equal amount distributed each day. In an effort to reduce single use plastics, the TreeFest committee is asking visitors to bring their own non-leaking bag or bucket to take home their bare root seedlings.
Experts will be available at TreeFest to help with plant selection and provide information for their care. Before selecting trees, residents are encouraged to consider the size of the site, whether utility lines exist above and below ground, proximity to buildings, and site conditions like soil type, drainage, and sun exposure.
"Planting a tree today leaves a legacy for your children, grandchildren, and your grandchildren's children," says Cindy Fischer, TreeFest committee founding member. Through thoughtful planning and planting, we can replenish our urban forests to provide benefits for generations to come.
Amy Mead is the Area Natural Resources Agent for New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties. She can be reached at afmead@ncsu.edu or 910-798-7660. The Arboretum grounds are free and open daily 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington, NC TreeFest 2024: What to know
