Florida Museum to give away 400 trees during Arbor Day celebration

April 10, 2012

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Museum of Natural History is giving away 400 native trees from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 28 in honor of Arbor Day.

During the museum’s first Arbor Day tree giveaway, visitors may select from one of eight tree species: 100 dogwoods, 100 redbuds, 50 mayhaws, 50 pawpaws, 25 Walter’s viburnums, 25 tulip Poplars, 25 sugarberries and 25 sparkleberries.

Trees are limited to one per person and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

“It is part of the mission of the museum’s plant sale to promote the use of Florida native plants,” said Jaret Daniels, Florida Museum assistant director of exhibits and public programs. “These plants will thrive in our area and all have great wildlife value.”

Arbor Day, dedicated to the planting of trees and the appreciation of nature, was first observed in 1872 and typically is celebrated on the last Friday in April. It was the idea of journalist and nature lover J. Sterling Morton.