Local municipalities will be going green celebrating Arbor Day this month as part of the National Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program.

Bay Minette
The City of Bay Minette will host its annual Arbor Day tree giveaway beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Bay Minette Public Library, 205 W. Second St.
Tree varieties include Eastern red bud, Saucier magnolia, thunder cloud plum, white, purple and red crepe myrtles, river birch, red maple, sweet bay magnolia, Yoshino-cherry trees, willow oak and weeping willow.

The Beautification Committee will have master gardeners on hand to answer any questions and free coffee and donuts will be provided by City Hope Church. The give-away will last until noon or until all the trees are gone. For more information call 251-580-1619.

Robertsdale
The City of Robertsdale will hold a tree giveaway beginning at 9 a.m. at Honeybee Park on Alabama 59.
Every year, the city gives away nearly 1,000 trees as part of its tree giveaway program.
At around 9:30 a.m., the city will hold a drawing to give away a lemon tree. You must be present to win. For more information call Park, Street and Tree Committee Chairman Sonja Conner at Robertsdale Public Works, 251-947-8950.

Silverhill
The Town of Silverhill will hold its annual Arbor Day program Thursday and Friday, Feb. 23-24 at the Silverhill Community Center on South Avenue.
Trees will be given away from 9 a.m. to noon each day or until the last tree is given away. Experts will also be on hand throughout the day each day to answer questions.
The Town of Loxley held its tree giveaway Feb. 10 at the Loxley Muncipal Park.
The annual Arbor Day celebrations are part of the local municipalities’ qualification as a Tree City USA community.
In order to qualify as a Tree City, municipalities must meet four standards established by The Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters.
According to the Arbor Day Foundation website, arborday.org, the standards were established to ensure that every qualifying community would have a viable tree management plan and program and were designed so that no community would be excluded because of size.
In order to qualify for Tree City USA status, municipalities must:
•Have a tree board or department.
•Adopt a tree care ordinance.
•Maintain a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita.
•Hold an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
Arbor Day was originated in Nebraska City, Neb., by J. Sterling Morton. The first Arbor Day was held April 10, 1872 and an estimated 1 million trees were planted that day.
Many countries now observe a similar holiday. Though usually observed in the spring, the date varies, depending on climate and suitable planting season.