Tree distribution in Harrison County in honor of Mississippi Arbor Day

Today is Arbor Day in Mississippi. While Arbor Day is typically celebrated at the end of April, in Mississippi, we observe it on the second Friday of February because of our climate.

For more than 30 years now, the Harrison County Soil and Water Conservation District has helped residents observe the day with their tree distribution.

It took place at the Lyman Community Center in Gulfport earlier this morning.

Drivers came through to pick up bundles of plants.  For just $5 they could get bundles with either a live oak, red maple, or American holly, two blueberry bushes, a southern magnolia, and bareroot seedlings of pine oak, water oak, or sycamore.  Supervisory District Conservationist Tyree Hearrington said, “That’s a wonderful deal. There’s no where you can go to get that variety of trees for the price. So, I have planted blueberries for several years from this event. Most of our constituents say they enjoy coming every year and the trees they have gotten in the past are doing very, very well.”

The annual tree distribution provides trees to more than 500 households in Harrison County.

We did get word they have sold out of all their bundles today, so they say it was a great success.