The City of Carmel will celebrate its 30th Arbor Day on Saturday, May 6 at the opening day of the Carmel Farmers Market on Carter Green. The Carmel Urban Forestry Committee will be on hand from 8 to 11:30 a.m. to answer landscaping questions, promote proper tree planting, mulching, and pruning.
In addition, you can pick up a free tree seedling, including species of red oak, bald cypress, and Norway spruce.
“Carmel has always taken tree planting seriously. In fact, when you study aerial images of Carmel from the mid-1950s, most of our land was still bare from the clear cutting done by settlers seeking to grow crops,” Mayor Jim Brainard said. “Over time, especially in the last 20 to 30 years, we have been able to gradually reintroduce trees as the land has developed. I encourage everyone to continue that trend by taking advantage of the offer of free seedlings during the Arbor Day celebration.”
Carmel was named a 2022 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, the 29th consecutive year the city has been honored for its commitment to urban forest management. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.
Please visit the Urban Forestry booth Saturday, May 6 where the Urban Forestry Committee members and City Urban Forestry staff will answer questions along with the revealing of the 2023 Big Tree Contest winners and trees.
“We look forward to this event each year to see so many Carmel residents excited to get the young seedlings,” Carmel Urban Forester Todd Gillian said. “I’m pleased to have the opportunity to educate our residents and motivate them to improve their own landscapes and do their part to help our urban forest be healthier.”
At the May 11 meeting of the Carmel Neighborhood Association Network, the Carmel Urban Forestry Committee along with Carmel urban forestry staff will present the annual Donna Manlove Award – presented to individuals for excellence in urban forestry.
Learn more about Carmel’s Urban Forestry Program at CarmelUrbanForestry.com.
Editor’s note: National Arbor Day and Indiana Arbor Day is always the last Friday in April, which was April 28 this year.