It’s tree time in Strathmore

Carole Dastous

Times Contributor

 

The  landscape in Strathmore is about to change as  more trees will soon be planted.

The Strathmore Lions Club, Eagle Lake Nurseries Ltd. and the Strathmore branch  of  Communities in Bloom are working together this month on the Million Tree Planting Campaign.

The campaign is an original idea of the Lions Club International. It is the first foray into tree planting for both the International Lions Club and  the Strathmore Lions Club.

“Tree planting is the International Lions Club theme for this year, and we thought it was a good idea  for Strathmore too,” said Brian Grier, secretary of the 56 member Strathmore Lions Club branch.

“We think lots of people would love the opportunity to plant a tree in their yard or field.”

There will be a whole range of hardy trees to choose from, said Anita Heuver of the Eagle Lake Nurseries Ltd.

There will be ornamental trees such as flowering crabs or mountain ash trees, fruit trees such as apple or pear trees and shade trees such as elm or birch trees  to choose from, among a host of other  hardy varieties well suited to Prairie climate, said Heuver. 

The trees will be available in seven gallon pots for trees five to six feet tall, in ten gallon pots for trees seven to eight feet tall and in 15 gallon pots for trees eight to 10 feet tall, said Heuver. 

The seven gallon pots will sell for $52, the ten gallon pots for $62 and the 15 gallon pots will go for $85.

“We hope to sell about 300 trees,” said Grier.

The Strathmore Lions Club contributed $10,000 to the campaign and are subsidizing 25 per cent of the actual cost of the trees. Eagle Lake Nurseries is subsidizing another 25 per cent.

“We are doing our best for the greatest possible number of people,” said Grier. 

New trees need regular watering to get them established, said Heuver. With good care, they can live permanently.

The Strathmore Million Tree Planting Campaign offer is available until June 30, 2012, or until the limit is reached. There is a maximum of three trees per home. Communities in Bloom will offer instructions for those who are new to tree planting.

The Strathmore Lions Club encourages feedback from the community. See their website at 

http://www.strathmorelions.ca for contact information.

See the Eagle Lake Nurseries Ltd. at  http://www.eaglelakenurseries.comand the  Communities in Bloom at  http://www.communitiesinbloom.ca/