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In a new holiday tradition, the city of Lexington in partnership with Boxerwood Education Association will be distributing free native trees to city residents on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Richardson Park, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Facilitated by the Healthy Green Neighborhoods Initiative, the give-away supports an existing city plan to increase the urban tree canopy.
“Trees bring so many benefits,” remarked Ginny Johnson, Boxerwood sustainability coordinator who is managing the give-away in conjunction with the Lexington Tree Board and the city’s public works department. “Properly placed and tended, urban trees help keep towns clean, cool, and shady. They add value to private property, promote emotional well-being, provide habitat for songbirds, sequester carbon and more.
“Trees help communities thrive,” said Johnson “and we’re delighted to support the city in its journey to a greener Lexington.”
According to Johnson, the trees for the give-away come from an existing and very popular Boxerwood school program, “Growing Native,” in which hundreds of local fourth-graders each spring place bare root seedlings into pots for one to two years of grow-out in local Growing Native nurseries.
“In essence, every young tree at this give-away was first planted by love,” said Johnson, noting most pots containing the seedlings come with hand-written nicknames.
Boxerwood has been advancing tree planting initiatives across Rockbridge for several years using stock from the Growing Native nurseries, but this is the first year 50 trees are heading to Lexington households via The Great Tree Give-Away, said Johnson. Available species for 2024 include dogwood, buttonbush, crabapple, river birch and pin oak.
The Great Tree Give-Away is open to any citizen property owner ready to plant a tree within Lexington city limits, said Johnson.
“This is our first year,” she said, “so it’s hard to gauge demand, but we’re hoping for a great turnout.”
Trees will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and citizens also have the option reserving up to three trees online at boxerwood. org/trees.
As an additional resource, volunteers with digging tools will be on hand to help property owners plant their trees; this free service is offered only during the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. pick-up window.
For more information, or to reserve up to three native seedlings, visit boxerwood. org/trees.
