On a foggy November 7 morning, a line slowly began to form in Lincoln Park in front of a table where 500 free trees (Mexican white oak, Texas red oak, cedar elm, Texas redbud, and Mexican buckeye) were being given away, courtesy of COSA Parks & Recreation, to those who participated in a brief tree-planting course.  The occasion was the 6^th Annual San Antonio Arbor Day Celebration, organized by the Alamo Forest Partnership and sponsored by the Spurs Sports and Entertainment, CPS Energy, HEB, and Coca-Cola. 

 

By midmorning, the sun breaking through the fog revealed that several activities were taking place as the morning shaped up to be a beautiful day.

 

With the exuberant assistance of the Baseline Bums, HD Supply, and other community volunteers, six trees were hand planted in the park.  Two trees were bare rooted with the assistance of Preferred Landscape & Lighting and Bartlett Tree Experts.  It was a great way to get messy and learn new planting techniques.

 

Scheduled demonstrations included the San Antonio Arborists Association, who showed onlookers proper tree pruning and safety techniques, chainsaw sculptors Joe Bear and Phillip Conner, who held the crowd spellbound as they quickly whittled bird and animal forms from tree trunks, and sawmill operators Dan Keierleber and Mark Duff, who created beautiful slabs fit for table tops from logs, which many celebration attendees won in a drawing and were able to take home.

 

Meanwhile, educational booths, including those of the San Antonio Arborists Association, Garden Volunteers of South Texas, Davey Tree, Bartlett Tree Experts, Texas Rainfall Catchment, and Alamo Area Council of Governments were being visited, where people collected informative brochures and other freebies.  HEB provided free reusable shopping bags, and the free event t-shirts with tree-planting instructions on the back were provided by the Spurs.

 

During the event program, the verbalized support of trees and tree-planting efforts from Councilwoman Ivy R. Taylor, Council District 2, was much appreciated by the enthusiastic crowd who listened.  Her substantial interest and support for trees was underscored through her willingness to strap in to a harness and use tree-climbing ropes to ascend a large live oak.

 

This was the first year of the Arbor Day event that the Alamo Forest Partnership presented an award in recognition to groups or individuals who go out of their way to improve our urban forest.  The award this year went to Spurs Sports and Entertainment for their tree-planting efforts at the AT&T Center.  The AT&T Center is a shining example of what a few extra trees can achieve to improve and beautify our City.  The Spurs were awarded a wooden bowl carved by Dan Keierleber, which was made from a mesquite tree that fell and would have otherwise been turned in to mulch.

 

The Alamo Forest Partnership would like to specially thank the Spurs organization for their support in this 6^th annual Arbor Day Celebration.  It was especially wonderful having George "Iceman" Gervin, the Coyote, the Silver Dancers, and the Baseline Bums help plant and stress the importance of trees in our community.