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Arbor Day in Graham 2024
About Arbor Day in Graham
Arbor Day Activities
Tree Resources
Donate A Tree To A Graham Park
About Arbor Day in Graham
About Arbor Day in Graham
The City of Graham Appearance Commission & Tree Board advocates the planting and preservation of trees on public rights-of-way and public properties, and we work to educate residents on the importance of trees in all areas of our community. The Board serves as an advisory board to the City Council as it relates to the planting, growth, and protection of trees and native plants within the City. Graham has also been recognized as a Tree City USA community for four decades, with 2024 being our 43rd year!
Join the City of Graham Appearance Commission & Tree Board during the month of April to celebrate Graham’s trees and Arbor Day with engaging programs and activities to spark your curiosity and enhance your knowledge about trees! Keep an eye on the City of Graham’s Recreation & Parks Facebook page for special Arbor Day activities and helpful tree resources.
Are you planting a tree in Graham?
Share your pictures of planting a tree on social media with #ArborDayinGraham! We would love to share all of the trees being planted around Graham for Arbor Day 2024!
#ArborDayInGraham
Arbor Day Activities
Arbor Day Activities
Arbor Day Poem Contest
Entries Accepted: April 1 – 30, 2024
Submit the Completed Poem: by April 30, 2024
Three Age Groups: Elementary, Middle, & High School Students
Cost: Free
Drop Off Locations & Times: (during operational hours)
• Graham Recreation Center • 311 College Street, Graham, NC 27253
• Graham City Hall • 201 South Main Street, Graham, NC 27253
• Email to: arbordayingraham@gmail.com
About: The City of Graham Appearance Commission & Tree Board invites kids in elementary, middle, and high school to show off their creativity and write a poem for Arbor Day! Poems can be submitted by email (to arbordayingraham@gmail.com) or dropped off at the Graham Recreation Center and City Hall (during operational hours) beginning April 1 and will be due no later than April 30. Young poets are asked to turn on their creativity and “write a poem about a tree(s)”.
Participants must live in Alamance County and include the poet’s name and grade, parent/guardian’s name, phone number, email, and city on the back of the submission. One submission per person is allowed. The City of Graham Appearance Commission & Tree Board will choose the three winners at their May meeting (05/06). Following the Arbor Day Poem Contest, all poems will be on display on the Arbor Day in Graham webpage. Special thanks to the City of Graham Appearance Commission & Tree Board for donating prizes for the contest.
2024 Arbor Day Poem Contest Winning Poems
Arbor Day Kindness Rock Hunt
Dates: April 1 – 30, 2024, or while prizes last – All Kindness Rocks have now been discovered & winners notified by email – thanks for playing!
For All Ages
Cost: Free
Location: Downtown Graham
About: Ready, set, go! The City of Graham Appearance Commission & Tree Board invites you to find one of the five Arbor Day Kindness Rocks hidden in Downtown Graham. Each lucky rock finder will need to take a picture with their special rock and send an email with the photo to be eligible for a prize, while prizes last. One winner per household. Special thanks to the City of Graham Appearance Commission & Tree Board and local businesses, including Maricle Metals, Graham Soda Shop, Graham Cinema, and Things Above for donating prizes for the Kindness Rock Hunt.
Going Bonkers for Botany
Date: Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Times: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Ages: Grades 3 – 5
Cost: Free, online registration is required
Location: South Graham Park’s Nature Trail • 1609 Rogers Road, Graham, NC 27253
About: During Spring Break, Graham Recreation & Parks and Stormwater SMART invite young nature enthusiasts for an exciting exploration program about Botany as we celebrate Arbor Day in Graham! We will go on an adventure on the Nature Trail at South Graham Park, an ecoEXPLORE HotSpot. In the day’s activity, we will help the participants identify the trees, look at leaf and seed samples from NC native tree species, and go on a scavenger hunt to see how many of these native species we can find! Please wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes, and bring water. Come prepared to explore the outdoors! Participants must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. The event is weather permitting. There is no rain date for this program. For more information and to register online. Space is limited. #ncarboretum #ecoexplore
Arbor Day in Graham’s Tree Planting Ceremony
Date: Friday, April 26, 2024
Times: 10:00am – 11:00am, the Tree Planting Ceremony will begin promptly at 10:00am
Ages: For All Ages
Cost: Free
Location: South Graham Park • 1609 Rogers Road, Graham, NC 27253
In Memory/Honor of Former City Manager Ray Fogleman • Type of Tree: Little-Leaf Linden
About: The City of Graham is excited to celebrate Arbor Day, a tree planter’s holiday, with you with a ceremonial tree planting. The City of Graham Appearance Commission & Tree Board, in collaboration with Graham Recreation & Parks and the City of Graham Public Works departments, is pleased to announce our upcoming Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony. Join us to celebrate the City of Graham Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA recognition and Arbor Day. Special thanks to the Graham City Council, City of Graham Appearance Commission & Tree Board, and N.C. Forest Service, for being a part of the tree planting event.
Can’t make it out for the Tree Planting Ceremony? You can also watch it following the event on the City of Graham’s YouTube Channel.
For more information about Arbor Day program & events, please call (336) 513-5510 or email Brandy McCandless, Marketing Supervisor
Tree Resources
Tree Resources
See, Plant, Grow – Plant a Tree with Tim Covington, Property Maintenance Superintendent
Are you wanting to make a difference? Have you considered planting a tree? “Trees add value to your home, regulate the temperature of your neighborhood, and provide food for wildlife.” – Arbor Day Foundation. The City of Graham Public Works provides tips on planting trees with Property Maintenance Superintendent, Tim Covington. Arbor Day In Graham Plants a Tree with Tim Covington
Taking a Look Back at 2021: Arbor Day in Graham at Bill Cooke Park with Rett Davis
As the City of Graham celebrated 40 years as an Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA community in 2021, New Leaf Society President, Rett Davis, took us through Bill Cooke Park with a lesson on the importance of trees to our community. The drone footage was provided by Titania Productions. Arbor Day In Graham at Bill Cooke Park with Rett Davis
Additional Resources
A Tree Can Be
Benefits of Planting Trees & Tree Facts
Champion Tree of Alamance County
How to Plant Containerized Trees
Landscaping for Wildlife with Native Plants
Stop Crepe Murder with NC State Extension
Tree Planting: Introduction with NC State Extension
Tree Pruning: Introduction with NC State Extension
Local Resources
Have tree, landscaping, and gardening questions? The Alamance County Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers (EMGVs) Info Line is open for questions! Call and speak to a Master Gardener on the Info Line at (336) 570-6740 or email (askanemgee@gmail.com) to ask your tree, landscaping, and gardening questions. Alamance County Cooperative Extension
Donate A Tree To A Graham Park
Donate A Tree To A Graham Park
Donating a tree is a great gift for the hard-to-buy-for person, or for someone who “has everything”. It is a great way to remember and honor someone who has passed away since it is a “living memorial”. Tree donation is a wonderful way to mark the birth of a child, celebrate an anniversary, to simply say “I love you”. It makes a great class project, a unique way for your club or group to contribute to the community, or something to do for yourself. Whatever the reason, trees are vital to the well-being of our environment. They clean the air and keep the atmosphere in check. They give us shade, attract wildlife, and beautifully mark the seasons. Each donated tree will be marked with a 2” X 6” high-grade stainless steel tree marker with your personalized message. Each tree can be inscribed with up to 5 lines, with a maximum of 35 characters per line.
For more information or to print an order form, please visit the “Friends of Graham Recreation & Parks Community Volunteer Board” at https://www.cityofgraham.com/grpd-get-involved/
What is Tree City USA?
The Tree City USA program has been greening up cities and towns across America since 1976. It is a nationwide movement that provides the framework necessary for communities to manage and expand their public trees.
More than 3,400 communities have made the commitment to becoming a Tree City USA. They have achieved Tree City USA status by meeting four core standards of sound urban forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day.
Learn more about Tree City USA at www.arborday.org/programs/treecityusa.
FAQ's
A City’s Tree Board is responsible for hearing requests from residents regarding planting, maintenance and removal of street trees. It is also responsible for establishing guidelines for spacing of trees on the City’s property.
The Tree Board serves as an advisory board to the City Council as it relates to the planting, growth and protection of trees within the City.
Serving on a board and/or commission is an opportunity to collaborate with local government and to help shape decisions that impact our community. There are positions available on City of Graham boards and commissions as well as seats on Alamance County boards or commissions reserved for Graham residents or those living in Graham’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). The position you are applying for will determine whether the appointment will be made by the Graham City Council or by the Alamance County Commissioners.
To submit an application (click here).
Tree Resources
See, Plant, Grow – Plant a Tree with Tim Covington, Property Maintenance Superintendent
Are you wanting to make a difference? Have you considered planting a tree? “Trees add value to your home, regulate the temperature of your neighborhood, and provide food for wildlife.” – Arbor Day Foundation. The City of Graham Public Works provides tips on planting trees with Property Maintenance Superintendent, Tim Covington. Arbor Day In Graham Plants a Tree with Tim Covington
Taking a Look Back at 2021: Arbor Day in Graham at Bill Cooke Park with Rett Davis
As the City of Graham celebrated 40 years as an Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA community in 2021, New Leaf Society President, Rett Davis, took us through Bill Cooke Park with a lesson on the importance of trees to our community. The drone footage was provided by Titania Productions. Arbor Day In Graham at Bill Cooke Park with Rett Davis
Additional Resources
A Tree Can Be
Benefits of Planting Trees & Tree Facts
Champion Tree of Alamance County
How to Plant Containerized Trees
Landscaping for Wildlife with Native Plants
Stop Crepe Murder with NC State Extension
Tree Planting: Introduction with NC State Extension
Tree Pruning: Introduction with NC State Extension
Local Resources
Have tree, landscaping, and gardening questions? The Alamance County Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers (EMGVs) Info Line is open for questions! Call and speak to a Master Gardener on the Info Line at (336) 570-6740 or email (askanemgee@gmail.com) to ask your tree, landscaping, and gardening questions. Alamance County Cooperative Extension