HOLIDAY, Fla. — While most of the nation celebrates Arbor Day in April, Florida does so a little earlier as the temperatures are more favorable for tree planting. On this third Friday of January, families from Pasco to Sarasota were loading up their cars with free, young trees.
“We’re outdoorsy, and who doesn’t want a free tree to help the environment?” said Christina Calle, who picked up a tree with her daughter in Holiday.
Florida Arbor Day comes at an interesting time, as communities are working to address shrinking tree canopies. Across the Tampa Bay area, things like development and strong storms have shrunk the shade coverage in recent years.
"We need more trees, trees do so much for the environment and make it a pleasant place to live,” Jim Velverton, Venice’s city arborist, said.
Cities like Tampa, St. Pete, Gulfport and Venice, are all making concerted efforts with tree-planting programs to build their canopies back up, as the benefits can be immense.
"Cools the city, it intercepts and filters rainwater, it slows rainwater run-off, it’s one of the tools we use to try to keep our gulf clean,” Velverton added.
For some, trees bring a homier feel to their neighborhood
”We had a lot of hurricane damage and lost some trees in the area so I thought I’d put another one back and make the Earth a little happier,” Diane DiStefano said while picking up a tree in Venice.
Together, preserving the area’s beauty and livability for generations to come.
“It gives us a sense of community, putting them in, growing together and watching them grow as a community and taking care of them,’ said Jon Salgado, who took home a tree in Venice.
Arbor Day may not be your only opportunity to take home a free tree. Many communities have year-round tree programs in an effort to get more stumps in the ground.