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ARBOR DAY ACTIVITIES
March 19th — 23rd. 2012
TO ALL THIRD GRADE STUDENTS IN NEWPORT BEACH AND COSTA MESA:
Arbor Day is a day to celebrate trees and their contribution to our environment.
Over 100 years ago a noted educator, Birdsey Northrop, traveled all over the United States urging people to
plant trees to beautify America. In 1872 the State of Nebraska officially proclaimed the first Arbor Day to
beautify the country, enrich the soil and produce oxygen for us to breathe. In California we celebrate Arbor
Day from March 19th — 23`d, honoring Luther Burbank, a famous naturalist whose birthday was March 7th.
Other states have different dates when they celebrate Arbor Day.
Today trees are more important than ever, as they help the World to combat the pollution that is causing
Global Warming, one of the greatest threats to our environment.
School children have been planting trees since 1884 when the National Education Association started
promoting Arbor Day. Many of the great trees which we now see at our national shrines, churches and public
buildings were planted by school children like you, in observance of Arbor Day.
The Newport- Balboa Rotary Club has been observing Arbor Day since 1969 by giving every Third Grader in
the Newport-Mesa area a seedling tree. So this is the 43rd year students like you have planted trees in this
area. This year about 2,050 Third Grade students will receive a tree. We have distributed over 100,000
seedling trees by the Rotary Club of Newport- Balboa, and they have been planted by Third Graders, just like
the tree you are receiving today. Many have now grown into tall, beautiful trees.
We are pleased to give each of you a seedling tree in observance and celebration of Arbor Day. It will grow
well in our climate. Plant your tree and watch it grow into part of our great and beautiful country as it helps to
preserve the environment!
Your tree is a Tabebuia chrysotricha — Golden Trumpet, a rounded to spreading, deciduous tree producing 5- palmate
leaves with the central leaves approximately 7" long that produces a canary yellow to golden cluster of fragrant flowers in
spring especially in our environment along our coast that can tolerate seashore winds. Native to Brazil.
CHARACTER: Deciduous; moderately dense canopy; bears edible fruit.
SIZE: Medium (Normal Height: 25 -35 ft; Normal Spread: 25 -35 ft).
GROWTH RATE: Moderate.
FOLIAGE: handsome, dark green leaves.
FLOWER/FRUIT /BARK: Canary yellow to golden fragrant dense flower blooms starting in mid - spring.
WATERING NEEDS: moist when young but when tree is established, deep watering, do not over - water.
TREE CARE: stake young trees, prune after flowering to shape & remove diseased /dead branches.
TOLERANCES: salt spray and sea breezes.
NOTABLE TRAITS: Native to Brazil but this tree thrives along our coast.
Thank you for helping another tree to grow in our World!
Bill Hossfeld John Kerr
President Arbor Day Chairman & Director of Community Service
Rotary Club of Newport- Balboa Rotary Club of Newport- Balboa