Destin celebrates Arbor Day on April 25

On April 25th the City of Destin, along with members from the Environmental/Tree Committee, is hosting its annual Arbor Day event at Destin City Hall. The event begins at 10 a.m. and the first 50 people will receive a free white dogwood seedling for planting. 
According to the National Arbor Day Foundation, Arbor Day "is a nationally celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and tree care. Founded by J. Sterling Morton in Nebraska in 1872, National Arbor Day is celebrated each year on the last Friday in April."  
This year's event features a tree planting ceremony by the Committee and Council members, donated by DesignScapes. The guest speaker is Lynn Erickson of Gulf Power. She will highlight Gulf Power's environmental stewardship efforts that have led to hundreds of thousands of trees being planted in Northwest Florida. 
Again this year the City of Destin has been named a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to community forest. It is the sixth year Destin has received this national recognition, which requires the city to have a tree board, a tree ordinance, a comprehensive forestry program and an Arbor Day observance.