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- Wet grounds don’t put damper on Arbor Day
(01/24/17) BATON ROUGE, La. – More than 150 visitors braved muddy grounds to participate in the Arbor Day celebration at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden on Jan. 21.
One of the featured activities allowed visitors to plant trees in the Barton Arboretum as part of a reforestation effort to replace damage from Hurricane Gustav in 2008. Each person who planted a tree was given the GPS coordinates to be able to return to the tree over the coming years to mark its growth.
Despite the soggy ground, Arbor Day participants planted approximately 110 native trees, said Botanic Gardens director Jeff Kuehny.
“Participants also learned about the importance of trees to our environment and urban forest, got a visit from Smokey Bear from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry and watched LSU forestry students practice axe and knife throw and a tree saw demonstration,” Kuehny said.
Arborist from Bofinger’s Tree Service assisted AgCenter arborist Glen Wilson with the children’s tree climb.
The Burden Horticulture Society and many other community organizations helped conduct the activities.
LSU Forestry Club president Mason LeBlanc, left, and member Nicholas Light, right, see how fast they can saw through a piece of wood during Arbor Day festivities at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden on Jan. 21. The club’s adviser, AgCenter forestry professor Niels de Hoop, at right center in the red plaid shirt, and another student look on. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter
LSU Vice President for Agriculture Bill Richardson, right, listens as volunteer Donna St. Cyr gives information about the tree he just planted during Arbor Day festivities at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden on Jan. 21. Colored strips of plastic were tied to each of the trees to indicate their variety. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter
Elder Johnston, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, helps 3-year-old Kate Ellet Prejean plant a tree during Arbor Day festivities at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden on Jan. 21. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter