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Sequoyah Elementary Students Help City and State Officials Celebrate Arbor Day

Fourth graders' hands shot up into the air to answer tree-planting questions from City Urban Forester, Kasey Krouse. About 60 kids stood in a circle around a tulip poplar tree that they were about to help plant.

“Why don’t we want to plant the tree deeper than just above the root ball?”

“Because the tree roots won’t be able to get enough water and oxygen,” a girl answered after being selected from the eager crowd.

“That’s right! These guys are smart—practically tree experts!” Krouse said to Principal Alisha Hinton, who gave a proud nod of confirmation.

It was Arbor Day in Knoxville on Friday, and 200 Sequoyah Elementary School students celebrated the day with the City of Knoxville and the Knoxville Tree Board.

During a ceremony prior to the tree planting, winners were announced for the Arbor Day tree drawing contest, and three children were selected to read their essays they had written on trees.

Tom Simpson, Regional Urban Forester for the State of Tennessee, presented the City of Knoxville with its annual "Tree City USA" status, which is earned by a municipality meeting a list of tree-supportive criteria.

Simpson also presented the Knoxville Utilities Board with another "Tree Line USA" award, which recognizes utilities companies for following regulations to reduce tree-power line conflicts.

Though on the national scene Arbor Day is celebrated in the spring, the City of Knoxville holds the event in November, because it’s the best time of year to plant trees in East Tennessee.

For more information on upcoming tree planting and pruning projects in the City’s Urban Forestry Division, click HERE.

Posted by On 08 November, 2017 at 3:04 PM