Community to Plant Trees in Honor of Friends & Family

Event is at Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge on March 16

Jan 22, 2008

Contact: Teri Ruch
503-282-8846 ext. 17

More than a hundred people are expected to plant trees in honor of their friends and loved ones at Friends of Trees' annual commemorative planting on Sunday, March 16, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. All who gave or received commemorative trees during the past year are invited to plant their gift trees at the event. Registration is from 8:45 to 9 a.m.

Participants will plant Douglas-fir, Red Alder, Black Hawthorn, Oregon Ash, Black Cottonwood, Cascara and Bigleaf Maple trees in honor of births, weddings, graduations, holidays, and other life events. Others will plant trees in memory of loved ones who have passed away.

"Planting trees helps us celebrate and honor others, and it's also a great way to leave a legacy," said Friends of Trees Executive Director Scott Fogarty, who will plant on March 16 in honor of the births of several friends' children. "These events help people connect to our natural world in a meaningful, beneficial way that will be enjoyed by generations to come."

It's not too late to order a commemorative tree or grove to plant on March 16. You can order online at "Gift Trees" at friendsoftrees.org or call 503-282-8846 ext. 17. Commemorative trees cost $25 for a young native tree and $50 for a grove of six young native trees. When you purchase a commemorative tree or grove, Friends of Trees sends a gift card to the person receiving the gift. You can personalize the message on your card and choose between four backgrounds: oak, dogwood, fir or hemlock. Commemorative trees are tax-deductible.

Nobel Laureate Al Gore often notes that planting trees slows climate change. In addition, according to a city of Portland study released in October, Portland's trees intercept 25 million pounds of air pollutants and half a billion gallons of storm water a year, greatly reducing river pollution and saving the city millions of dollars in storm water management costs.

Friends of Trees brings people in the Portland-Vancouver area together to plant and care for city trees and urban natural areas. Since 1989, the more than 340,000 trees and shrubs that Friends of Trees has planted in the Portland-metro area have provided increasing benefits as they grow. Portland's growing tree cover, called "the Portland effect," has led to national recognition for Friends of Trees and the city of Portland last year. To learn more, visit www.friendsoftrees.org.