PRESS RELEASE- Autumnal Arbor Day Celebration Set For Oct 4

Fall is the season to plant native trees and shrubs on the Quimper Peninsula.

PORT TOWNSEND – Port Townsend has been a Tree City USA for 23 years and celebrates
Autumnal Arbor Day annually. October is Urban and Community Forestry Month in Washington 
State, with autumn being the recommended time to plant trees and shrubs in our climate.

The City’s Community Services Department, with the Rainshadow Bird Alliance, Washington 
Native Plant Society, Washington State DNR Urban & Community Forestry Program, and 
Quimper Parks & Trees Foundation, will host a celebration of urban forestry and native plants 
on Saturday, October 4. A plant adoption event will be held at the Mountain View Commons 
parking lot at 1925 Blaine Street from 11:00am to 1:00pm, and a walking tour of 50 significant 
trees in Uptown will occur from 2:00 to 4:00pm starting at the Port Townsend Public Library.

Community members are invited to adopt a young native tree or shrub to plant on their 
property, with one per household while supplies last. Volunteers and parks staff will have shore 
pine, Garry oak, evergreen huckleberry, sword fern, red-twig dogwood, Pacific ninebark, 
serviceberry, Pacific yew, beaked hazel, wax myrtle, along with information about planting and 
care. All are donated by Rainshadow Bird Alliance members to encourage the planting of native 
species for the benefit of birds, insects, other wildlife, and us. Also at Mountain View, the public 
library will have kids activities, and the DNR Urban & Community Forestry Program will table 
the event to share resources, information, coloring books, and stickers. The new Quimper Parks 
& Trees Foundation will also share information about their efforts to locate sites for installing
benches in our local parks and trails.

After the Mountain View event, the inaugural 50 Trees of Uptown Tour will be led by Fred 
Weinmann and Sara Fairbank, members of the Washington Native Plant Society, who will share 
a map and guide two walking loops to experience 50 significant trees.

Come adopt a plant, learn why fall is the best time to plant native trees and shrubs in our area, 
and explore our urban canopy.

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More information on Urban Forestry:  Urban Forestry - Trees in the ROW

More information on the Tree City USA program: Arbor Day Foundation

Read the Arbor Day proclamation from City Council on Monday, September 15