Cullman County’s annual Arbor Day seedling giveaway will be held at two locations Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012. This year tree seedlings will be given away at no cost at the Festhalle Market Platz (209 1st Ave. NE, Cullman 35055) and Hanceville Recreation and Wellness Center (902 Commercial Street NE, Hanceville 35077). Trees will be given away from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until all of the trees are gone.

This year trees are provided by the Alabama Forestry Commission (grown at Hopper Nursery at Wallace State College in Hanceville) and the National Arbor Day Foundation through their Alabama Tree Recovery Program initiated after the April 2011 tornadoes. This program was created to help cities and homeowners re-establish their urban tree resources after losing them to the devastating storms.

Approximately 20 different species will be available this year, although some will be in limited numbers: Black Gum, Beauty Berry, Shumard Oak, Cherry Bark Oak, Nutall Oak, Sawtooth Oak, Overcup Oak, Northern Red Oak, Green Ash, Crepe Myrtle, Red Bud, Chinese Elm, Balk Cypress, Japanese Maple, Chickasaw Plum, Oak Leaf Hydrangea, River Birch, Crabapple, Long Leaf Pine, and Flowering Dogwood.

The seedling giveaways are being sponsored by the Alabama Forestry Commission, City of Cullman, City of Hanceville, Cullman Tree Commission, Hanceville Civitan Club, Cullman County Forestry Planning Committee and the National Arbor Day Foundation.

For more information contact Alabama Forestry Commission office in Cullman, 256-734-0573 or Coleen Vansant, Alabama Forestry Commission, 256-347-1785.