At its meeting Tuesday, the Cullman Tree Commission agreed to advertise for a candidate to replace Helen Marie Dahlke, whose term expired in November. While the board member does not necessarily need to know the difference between a minus echinata (shortleaf pine) and a liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum), the ideal candidate will have some knowledge of trees and plants. The city will be accepting applications for the commission to review and select from.

Two other terms expired recently as well, and the commission reappointed Nona Moon to the board, and is waiting to hear from Everett Wier, chair of the commission, if he would like to be reappointed. Wier was not able to attend the meeting Tuesday.

The commission also discussed plans for the annual Arbor Day Tree Sale, which will take place on Feb. 20 at the Agriplex. Trees will be available for sale for $2 each. A lunch and learn will be held at the Argiplex on Feb. 19 so people can learn about the trees and shrubs that will be for sale, and get tips on planting and caring for them.

City Arborist Darrell Johns updated the commission on the search for a suitable spot for an arboretum. One area under consideration, he said, is a small wooded area in Heritage Park. “It’s small, but worthy of considering,” he said. The space would allow for a Level I arboretum, which requires 25 different tree species. Ideally, the commission would like to establish a Level II arboretum, which requires 100 different tree species.

The city received a $25,000 donation to establish a public arboretum. The county commission turned down an earlier request to establish the arboretum at Sportsman Lake. The tree commission discussed other larger areas that may be good sites, depending on their availability.

The next meeting of the Cullman Tree Commission will be February 18.