Community Arbor Day Observance to feature Walter Reeves 'The Georgia Gardener' Feb. 19

VALDOSTA—Valdosta State University, City of Valdosta, and the Valdosta Tree Commission will host the annual Arbor Day observance at 10 a.m., Thursday Feb. 19. This year's event will take place at VSU's Health Sciences and Business Administration building, located on the Rea and Lillian Steele North Campus.
 
Walter Reeves, a garden expert, writer, and the host of “Your Southern Garden” on Georgia Public Television will be this year's guest speaker.  
 
Reeves, often referred to as “The Georgia Gardener,” will give a presentation on the proper techniques for planting a tree, as well as other helpful gardening advice. He has authored or co-authored nine books, including “50 Great Trees for Georgia.” Reeves will be available after the presentation to answer questions and sign books. He will also have an assortment of his books available for purchase.
 
During the ceremony, the Georgia Forestry Commission will honor the City of Valdosta as a Tree City USA community for its 29th consecutive year and for being one of only six Georgia cities with this distinct honor.  Valdosta State University will receive its third designation as a Tree Campus USA, making it one of 13 colleges and universities in Georgia with this designation.
 
Started in 1976, the Tree City USA and Tree Campus USA programs were established by the Arbor Day Foundation, the National Association of State Foresters, and the USDA Forest Service to improve community forestry. There are more than 3,400 Tree City USA communities, and more than 200 colleges and universities have been designated across the country with the Tree Campus USA designation.
 
In the event of inclement weather on Feb 19, the event will begin at 10:30 a.m. and take place at the University Center Theatre, located on North Patterson Street. Parking will be available at both locations.
 
For more information about the Arbor Day observance, contact Kevin Conrad, chairman of the Valdosta Tree Commission, at 229-563-6674 or Monica Haynes, VSU supervisor for Landscape and Grounds, at 229-293-6368.