By Chris Shadrock
In a significant step toward enhancing environmental stewardship, the City of Boerne celebrated Texas Arbor Day this year with the addition of 150 native trees donated by the APA Corporation.
This initiative not only supports riparian restoration projects, oak wilt prevention, and urban heat island mitigation, but also includes a community tree giveaway event aimed at promoting local greening efforts.
“This grant allows us to further our environmental responsibility and engage the community in our tree planting initiatives,” Environmental Program Manager Ryan Bass said. “We are grateful for the support of the APA Corporation, which will help us bring even greater impact to our community.”
Arbor Day, recognized in Texas in November, was celebrated in Boerne on Tuesday, November 12. A diverse canopy of native trees was planted along the banks of Cibolo and Frederick creeks, at the cemetery, and at the natural area behind the library.
City staff and local volunteers from Burkett Arbor Care, the Rotary Club of Boerne, the Native Plant Society, the Woods of Frederick Creek HOA, the Cibolo Center for Conservation, and the Texas Master Naturalist Hill Country Chapter did the planting. A group of students from St. John’s Lutheran School also came out to learn about Arbor Day and help plant some of the trees.
“Arbor Day is crucial for raising awareness about the importance of trees in our environment,” Boerne Parks and Recreation Director Lissette Jimenez said. “Each tree planted contributes to the health and beauty of our parks and helps maintain biodiversity.”
The APA Corporation Tree Grant Program, which has provided over five million trees since its inception in 2005, focuses on conservation, wildlife habitat protection, and the enhancement of public greenspaces. With Boerne being recognized as a Tree City USA for the past 13 years, the City continues to prioritize tree planting, having planted nearly 2,000 trees in that time.
Tree Giveaway
As part of its Arbor Day initiatives, the City donated 65 trees to residents so they can further expand the reach of the program. The trees were available for pick-up at City Hall on Tuesday.
Residents could take home one overstory and one understory tree per resident. The following tree types are listed below along with quantity available in the giveaway.
- Cedar Elm: 20
- Bald Cypress: 12
- Roughleaf Dogwood: 10
- Pecan: 7
- Mex Plum: 6
- Flameleaf Sumac: 6
- Eastern Cottonwood: 4
“Being able to extend this to residents is one of the great benefits of this grant,” Bass said. “Trees help reduce stormwater runoff, noise pollution, and energy bills for residents.”
As the community gears up for Arbor Day, the City of Boerne looks forward to a continued partnership in environmental stewardship, ensuring that its green spaces thrive for future generations.
