Plant a Tree
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (118831)
Gainesville, Florida
January 31, 2016 9:46am CST
This morning, the kids and I are going to plant three new trees, one for each of us. We received the trees yesterday during a tree giveaway during the Great Invader Raider Rally we participated in (an event to remove invasive, non-native plants/trees from our parks and natural areas).
For many years, the kids and I have planted trees to help beautify our community. We usually do this around Florida's Arbor Day (typically in January versus April for the rest of the country), but this year we were out of town during our local Arbor Day celebration.
The trees we are planting today are red cedars. Last year we planted live oaks, and the year before that we planted red and silver maples. Not only is it fun planting trees, but it is fun to go back and see the trees we have planted over the years thriving and growing. My favorite to date are three winged elms we planted at a playground about six years ago. They are finally starting to get large enough to provide shade over the playground!
Have you ever participated in a tree giveaway or tree planting program in your community?
14 people like this
13 responses
@paigea (35837)
• Canada
31 Jan 16
Students in grade one always get a tree, an evergreen, - I think on Arbour day. My parents lived in the same house long enough for my younger brothers' trees to become massive.
My girls' trees got left behind when we moved.
I love the idea of the Great Invader Raider Rally
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118831)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jan 16
I'm glad to hear that other communities get actively involved in Arbor Day. I think that each year the day becomes even more and more important as a tangible way for us to help offset the negative impact we are having on the planet.
4 people like this
@moffittjc (118831)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jan 16
@paigea I wish more schools would do that!
2 people like this
@paigea (35837)
• Canada
31 Jan 16
@moffittjc The schools distribute these trees. I think they are provided by Alberta Forestry though. Anyway, teachers use the opportunity to teach about the value of trees.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
31 Jan 16
I wish someone would give me some trees LOL! No such give-a-way out in the boonies.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
2 Feb 16
@moffittjc That would be the day!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118831)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb 16
@AbbyGreenhill Maybe we can start an online tree business! lol
@moffittjc (118831)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jan 16
Too bad there isn't a way to order free trees by mail! lol
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60691)
• Perth, Australia
10 Jan 18
@moffittjc I do remember something about planting trees when I was in Primary School. I didn't feel all that much involved because the class watched the teacher dig and plant the tree. Just kinda wished we all could have gone somewhere to plant trees where trees are needed and not in a random spot on the school ground.
Though I still appreciated it. It was awesome to watch one being planted knowing it's for a good cause. I wonder how big the tree is now. Actually, I hope it's still there! Always feels like more trees get taken away than being planted.
OH sometime last year I watched a video of this new machine that can dig trees up. But it takes the roots out as well and then they replant it somewhere else. So it doesn't get killed. I think that's bloody awesome!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118831)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Jan 18
We have one of those machines in our Public Works Department at my job. Our Urban Forestry Division uses it to move trees whenever new houses or buildings are going to be built, so that they won't cut the big trees down. It is so fun to watch that machine scoop up a huge tree, roots and all, and lift it right out of the ground to be planted somewhere else!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118831)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Jan 18
@VivaLaDani13 We use our machine constantly! Plus, the staff also plants thousands of new trees every year.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60691)
• Perth, Australia
10 Jan 18
@moffittjc That's so cool! I wished it was a machine that was used way more often!
1 person likes this
@grandbrix (81)
• Philippines
1 Feb 16
yes, jeff, we did a project of Planting a Tree in our Lions Club adopting a subdivision open space where we planted talisay tree to provide shades during summer and to prevent floods as well.
We'll, its always fun doing a project together for the good of many.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118831)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Feb 16
@grandbrix We have the same laws here too. You have to apply for a permit to cut down any trees, so the local government agency is able to review all permit applications and decided whether to approve or deny the request. It certainly has saved a lot of trees from getting cut down!
@grandbrix (81)
• Philippines
4 Feb 16
@moffittjc that's very true and noble and kind of you..thinking of future generations...in our country, it is prohibited to cut big trees, you need permission from the government agencies
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
1 Feb 16
@moffittjc
I can understand them being your favorite as they are very pretty trees.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118831)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jan 16
I love silver maples! At my old house I lived in, we had several beautiful and mature silver maples in our backyard, but unfortunately during the hurricanes of 2004 we lost all of them. They were my favorite trees in our yard!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118831)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jan 16
I work in our city's parks and recreation department, and recently we undertook a habitat restoration project in one of our nature parks. The original habitat was being overtaken by what we call "garbage trees," so we wanted to clear out all the garbage trees and replant with the entire area with native trees. Everyone in our department pitched in to help with the reforestation efforts, and over a month's time we planted 10,000 saplings. I've never planted so many trees in my life!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118831)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jan 16
Back in 2004, when we had three hurricanes in a row hit us directly, we lost all but a few trees on our property. After we were able to clear all the debris away, I planted four new trees, one for each of us in our family (me, my wife, and our two kids). The kids were very little back then, but they were excited to have their "own" tree. Although we eventually moved to a new house, we still drive by every now and then so they can look at "their" trees growing in the yard. The trees have gotten quite big now!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326895)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Feb 16
This is a great idea. At the last wedding we went to, the guests were all given a little olive tree so I have to plant that out one day.
@moffittjc (118831)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Feb 16
I've never seen an olive tree! That would be nice to plant! I just read recently that many of the farmers here in Florida that historically have grown citrus crops are now switching to olive trees, which would create an entire new industry here in the U.S. (all our olives and olive oil is currently imported from Spain). Researchers have discovered that the soil conditions and rain patterns here in our state are perfect for olive trees!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118831)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Feb 16
@JudyEv I would love to visit an olive grove some day. I can imagine that it's pretty nice.
@JudyEv (326895)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Feb 16
@moffittjc There are quite a lot of olive groves in our area. Some of the places charge like wounded bulls for the oil. The trees are a distinctive colour - an olive-green, would you believe. 
@moffittjc (118831)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jan 16
I'm trying to do my part! Every chance I get, I am always trying to plant more trees!
1 person likes this
