City Giving Away Free Trees for Arbor Day

To commemorate Arbor Day in March, the City of Mountain View will offer approximately 125 new trees for residents to plant on their property.

 The planting event is part of the City’s forestry restoration efforts and the celebration of the State of California’s Arbor Day.

SIGN-UP FOR A FREE TREE!

Residents who wish to participate must fill out and submit the request form included in The View by 5 p.m. on Jan. 31, and agree to plant and maintain the tree on their property.

If the number of requests for trees exceeds the number of tress available, names will be drawn at random.

The City will deliver the tree of choice to eligible residents during the week of March 3.

Residents may choose from six varieties of trees.

• The Loquat is a small evergreen that grows from 16 to 33 feet high, with a rounded crown and short trunk. The leaves are dark green, tough and leathery in texture. The fruit ripens in early Spring.
• The Fringe is a deciduous tree and grows to 30 feet in height. It requires full sun and moderate amounts of water.The tree has white lacey flowers and purple blue fruit that attract birds and wildlife. 
• The Arbutus “Marina” grows 30 – 50 feet tall. The upright branches are covered with a smooth mahogany coloredbark, green leathery leaves, urn-shaped white blushed pink flowers and decorative fruit.
• The Chitalpa “Pink Dawn” grows 20-30 feet tall and is dry-spell tolerant. Its narrow leaves are 4 to 5 inches long and the tree has trumpet-shaped flowers.
• The Flowering Cherry “Snow Fountains” grows to a height of 10 to 12 feet and has a cascading cloak of white flowers in the Spring.
• The Catalina Ironwood is a California native evergreen tree that can reach 50-60 feet high. It sheds old gray barkto reveal deep cinnamon red new bark.

And also for Arbor Day, the city will host a March 8 celebration with a variety of events in Pioneer Park, located behind City Hall, 500 Castro Street. 

Activities include a tree planting in the park.
 
For more information about Arbor Day activities, call the Forestry and Roadway Landscape Division at(650) 903-6273.