On Saturday, March 20, Springfield Plateau Master Naturalists Darrell and Pat Blech, Karolyn Holdren, Buck Keagy, Allan Keller, Larry Maggard, and Bob Ranney worked with MDC's Urban Forester Cindy Garner and Battlefield City Manager Rick Hess at Battlefield's Native Tree Give-away.
In about four hours, the group packaged and gave Battlefield residents about 120 native plants. Recipients chose between Redbud, Dogwood, Washington Hawthorn and River Birch trees and Ozark Witch Hazel, Aromatic Sumac, Deciduous Holly and Ninebark shrubs.
The goal was to provide Ozark native plants to neighborhoods pretty much devoid of vegetation other than grass, and it appears to be an initial success. Recipients received information from Cindy as to how and where to plant their new trees and all seemed very pleased with the whole process.
Mr. Hess was happy, too, and at the end of the day was busy making plans for future native plant events - one of which will be to offer free trees to people who attend the opening night of this year's Battlefield farmer's market on the city hall parking lot. That will be the first Friday in May. Come join us. Check out the market and help yourself to free native trees and shrubs.
