Arbor Day celebration

Countryside Elementary School and the Rotary Club of Edina will celebrate Arbor Day Friday, April 27, with a ceremonial planting on the school grounds at 1:45 p.m. that day.

Making the case that protecting the environment and curbing climate change are essential to Rotary’s goal of sustainable service, Rotary International President Ian Riseley challenged Rotary Clubs around the world to plant trees in honor of its members this year. Trees remove carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses from the air, which slows global warming.
 
“It is my hope that the result of this effort will be far greater than the environmental benefit that those … new trees will bring,” Riseley said. “I believe the greater result will be a Rotary that recognizes our responsibility not only to the people on our planet, but to the planet itself.”
 
To meet Risely’s goal, the Rotary Club of Edina and Rotary International District 5950 is providing funding to Edina Public Schools to plant 39 trees of 18 varieties on the grounds of several schools. Six trees will be planted at Countryside, 5701 Benton Ave., including two Siouxland Poplars, two Blue Beach Poplars, a Quaking Aspen and a Sienna Glen Maple.
 
Kindergarten students will be involved with the ceremonial planting at the school on Arbor Day. The Rotary Club of Edina will also provide 600 Scotch Pine, White Pine, Black Hills Spruce and Meyer Spruce seedings to Countryside Elementary students on Arbor Day.
 
Rotarians are encouraged to attend the brief ceremony. Please register if you plan to attend.