The City of Cornelia celebrated 30 years as a Tree City USA community by planting 30 trees at its new water treatment plant on Camp Creek Road.
The city planted Green Giant Arborvitae at the site on February 19 in observance of the milestone anniversary and Georgia’s Arbor Day. These fast-growing evergreens can grow up to three feet per year and reach as high as 60-feet-tall and 12-feet-wide. They provide nesting sites and cover for birds and have good resistance to deer browsing. Squeezing the evergreen leaves releases an aroma that smells like perfume.
The Tree City program started in 1976 with the goal of helping communities manage and expand their public trees. More than 3,400 communities have committed to the program. They achieve Tree City USA status by meeting four core standards of sound urban forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry, and celebrating Arbor Day.
“We’re excited to continue the long tradition of Cornelia’s commitment to planting trees throughout our community. This is our thirtieth year with the Tree City USA designation and we take it seriously,” says Cornelia Mayor John Borrow. “We are committed to doing everything we can to beautify our community and preserve our nature for future generations.”
