By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – The citizens of Montevallo will enjoy a bit more green within the city’s borders after the Arbor Day celebration on Feb. 26.

Montevallo will celebrate its 19th annual Arbor Day from 9 a.m. until noon at the Orr Park Recreation Building.

We’ve been doing it for 18 years,” said Hershel Hale, the chair of Montevallo’s Arbor Day. “We grew it beyond handing out trees. The number of trees grew, and we started getting door prizes. It’s mostly plant supplies or plants.

“(The event has) grown with us,” Hale said. “It’s grown to be quite an event, and it’s grown into a social event.”

Residents of Montevallo and surrounding communities will have the opportunity to adopt more than 1,600 tree seedlings during the event, and a drawing for larger trees and planting supplies will take place during the Saturday affair.

During last year’s event, Hale estimated over 350 people attended from not only Montevallo, but from many different parts of both Alabama and other southern states.

“We’re tickled to death every year about the turnout we get every year,” Hale said.

“It’s a fun event for us to put on, and it takes a good number of people,” he said. “Our volunteers keep coming back every year, and that’s a big help.”

Randy Glover from Centreville will attend the event again this year to present information on the Cahaba Lilies.

“He loves the lilies,” Hale said. “He’ll be there with his pictures and his knowledge of the Cahaba Lilies.”

Along with demonstrations on proper tree planting, pruning and tree care, two tours will be offered during the celebration. One tour will take a closer look at the tree carvings of Orr Park with the artist himself, Tim Tingle, giving the tour. The second tour will view the different species of trees on the University of Montevallo’s campus.

“I think it brings us all together for one common deal: beautification and protecting the trees in the urban area,” Hale said.

For more information on the event, call Montevallo’s city hall at 665-2555.