By BRAD GASKINS / Staff Writer

The Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation District is preparing for its 8^th annual Tree and Shrub Sale.

It will be held Saturday, March 5 at the Shelby County Forestry Building, located at 1281 Highway 70 in Columbiana. The sale starts at 9 a.m. and, if the weather is nice, could be finished by 10 a.m.

That’s how quick the merchandise moves, said Kim Joiner, district administrative coordinator.

This year, there will be about 1,500 items, including trees, shrubs and fruit trees. In past years, Joiner said, the merchandise has sold out within 45 minutes.

Joiner said her department has considered ordering more items but is reluctant to do so in case of inclement weather. So long as the roads aren’t covered in ice or snow, the sale will proceed.

Trees and shrubs are $1 and $2. The selection includes Flowering Cherry, Pink Flowering Dogwood, Persian Lilac, Persimmon, Hydrangea, Sweet Shrub and Mountain Laurels, and more.

The fruit tree selection includes Peach for $9, Concord Grapes for $5 and Cherry Trees for $12.

Quantities are limited, and all trees and shrubs will bare root, meaning they are not potted. The inventory is transported to Shelby County from Tennessee, Joiner said.

The sale is a fundraiser to help cover costs associated with conservation education for kids.

“We do the Shelby County Water Festival every year,” Joiner said. “We have 1,400 to 1,500 fourth-grade kids come out to the University of Montevallo every year. During the summer, we go to the summer camps with different hands-on activities.”

A complete price list for the sale is available at www.scswcd.us. For more information, call 669-7136 or e-mail kim@scswcd.us.