PHOTO: Trees planted at Armory Park on Arbor Day

A hearty group braved cold temperatures to plant two Accolade elms, two Brandon elms and one Skyline honey locust at Armory Park in celebration of Arbor Day on Friday. 

Student interns from Whitefish High School’s Center for Sustainability, a teacher, a team of arborists and landscape specialists from the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and members of the Tree Advisory Committee met to plant the trees. 

Jen Sybrant, Whitefish urban forester and landscape foreman, said this is the 31st year that Whitefish has qualified as a Tree City U.S.A. by the Arbor Day Foundation. 

“Our challenge this year was high water. We’ve had to drain the holes three, four times,” Sybrant said. “So, we’re planting high today, because we know they’re going to settle.” 

The city was awarded an $850 Arbor Day Grant from the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to help purchase the trees. 

    City staff, committee members and high school students joined forces to plant five trees at Armory Park for Arbor Day Friday. (Julie Engler/Whitefish PIlot)
  

    City staff, committee members and high school students joined forces to plant five trees at Armory Park for Arbor Day Friday. (Julie Engler/Whitefish PIlot)