The 2013 tree seedling sale benefiting Sweet Arrow Lake County Park is under way.
Patrick M. "Porcupine Pat" McKinney, environmental education coordinator for the Schuylkill Conservation District, said the sale is a cooperation between the conservation district and the Sweet Arrow Lake Conservation Association, with all sale proceeds going toward the county park.
"Over the years, I have met the people who purchase our seedlings," McKinney said. "They do it for two reasons, with the first being an immediate enhancement of their property for wildlife or beauty. Another reason is that they want to leave a 'natural legacy' for their children who can reap the benefit of the tree that was planted."
According to the sale order form, the 38th annual Seedling Sale provides quality seedlings that increase property values, enhance wildlife habitats, beautify the landscape, improve the environment and can provide a source of income.
Denise Donmoyer, president of the Sweet Arrow Lake Conservation Association, said that during the annual sale that benefits "the first county park," the association sells thousands of seedlings to help people with their landscaping needs and to help the park and the environment.
"We think this is a good way to do it, to provide the public with trees to beautify their properties," Donmoyer said.
Included in the sale are 12 different kinds of tree seedlings, including Douglas fir, Colorado blue spruce, Norway spruce, sawtooth oak, river birch, red bud, American cranberry, arrowwood viburnum, forsythia, silky dogwood, white flowering dogwood and witch hazel.
The seedlings are sold in bundles of five, 10 or 20, depending on the type, will be bare root and are guaranteed to be healthy at pickup.
The deadline to order is April 4 or until supplies last and seedlings can be picked up from 9 a.m. to noon April 27 at the Sweet Arrow Lake County Park Clubhouse off Route 443 in Pine Grove.
Donmoyer also said that as always, the association will have volunteers to sort and prepare the orders for pickup day.
"All seedling sale proceeds directly benefit the programs at Sweet Arrow Lake, whether it is paying the fee for a Hershey Zoo visit or providing materials for a children's summer nature camp," McKinney said.
For more information about the seedlings or for an order form, contact McKinney at 570-622-4124 ext. 113 or porcupinepat@yahoo.com.