The Azalea Garden Club held an Arbor Day tree planting ceremony at Park Elementary.

For many years, the Azalea Garden Club has celebrated Arbor Day with a tree planting ceremony at local schools and important places like the Port of Delcambre. This year, they chose Park Elementary, and planted a Live Oak sapling on the front lawn.

The club planted Live Oaks at Park Elementary when it was built, however they were planted in the back of the school. According to Azalea Garden Club president, Roxy Blanton, they chose this location because the front of the building needed a splash of color.

“It just looked so empty!” Blanton said.

Members of the Park Elementary 4-H Club, Kardi Youman, Tillajha Bernard, Bryzun Daniels, Ja’Shawn Sparrow and Le’Anne Westley, helped plant the tree after Johnny Romero from the Maintenance Department dug the hole. Most holidays memorialize an event in the past, but Arbor Day celebrates growth for the future. As such, Superintendent Heath Hulin, who works closely with the garden club and attended the event, told students they might drive by the property in 20 years and could possibly tell their kids how they were involved.

The 4-H members will water the tree twice a week until the tree can stand on its own. When asked about the importance of trees, the club members could answer quickly. However, trees play an elevated role in Louisiana’s ecosystem, as they act as a buffer against flooding and hurricanes.

Each of the trees planted in the past received names based on the former presidents and charter members of the Azalea Garden Club. However the tree planted last year at the Iberia Parish Alternative Center for Education, was named Roxy after the current president, so the tree at Park Elementary is yet to be named.

The superintendents of the Iberia Parish School system have always supported this Arbor Day celebration, including Dale Henderson, Carey Laviolette and now Hulin.

According to Blanton, the National Garden Clubs organization started the tradition many years after the first Arbor Day celebration in 1872, which saw over a million trees planted across Nebraska. The national organization now encourages every national-affiliated garden club to plant a tree in their own community for Arbor Day.

For more information about the Azalea Garden Club, visit their website at azaleagardenclub.weebly.com or check out their Facebook page.