Author: Kristin Hildabrand
Planning Unit: Warren County CES
Major Program: Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education
Plan of Work: Home & Consumer Horticulture 2023
Outcome: Long-Term Outcome
The Warren County Cooperative Extension Service and the Warren County Extension Master Gardeners collaborated with the City of Bowling Green during the first ever Tree Week in October 2022 to offer butterfly garden tours and free tree giveaway. The City of Bowling Green hosted Tree Week during the second week of October from the 10th until the 15th to celebrate trees in and around the Bowling Green and Warren County communities. This event was especially important to the community to try and rebuild the tree population that was wiped away from the tornado damage received back in December 2021.
To assist with Tree Week activities, the Warren County Extension Master Gardeners offered butterfly garden tours of their certified Monarch Waystation. Extension Master Gardeners gave tours to the general public where information was shared on trees that support more pollinator habitats for bees and butterflies. Tours were offered on 3 separate days at 3 different times to attract the most people. Tours were held on Tuesday, October 11th from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM, Thursday, October 13th from 12:00 Noon until 2:00 PM, and Friday October 14th from 11:00 AM until 12:30 PM. Interested participants registered online using a Qualtrics survey link to select their preferred time. The program was promoted through radio, the Farm and Home Show on WBKO Television Channel 13, Warren County Horticulture Happenings Newsletter mailing list serve, as well as the Warren County Agriculture and Warren County Extension Master Gardener Facebook pages.
50 total people attended the butterfly garden tour and free tree give-away. At the end of the program, participants were asked to complete a post-evaluation survey to measure successes from the day. After participants completed their evaluations, they were able to select from small tree seedlings which were donated by the Highland Brooke Nursery located in Elkton, KY. Trees included a mixture of pine, oak, and maple trees. After the event, 150 trees were given to the Re-Tree Bowling Green Organization which were distributed later in the year to the community.
According to "Growing Greener Cities", a book published in 1992 by the American Forestry Association, trees have significant monetary benefits. They have found that a single tree provides $73 worth of air conditioning, $75 worth of erosion control, $75 worth of wildlife shelter, and $50 worth of air pollution reduction. The Warren County Cooperative Extension Service gave away a total of 200 trees which will be a $54,600 dollar benefit to the Warren County community.
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