Tree Board Braves Winds to Plant Seedlings

Members of the Lamar Tree Board and Lamar city employees combined their efforts to plant windbreaks at the Lamar sports field this past Saturday. Jane Felter, Tree Board member said she and her crew were planting three rows of Colorado Rocky Juniper trees to the southwest of the ball fields. She said the trees would be around 15 feet tall once they attained their full height. City employees manned a front end loader to shift dirt onto the plastic stripping that would contain the seedlings and earlier, had installed two spigots for a water supply.

The groundwork this past Saturday was arduous, as the ground was dry and dusty and the southwesterly winds never let up through the day. For almost every shovelful of dirt moved by the workers, another shovelful was blown back by the wind. The need for windbreaks was why the Tree Board members were there. Although their efforts mostly went unnoticed on Saturday, the end result of their labors will be apparent for years to come. The Tree Board will plant additional trees this week, working with elementary school students, highlighting National Arbor Week in Lamar and in the country.