It’s one of the City’s most beloved events and this year’s 25th Annual city-wide Arbor Day Celebration will be held next Saturday, March 2nd, 2024 from 9 am to 1 pm at Aldridge Gardens, 3530 Lorna Rd, Hoover, AL 35216.
The celebration includes various events including the ever-popular tree give away, the recognition of this year’s 4th Grade Arbor Day Essay and Poster Contest winners, the unveiling of a new sculpture, the introduction of a new Aromi garden along with vendors and a food truck.
The trees that will be given away this year include the following species: Blackgum, Baldcypress, Vitex, Sweet Bay Magnolia, Dawn Redwood, American Fringetree, Eastern Mayhaw, Willow Oak,. Southern Red Oak, Sioux Crapemyrtle and Catawba Crapemyrtle.
The sculpture that will be unveiled is by sculptor Nelson Grice, a retired Hoover City Schools art teacher who went into private practice to purse his dream of sculpting. The 9-foot tall bronze piece weighs 700 pounds. When asked to describe his work, Grice said, “She is a traveling daydream. Silly seeks to dispel fear and anxiety from all who see her. Her features are a gallimaufry of whimsical eye candy that allow the viewer the experience of childhood imaginations.”
This year, a new Aromi garden was built on the Aldrige grounds that attendees will get to enjoy. The garden contains a unique, native Azalea flower. Aromis are a deciduous, hybrid azalea bred by the late Dr. Gene Aromi of Mobile, Alabama.
Also, for the 25th year, Hoover will be recognized as a “Tree City'” in the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program. There will be nearly 20 vendors in attendance at the Arbor Day event including: Birmingham Bonsai Society, Alabama Wildlife Center, Aldridge Birdwatching Group, Jefferson County Master Gardeners and Alabama 4H.
