The Tullahoma chapter of DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) celebrated Tennessee Tree Day last weekend by distributing saplings to area residents who purchased them online from the Tennessee Environmental Council.

Every year TEC urges Tennessee citizens to plant trees in March.  They promote native tree planting, and anyone can order them online.

On a special day each March, “Tennessee Tree Day,” the purchasers can pick up their orders at about 200 different locations across the state.  This year saplings were sold and distributed in all 95 counties. 

In Tullahoma, DAR has a spot in the South Jackson Performing Arts Center parking lot where purchasers drive through and pick up their orders.  This year 45 orders of over 400 saplings were distributed by DAR at South Jackson.

Most saplings are planted in private residences.  For example, John Anderson and his wife, Sandy, purchased dogwoods and pecan trees to plant in their front yard on Turkey Creek Road.  “We are trying to put some color at the entrance to our driveway,” Sandy explained.  They planted all weekend.

Another large order for Tullahoma was made by Amy Taylor.  She ordered 100 saplings, but donated the entire shipment to Girl Scouts.  Saturday afternoon the troop was busy planting poplar, pecan, white oak, mulberry, witch-hazel and dogwoods at many locations over the city.

DAR is involved in many conservation projects.  This year the national DAR donated $10,000 to the US Department of Forestry for tree planting in damaged areas of national forests across the continent.