TreeVitalizing California City

Provided.

The new year is off to another running start. Even though it was cold, windy and we got same sprinkles of rain, the Desert Rose Garden Club, in conjunction with R.E.A.C.H. and I Love Cal City, planted a 16-foot Eldarica Pine in front of City Hall.

The Eldarica is a great selection for the desert as it grows well in full sun, thrives in different types of soil and is drought tolerant. It grows up to three feet per year, can reach up to 80 feet tall and can live more than 100 years. Residents of California City have been wanting a nice pine to decorate for Christmas and this tree is perfect for the job.

After the ribbon cutting, Beverly Holt taught the kids how to plant an Aleppo Pine to replace a dead tree stump. Next, the kids planted daffodil bulbs and pansies around the base of the new Eldarica. This is the first of 500 trees to be planted over the next three years. TreeVitalize has secured a $500,000 grant to use toward the beautification of California City. Other projects to be completed include: 100 trees planted on a three acre parcel donated by Ron Sparks, plantings throughout business areas and trees adopted by residents. A majority of the trees will be: fruit, nut and shade trees, as well as more of these beautiful pines.

We would like to give a big "THANK YOU" to everyone that helped: John Fischer, Ryan Royten and Allan Giovannetti for relocating the boulders. Parker Construction for lending us their excavator. Ace Hardware for donating the soil. Starbucks for the coffee and lemonade. Elsy's Donuts for the five dozen donuts. Also, we appreciate the people who showed up to support us: Frank Vasquez from Waste Management, Chris Parlier and Karen Sanders from Kern County Second District and Carly Sullivan from Tom Lackey's Office.