Peachtree Corners Celebrates Arbor Day At Paul Duke STEM High

PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA, -- On Friday, April 26, the Peachtree Corners Community joined Paul Duke STEM High School students, faculty, the mayor and councilmembers to celebrate its fourth Arbor Day event.

The festivities took place on the school grounds and included planting three Serviceberry trees. During the event students learned proper tree pruning techniques and guidelines for watering newly planted trees. The event was hosted by the city of Peachtree Corners. Mayor Mike Mason and councilmembers Phil Sadd, Eric Christ and Jeanne Aulbach joined the celebration.

The Arbor Day celebration included the winner of the biggest-tree contest. Residents Carol and
Mark Reifenberger located the largest tree, found growing at Simpsonwood Park. The tree
measured 67 DBH (diameter breast height). The Reifenbergers won a gift certificate to Firebirds
Wood Fired Grill.

Arbor Day is set aside for schools, civic clubs and other organizations, as well as individuals to
reflect on the importance of trees in our state and across the nation.

“Trees are an essential part of the city,” said Councilmember Jeanne Aulbach. “A healthy urban
forest provides benefits including air and water pollution mitigation, habitat for wildlife and
storm water runoff reduction.”

All who participated had the option of taking home a little “Arbor” in the form of wildflower
seeds and tree seedlings. Peachtree Corners was recently recognized by the Arbor Day
Foundation as a Tree City USA. There are 155 Tree Cities USA in Georgia and nearly 30 percent
of the state’s population resides in a Tree City. Nationwide there are more than 3,400 Tree City
USA communities.