Ritzville fifth grade students celebrate Arbor Day by planting trees

The City of Ritzville celebrated another year of being recognized as a Tree City USA on April 27 during the annual Arbor Day event.

The Ritzville fifth grade students joined in the celebration to assist with planting new trees at the Ritzville City Park. Trees were also going to be planted at the golf course and City Hall.

Mayor Gary Cook was presented with the Tree City USA plaque by Garth Davis from the Washington State Conservation District.

During the event, the three essay winners from the fifth grade class were announced.

All of the students were asked to write an essay with the topic, My Favorite Tree.

The essay winners were able to pick a plant for their success.

All of the students in the class also received an Evergreen tree to plant at home in honor of Arbor Day.

The Evergreen trees were donated by Umpqua Bank, and presented to students in the fourth and fifth grade classes in both Lind and Ritzville.

The Arbor Day event was coordinated by the Ritzville Tree Board.

The tree planting serves as one of the many projects the Tree Board has planned for the beautification of the city.

My Favorite Tree

By Carson Kubik, First Place

Have you every heard of a palm tree? Well if you haven’t the palm tree is my favorite tree that has many surprising, to say the least, facts that most people don’t know about. Did you know that a palm tree is a religious symbol?

According to Mother Nature Network, “In the bible, the people of Jerusalem greeted a triumphant Jesus just one week before his death and resurrection, a tradition now known and celebrated as Palm Sunday the week before Easter. Palms are mentioned dozens of times in both the Bible and Quran. In Judaism, plan trees represent peace and plenty.”

Also palm trees have two kinds of leaves “Palmate” and “Pinnate” leaves. According to Mother Nature Network, “Palm trees have over twenty-five thousand species of palm tree.”

One reason the palm tree is my favorite is because they commonly found near or in Hawaii, which is near the ocean.

The ocean is a symbol of what I want to be when I grow up. I want to be a marine biologist. I also love palm trees because I’ve gone to Hawaii and my cousin and I have phenomenal memories about the beautiful crystal blue ocean sparkling in the sun.

My second reason is that the bark of palm trees resembles the outer part of a pineapple, my favorite fruit. I love pineapples so much! I bought a two dollar pineapple popsocket and a fifteen dollar pineapple phone case.

Now I don’t know if you’ve seen it in action, but palm trees provide beautiful backgrounds for the most magnificent sunsets. I have seen this and it is the most beautiful thing you will ever see.

Sadly, I don’t have a picture, but I describe it with words other the gorgeous.

Those are three of somewhere around fifth reasons why palm trees are my favorite trees. Palm trees are mostly found in Hawaii, my favorite state in the United States.

The bark of palm trees also resemble the outer part of a pineapple my favorite fruit (I developed my love for this fruit on my vacation in Hawaii). Also palm trees make magnificent backgrounds/props for tv shows or movies.

Palm trees are and will be for all eternity the greatest treasure!

By Addy Colbert, Second Place

Weeping Willow trees are found in China. Weeping Willow trees can live up to 50-75 years. Every year the Weeping Willows grows 10 feet. Weeping Willow trees are used for many different reasons, such as to treat mastitis, and to heal toothaches.

According to Gardennerdy.com, “Weeping willow trees have a short trunk with wide-spreading branches that give it a broad, round shaped crown. The branches bear long narrow leaves that have white or silky ventral surfaces.”

One of reason why my favorite tree is the Weeping Willow is, because my mom and I have a tradition. Every year we trim the tree and the tree’s leaves are so pretty. My mom and I usually take over a day or two to trim the bottom of the tree.

The tree is so tall you can’t even imagine. The tree is in my front yard, and you can see the tree from a mile away. This is one reason why the Weeping Willow is my favorite tree.

Another reason is when the wind blows the tree branches flow in the wind. There are so many branches and leaves I can’t even count. The Weeping Willow is so important to me because the tree holds so many of my memories.

I never lived anywhere else, and that tree has been there for as long as I could remember. Every day of my life it has been there with my family. That is another reason why the Weeping Willow is my favorite tree.

Finally, my last reason is that the tree makes me happy. Whenever I look at the Weeping Willow I remember that I’m home with my family. The tree helps me remember that I will always have my family by my side at all times in the day, or any time.

The tree makes me feel safe, because when I see the tree I’m at home, and I’m safe at home. I’m very lucky to have a tree such as, the Weeping Willow that reminds me of all these amazing things.

In conclusion, there are many different reasons why I love the Weeping Willow tree, but the three are my top.

The Weeping Willow gives me traditions with my mom. The wind makes the tree so beautiful, and the Weeping Willow tree makes me feel happy and safe. That is why my favorite tree is the Weeping Willow.

By Danika Maine Cox, Third Place

What’s your favorite tree? My favorite tree is the Willow tree. The Willow tree is amazingly unique. The Willow tree grows differently and grows faster than other trees.

The Willow also does not look like other trees, which I believe that the Willow tree is beautiful. There are twelve Willow trees in WA. I have many memories with lots of Willow trees myself.

First, Willows are amazingly beautiful. Willows grow Catkins. Catkins contain flowers inside.

Catkins sometimes come before the Willow’s leaves. Catkins usually come in April or May. The Catkins color is a silver-tinged green. The flowers bloom in the summer they are amazing.

Also, the way the vines on the Willow grow and hang is also very pretty, and a good place to hang out.

Secondly, the Willow tree is very unique. Natives had called the Willow tree the “Toothache tree.” The bark of a Willow tree was used to treat fever, arthritis headaches and toothaches.

If you are a Harry Potter fan you have probably heard of and know what the Whomping Willow is. What you might not know is that the Whomping Willow looks like an almost dead Willow tree.

If you don’t know what the Whomping Willow is, it is a willow tree with an attitude that lives on Hogwarts grounds, and guards the entrance to a tunnel that leads to the “Shrieking Shack,” where Professor Lupin goes when he turns into a werewolf.

Last, I have many connections with the Willows. I have a Willow on my dad’s backyard. It is great! Now we also use it for shade for our pigs.

My Grandpa owns a pond, and at that pond is the biggest Willow tree I’ve ever seen. My cousins and I had attached a rope to a branch , and we climb the tree.

My mom’s favorite tree is a Willow too. She draws willows also. To me I believe that she draws them like nothing you’ve ever seen. They look like a black and white photo.

In conclusion, my Willow tree is my favorite tree. First, they are beautiful, the way the vines hang and the Catkins.

Second, Willows are unique, the bark treats illnesses and has the roll of the Whomping Willow.

And third, to me willows are personal to me.