Columbia Falls plans day of Arbor Day activities

The Daily Inter Lake

Arbor Day will be celebrated in Columbia Falls on Saturday with a community barbecue from noon to 3:30 p.m. at Glacier Discovery Square, 540 Nucleus Ave.

The day starts with a 10 a.m. workshop on tree planting and care at Columbia Nursery on U.S. 2 West. At 11:30 a.m., the action moves to Discovery Square with a worm composting workshop. Kathie Lapcevic of Flathead Valley Community College shows how to use common items to set up a worm bin, care for the worms, then harvest and use the black gold.

At 12:15 p.m. herbalist Veronica Honthaas presents Gardening as a Way of Life - Food, Herbs and Health. At noon, Jonathan Jenkins performs a concert and the family barbecue starts, with food from Whistle Stop Caf.

Craft and educational vendors will include the Montana Native Plant Society, Women in Timber, Stoltze Lumber Co., Woodsy Owl, Laff-It-Up inflatables, and Plum Creek Timber and Hungry Horse Ranger District with free seedlings. A silent auction is planned.

At 1 p.m. is the Arbor Day dedication ceremony. The city was chosen for Montana's official Arbor Day celebration. There will be a Boys and Girls Club play, poetry readings and a tree planting.

At 1:30 p.m. Jack Gladstone caps the day with a concert at the square.

All proceeds go to the Columbia Falls Tree City USA program.

Incorporate healing herbs into your life, learn northern climate gardening, build luscious soils for free and eat fresh greens until November.