Warner Robins plants cherry blossom trees for Earth Week

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — As Houston County gets into the full swing of spring with April showers and early blooms, Warner Robins is looking to the future and planting trees to ensure the city’s natural health and beauty. At 2 p.m. Wednesday, city officials from Warner Robins Macon gathered at city hall to plant cherry blossom trees.

Keep Warner Robins Beautiful Manager Tiffany Bowen, Mayor LaRhonda Patrick, Keep Macon Bibb Beautiful Executive Director Asha Ellen and KMBB Volunteer Stanley Stewart each took a moment to speak over the occasion.

“As many of you have heard, many times by now, one of my favorite quotes is a Chinese proverb that says ‘the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now,’” Bowen started. “As we celebrate Earth Week, let’s take a moment to reflect on our actions and how we can protect and restore the environment, while honoring both Earth Day and National Arbor Day that’s upcoming.”

“Earth Day and Arbor Day provide a moment for people to come together and express their commitment to the environment, and to make a difference in their communities. One of the most important things we can do to celebrate both of these days is to plant trees. Trees are essential for the health of our environment, and necessary for the survival for all life. Not only are trees vital to the environment, they add beauty and value to our homes, our neighborhoods and our city as a whole.”

Keep Warner Robins Beautiful’s task is to ensure that Warner Robins stays clean and green — according to Bowen, their mission is, “to educate and promote the environment of Warner Robins.” Their work includes a number of clean-up and recycling projects, and several beautification efforts.

In fulfilling their mission, they came together with Keep Macon Bibb Beautiful, and in a moment of synergy, decided to plant cherry blossom trees in Warner Robins.

Five of those trees were planted in the green spaces of Warner Robins City Hall, but a total of 35 cherry blossom trees were donated to KWRB by their sister group in Macon.

Those 35 will be spread across several of Warner Robins beautification sites.

“You’ll see some in the beautification sites over on 96 — we’ve got two beautification sites on both sides of the road on 96, you’ll see trees there — our recently updated beautification site on Booth Road, you’ll see a few cherry blossom trees there, and then on Corder Road, you’ll see two cherry blossom trees there as well.”

While addressing the audience, Bowen added some details on the importance of these cherry blossoms to the local ecosystem.

“These five young cherry blossoms that we’re adding today will add beauty to the landscape of city hall for many years to come,” Bowen said. “They will produce oxygen, and absorb pollutants. They will provide an important source of pollen and nectar for pollinators, and an early source for pollinators each year. The impact these trees will have will be felt for many generations to come.”

According to Mayor Patrick, Wednesday was also a time to celebrate the relationship shared by Warner Robins and Macon-Bibb.

“To me, the planting of the cherry blossom here in Warner Robins signifies how we can work together as a region, because as you know, the cherry blossom is big for Macon-Bibb,” Patrick explained. “Now we’re having a piece of Macon-Bibb here at city hall, because we’re planting these cherry blossom trees that will forever be here on our property.

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome Keep Macon Bibb Beautiful to the Warner Robins family, and know that we can do greater things together than we an separately, as we both share the same mission, which is keeping our communities beautiful, promoting the planting of trees and different beautification in our community that helps us be more green.”

Following the address outside of city hall, each of the speakers, as well as Miss Peach State Princess, Dani Reese Grube, planted the first of five cherry blossoms right outside the backdoor of the government building.

HHJ News