Coffee-Grounds Mulch? Find Out How Today, Arbor Day

SAUGUS — Volunteers will plant 70 new trees today and give away 1,000 more at the 18th annual Arbor Day celebration at Santa Clarita Central Park.

The city-sponsored event, held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., serves to educate people about the benefits of trees.

Festivities will include live entertainment, food, tree-planting activities, children’s events, workshops on creating compost and coffee-grounds garden mulch, a tree-pruning demonstration and lots of environmental exhibitions.

In honor of the city’s 20th anniversary, the Arbor Day event hosts will raffle off two 20-inch talking Smokey Bear stuffed animals provided by the U.S. Forest Service, a quilt made by the Santa Clarita Quilt Club, a handmade wood carving knife and more.

Volunteers will give away 1,000 trees and 1,000 bags of tree mulch to those in attendance, as well as 20 free garden gourmet bins to the first 20 people who sign up and attend the compost workshops.

Activities for children will include a large slide, bounce house, rock wall, face painting, flower potting, crafts, a 65-foot inflatable obstacle course and fingerprinting for kids provided by the Optimist Club.

“The city is dedicated to keeping the Santa Clarita Valley a clean and beautiful place to live. That’s why it’s so important to show residents how important trees are to our community and to give them the knowledge they need to care for the environment,” said city arborist Robert Sartain.

The Arbor Day celebration is put on by the city’s Neighborhood Leaf Out Program, which is part of the city’s Urban Forestry Division. Central Park is at 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus. For information, call (661) 294-2567.

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