THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 12, 1996 TAG: 9604100106
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JANIE BRYANT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
Once again, Adelaide Eberly
better known as Portsmouth's tree lady - is trying to raise donations to plant about a hundred new trees in the city.
She picked a good time.
Right about now, people are drinking in the snowy white beauty of all those Bradford pear trees planted all over the city in years past.
Individuals, organizations and businesses throughout Portsmouth helped bring that springtime beauty to the city by donating money to buy trees.
And after rallying people to the cause for 25 years, Eberly says the job's gotten a lot easier.
``Now when I call, they ask how much I want,'' she said. ``They get interested in the project, and they get used to it.''
A $60 donation pays for a tree, and a donor may make the gift in honor or memory of an individual or in the name of a business or organization.
The annual tree-planting project is sponsored by the Home and Neighborhood Development Sponsors committee of the Portsmouth Area Council of Garden Clubs and the Portsmouth Parks and Recreation Department.
This year's Arbor Day project was conducted in partnership with the city's Economic Development Department. It emphasizes the beautification of the Midtown area as part of the city's Vision 2005 Master Plan.
Twenty-nine trees will have been planted in that area by the end of the month.
This year's tree-planting project will bring sycamore, crab apple and crape myrtle trees to green areas and medians around the city.
The 25th anniversary of Arbor Day in Portsmouth will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. April 26 with a commemorative tree planting at Rodman Avenue and High Street.
An outdoor reception will be held after the ceremony, during which about 200 pine tree seedlings will be given out. The seedlings are being wrapped by the Westwood Garden Club.
The deadline to make tree donations is April 19. Checks may be made out to PACGC and mailed to Eberly at 301 Park Road, Portsmouth, Va. 23707. For more information or forms, call Phyllis Murphy at 393-8481. by CNB