Happy Arbor Day! #CubScoutConservationAward

I hope everyone is enjoying nice weather like we are here.   Though the humidity is rising with the temperature, I love the evening thunderstorms that come with that mixture.  So far our forecast for today is partly cloudy with a high of 80 according to The Weather Channel and I hope that holds true, but I look forward to the rain next week is bringing to help me keep these little trees watered properly!

We are celebrating Arbor Day 2016 at the "Something Special Homestead" in Moneta, VA and planting 20 saplings with Cub Scout Pack 30  and Boy Scout Troop 540 from Goodview, VA this evening.

We have 10 Blue Spruces to put out by the road along the top of a hillside to help create a noise barrier from the road and we have 10 flowering trees as well.  The 10 flowering trees include three American Redbuds, two Sargent Crabapples, two Washington Hawthorns and three White Flowering Dogwoods.  We are going to place those along the driveway adding to the fruit tree orchard that we have been working on and around by the chicken run to give them some extra shade as the trees grow bigger.

Mom and I each got the free Membership packs of trees from the Arbor Day Foundation.  They arrived in two bundles with a hydrating gel on the roots.  Each bundle had to be carefully separated so as not to damage the roots.  Then each tree needed to be placed in a separate container of water to soak for 3-6 hours before panting. To give our trees the best chance for survival I opted for the 6 hour option and have them ready and waiting for the Scouts this evening.  This is going to be a Pack conservation project and will help them to earn the "Cub Scout World Conservation Award".  They do have to complete a few other requirements detailed in the link above or here. 

For now I have to get back to preparing for this afternoon and making sure my phone has enough charge for taking some photos to share.  I hope to be able to post about our fun a little later this evening or tomorrow morning!