Trees available for adoption

FALLBROOK — The Fallbrook Save Our Forest organization (SOF) has several downtown trees available for “adoption.” This program gives residents a way of providing a living gift for, or in memory of, a special friend or family member and Fallbrook benefits by having another fine specimen of a tree to grace the downtown area in a prominent location.

Interested donors may contact Anne Richter, who coordinates the tree adoption program, at (760) 728-0889. A tree is selected from a wide variety of species and locations and a plaque is prepared in the name of the individual to be honored. The contribution also provides for the tree’s care and maintenance as well as for other downtown trees. This includes such expenses as pruning, fertilizing, insect control and watering.

Anne Richter points out that this is a good season to be adopting a tree. Not only is it spring, but trees make ideal Mother’s and Father’s Day gifts – gifts that keep giving.

Jackie Heyneman, head of SOF, was key to starting the tree adoption program 12 years ago. Since then more than 100 trees have been placed and cared for in Fallbrook. “The tree adoption program has created a more pedestrian and business-friendly area,” she said. “It also provides energy-saving shad and promotes our rural atmosphere.”