Carnation Arbor Day

05/09/2026

Dear Arbor Day Friends!

Now that we’ve all had a chance to plant our young trees and bushes, the Carnation Arbor Day Team would like to thank you for helping us make our Arbor Day Celebration so special this year! It was a meaningful and glorious day as we connected with each other and the natural world, working to foster and nurture that which makes us healthier and happier!

This day was also special because we gave away well over 350 plant species that went home with people to take root and help make the world a greener place! What a great way to celebrate being Tree City USA for a 2nd year in a row, and receiving the Growth Award from the National Arbor Day Foundation for our outstanding tree care and community engagement. In addition to all of this, the Riverview Learning Center was designated a Tree Campus this year for integrating tree-focused education and hands-on environmental stewardship into their curriculum, led by Joshua Allen!

We’d also like to thank the following individuals for giving extra time, energy, and/or resources by providing (apologies if we've forgotten a name):

Free refreshments:
Peggy Knapik, Carnation Market IGA
Kelsey Harris-Olsen, Kelsey’s Koffee

Educational and artistic activities:
Joshua Allen and Riverview Learning Center Students (poetry board and refreshments)
Meg Cochrane and Peggy Loomis, March of the Vegetables
Rhonda Ender and Team, City of Carnation
Kelly Hayden, Robert and Lindsey Gilliam, and team, Carnation Farmer’s Market
Jules Hughes, Lee Arts Foundation
Victoria Klyce, Arbor Day Info Booth
Bekka Martin, King County Carnation Library
Jess Makae, Aldermoss T-shirts
Cat Robinson, Eastside Fire and Rescue
Janna Treismann, Native Plant Education
Posey and Nikki Wilmore, Henna and Face Painting

Speaking, performing, or helping with the parade or tree planting:
Brian Bodenbach, Tree Planting Demonstration
EagleSong Gardener, Story
Elizabeth Hill, Music
Todd Powell (plus providing his sound system), Music
Byron Ricks, Story and emceeing
Maren Van Nostrand, Soundfalls, Event Hosting
Raleigh Wilson, Music and Parade Leadership

Tree prep and giveaway:
Shirley Edgerdahl-Doolittle, Tadpole Haven
Jenn Dean
Karen Joy Fletcher
Felicity Marsh (for also providing some free plants)
The Owen-Kachikis Family
Nicole Seiger and Cheri Rendon, Oxbow Farm Native Plant Nursery
Terra Sittner, Storm Lake Growers

Event Planning:
Rhonda Ender and the City of Carnation for venue preparation!
Jules Hughes
Victoria Klyce
Felicity Marsh
Janna Treismann
Maren Van Nostrand

Please stay tuned for more Carnation Arbor Day news coming your way this fall as we begin to form our planning team anew! If you’d like to be a part of this joyous work, please let us know!

Until then, may Trees be with You!

The Arbor Day Team
🌱🌲 🌱🌲 🌱🌲

(The photo below shows the crowd that gathered for the ceremonial planting of the annual City tree, this year at Valley Memorial Park.)

05/08/2026

Every single tree is precious, and worth fighting for. The bigger the tree, the more benefits it provides. https://wanderingarborist.blogspot.com/2016/01/why-big-trees-are-more-valuable-size.html

04/27/2026

Didn’t get a chance to pick up your free tree or shrub at the Carnation Arbor Day Celebration? You’re in luck! You can swing by City Hall today and grab one! First come, first served!

04/27/2026

Thank you, Elizabeth Hill, Todd Powell and Raleigh Wilson for playing at Arbor Day again! 

04/26/2026

Everyone who comes makes it a special day! It’s about more than just getting a free tree, it’s about staying connected with each other and with the natural world around us, fostering and nurturing, and more!

04/26/2026

Thank you everyone for helping to make Arbor Day a great success again this year! It was a meaningful, creative, and festive gathering, old friendships renewed and new friends made! 300+ more trees, shrubs, and plants are now going to be growing throughout the Snoqualmie Valley and beyond— more trees to purify the air and water, cool us down in the heat, and much more!

04/25/2026

The Arbor Day committee has been busy labeling some of the final trees and shrubs we’ll be giving away at the celebration tomorrow. See you at Tolt Commons from 10 am - 2 pm, and then for the parade to the tree planting at Valley Memorial Park, ending at 3!

04/22/2026

Reasons to join the celebration this weekend!

04/21/2026

What’s your tree story? 🪾🍃

This Arbor Day, join the Million Trees Project. We’re assembling the largest collection of stories of the trees we love, and planting another 1 million new trees in communities this spring.

04/20/2026

SCHEDULE FOR THIS YEAR'S ARBOR DAY

10:00: Welcome! And Land Acknowledgement

10:05-10:50: MUSIC – Ukulele with Todd Powell

11:00-11:20: TALK – "Magic and Medicine of the Linden Tree" by EagleSong Gardener

11:30-12:20: MUSIC – Banjo with Elizabeth Hill

12:30-12:50 : READING – "Survival Lessons from the Ginko" by Byron Ricks

1:00-1:50: MUSIC – Guitar with Raleigh Wilson

2:00: PARADE to Valley Memorial Park (31999 Blanche St)
- Parade led by the musicians
- Tree planting demonstration of a Hawthorne tree

3:00: Conclude and Clean Up