Love Each Other & the Earth with Gift Trees for Valentine’s Day

Gift Trees from Friends of Trees make a great green gift for your sweetheart!

This year, love each other and the earth by giving Friends of Trees Gift Trees for Valentine’s Day. For a donation of just $35, Portland-based non-profit Friends of Trees will plant a young native tree in honor of a loved one and send a gift acknowledgement card in their name. It’s a great cause and a fun, green alternative to the standard Valentine’s Day fare.

Gift Trees are planted in the Collins Sanctuary in Forest Park during one of two annual Gift Tree plantings. All who give or receive Gift Trees for Valentine’s Day this year will be invited to plant their trees at the Gift Tree planting on March 28. Because nothing says I love you quite like getting your hands dirty with your sweetheart! A Gift Tree costs $35, and a Gift Grove of six young native trees costs $100.

“Trees are much more lasting than jewelry,” said Steve Smith at Friends of Trees’ December Gift Tree planting. He and his wife Kelsey Wirtzfeld plant Gift Trees together each year in honor of their marriage. Both look forward to visiting the trees as they grow and seeing them provide food and shelter for wildlife in Forest Park.

In addition to slowing climate change and reducing air and water pollution, Gift Trees restore the Collins Sanctuary, a legacy from the Collins Family Foundation to Portland area residents. First given to the Oregon Parks Foundation, the land was purchased by Metro in 2008. Now, through Friends of Trees’ partnership with Metro and the Audubon Society of Portland, the sanctuary is being restored.

For all who want to plant trees on Valentine’s weekend itself, volunteers are welcome at both of Friends of Trees’ plantings scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 13. The nonprofit’s new tree mascot will offer valentines to volunteers at the Boise, Eliot, Humboldt and King planting, which begins at 9 a.m. at Friends of Trees’ office, at 3117 NE ML King Jr. Blvd.

Friends of Trees’ Gift Trees program is part of its Green Space Initiative, a program that guides volunteers in restoring green spaces throughout the Portland-Vancouver metro area. Friends of Trees’ Neighborhood Trees program offers high-quality street and yard trees at bargain prices and helps neighbors plant their trees together at weekend community events.

Since 1989, Friends of Trees’ thousands of volunteers have planted more than 380,000 trees and native plants. To learn more or to order Gift Trees, visit www.FriendsofTrees.org/GiftTrees or call Melissa at 503-282-8846 ext. 23.