Environment-Arbor Day

  • The VPIS booth with dozens of trees for distribution
  • Dozens of saplings waiting for distribution.
  • VPIS President Bonnie Murphy works with student volunteers from Meridian High School.
  • On of the many saplings distributed during the Arbor Day celebration at Cherry Hill Park, Falls Church,
  • VPIS giving out trees for Arbor Day celebration and helping the city plant trees at the end of Cherry Hill Park, Falls Church,
  • Amy Compton and other VPIS members offering guidance on planting saplings.
  • VPIS giving out trees for Arbor Day celebration and helping the city plant trees at the end of Cherry Hill Park, Falls Church,
  • VPIS president Bonnie Murphy at the Arbor Day celebration atf Cherry Hill Park, Falls Church,
  • Children help with a ceremonial planting in Cherry Hill Park.
  • City staff at the tree distribution at Cherry Hill Park, Falls Church,

Arbor Day a Big Success

On April 25th, VPIS partnered with the City of Falls Church to celebrate Arbor Day.  At the Farmer’s Market VPIS distributed 123 young trees to community members eager to plant them in their yards. Student volunteers Nathan Walker, Emma Austin and Emiglio Icabalceta from Meridian High School and Eagle Scout John Steyn from Gonzaga High School helped adopters select trees and made the packaging of saplings efficient. VPIS Board members Bonnie and John Murphy, Sam Beatty, Karen Kasmauski, Jenny Thomas, Robert Tartt and VPIS member Fances Starnes rounded out a perfect team assisting with the busy event. During the April 25 tree adoption event 222 trees were adopted, including 87 VA Department of Forestry bare root oak saplings and 36 pots of various species of rescued trees adopted out (red maple, black cherry, redbud, sweetbay magnolia most prevalent). The final tally for the day is:

83 – saplings adopted out at Farmers Market

30 – saplings adopted by request after Farmers Market

16 – saplings donated to the Falls Church Garden Club Sale

93 – saplings donated to Willow Run Farm, a Mennonite farm in Harrisonburg that is adding biodiversify to its 300 acres

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222 Adoptions for saplings

28 – half kept to nurse for future event, with the other half nonviable for planting

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250 Total saplings

The City’s Arbor Day Ceremony, held in Cherry Hill Park, commemorated the 48th year of Falls Church as a Tree City USA as recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation—the state’s longest holder of this distinction.  Following remarks by City officials and VPIS President Bonnie Murphy, volunteers of all ages planted saplings in the forested area, helping ensure species diversity. VPIS is grateful to all of the volunteers and community members who celebrated Arbor Day in the City.nt Bonnie Murphy, residents planted saplings in the forested area, helping ensure species diversity.

2026 Arbor Day Proclamation