by Ann Huyler, Pee Dee Region Urban Forestry Specialist
Arbor Day
Although National Arbor Day is celebrated in April, South Carolina’s state Arbor Day celebration happens the first Friday of December. The Palmetto State is the only one that recognizes its state Arbor Day in December!
The timing aligns with the dormant season when trees have the energy to focus on root growth instead of leaf production, setting each seedling up for a strong start. Pee Dee Region Urban Forestry Specialist Ann Huyler joined several cities for their Arbor Day celebrations.
Lake City
Florence County School District Three hosted Lake City’s 2025 Arbor Day celebration in December, which included art, displays, speakers and performances from students, all to celebrate the importance of trees in Lake City.
Pee Dee Region Urban Forestry Specialist Ann Huyler spoke to the crowd about the background of urban forestry in Lake City, why trees are important and how Lake City leaders are forging ahead in a positive direction. She said, in part:
“…In early winter of 2023, Lake City grants writer Lisa Jones applied for the two-year Trees4SC Grant from the SCFC and was approved. The Green Infrastructure Center, a non-profit partnering with the Forestry Commission, worked with Lake City to implement the grant.
Through 2024 and into 2025, Lake City received a Tree Canopy Cover map showing that Lake City has 40% tree canopy cover and plenty of tree planting areas.
In addition, through the grant, Lake City received suggestions on how to improve the city’s tree ordinances, plus the planting of at least 225 trees at Lake City’s schools and several parks.
In addition, almost 200 trees were provided to citizens for free by Tree Giveaways, through the grant. The grant ended in December, but Code Enforcement Administrative Asst. Kayla Hodge, Mayor Robinson, Lake City’s Tree Board and Director of Student Academic Support are working hard to ensure Lake City will become recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation.
The completion of the grant and this Tree City team showcase a major step Lake City has taken to increase the city’s tree canopy and its benefits to citizens and visitors for many decades to come…”
Photos by Florence School District 3 Multimedia Communications Director Abra Bolling.
Turbeville
Huyler spoke to attendees of Turbeville’s Arbor Day celebration Dec. 9. She talked about the work that goes into gaining recognition as a Tree City USA and how Turbeville is working to regain its status, saying, in part:
“…Turbeville had attained eight years as a Tree City USA, but for some years, the city had not applied. By the time Town Administrator Howard Garland and I spoke in August 2024, it was too late to essentially start from scratch to obtain all standards required by the Arbor Day Foundation to become a Tree City USA. However, Mr. Garland got everything ready to apply for recognition for 2025.
Of the four standards, a city must have a public tree ordinance and an official city Tree Board or department. Turbeville has a public tree ordinance. As for the Tree Board, the Mayor Pro-Tem, Herbert Mims, found five people willing to be the new members of Turbeville’s new volunteer Tree Board.
A city must also show that it spends over $2 per capita on tree-related issues. This often means the town administrator is hunting for receipts, equipment expenses, information on salaries for crew working on trees for specific hours on specific days of the year and more. Public Works Director Ellis Evans provided that documentation.
Turbeville also needed to celebrate Arbor Day. Mayor Hicks signed a proclamation declaring Dec. 9 the town’s Arbor Day. Garland arranged for the planting of an Eastern red cedar, Juniperus virginiana, at Town Square and for speakers and citizens to attend.
Obtaining Tree City USA status is surprisingly harder than anyone thinks, and many cities have lost years as they have been unable to complete the standards and the application. Turbeville had been recognized for eight years as a Tree City USA. That got lost for a while. Mr. Garland has found it. We fully expect Turbeville to regain its Tree City USA status for its ninth year in 2025.”
Darlington
This year City Manager Lenessa Hawkins is carrying on the tradition of Darlington being awarded the status and recognition as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. This year’s application will raise Darlington to 28 years as a Tree City USA. By no means is this an easy task.
And, as we all know, the only time work gets done is when people show up to do it. Thank your City Manager, Lenessa Hawkins, for showing up, making sure the requirements are met and applying for Darlington’s 28th year as a Tree City USA 2025.
Bennettsville
The City of Bennettsville held its 15th year of Arbor Day celebrations on December 19, 2025, at Hodges Park.
Director of Tourism, Parks and Recreation Jaharra Graves and Director of Planning and Zoning Denise Miller spoke about the importance of trees in Bennettsville.
Mayor Abraham read the Arbor Day Proclamation, declaring the day to officially be Arbor Day in Bennettsville. Parks and Recreation employees Jerusha McArthur and Pete Wilkes and SCFC Pee Dee Region Urban Forestry Specialist Ann Huyler planted the Southern Magnolia in celebration.
Also attending was Business Development Director Brittany Jones, Councilman CyHeim McCrae, Grant Coordinator Lisa Jones, Assistant City Administrator Angela Ward and the Sunflower Garden club. Bennettsville’s beautiful visitor center hosted light refreshments for attendees afterward.
Conway
The City of Conway celebrated its Arbor Day on Dec. 16 at Riverfront Park. Mayor Barbara Jo Blain welcomed citizens and visitors, members of city council and city staff before reading the Arbor Day Proclamation.
SCFC Urban Forestry Specialist Ann Huyler talked about the Tree City USA program and about how Conway and their preservation of trees and extensive city landscaping is a leading light to other cities in the Pee Dee Region.
In 2024, the city of Conway pruned 351 trees, removed 64 hazardous trees and planted 735 trees. Some of the trees were planted at the Town Green, Smith Jones Community Center, Kingston St. city parking lot and along Jenkins Field Rd. and Laurel St.
For Arbor Day, a live oak was planted in Riverfront Park in honor of the victims of Hurricane Helene.
Photos by Lois Edwards, retired Urban Forester.
Patrick
The town of Patrick celebrated Arbor Day Dec. 12 at Leander McLain Playground. Mayor Rosa Lee Millsaps Privette and Mrs. Shirley Keefe shared in reading the Arbor Day Proclamation. Patrick Cemetery Chairman Jessie Sellers read a list of the 43 residents who had died in 2025. Patrick Maintenance Guy Hooks and Patrick Cemetery Committee Member Dale Polson planted a dogwood in remembrance of those who passed. Forestry Commission Urban Forestry Specialist Ann Huyler spoke about the town’s achievements to the dozen attendees.
The Town of Patrick, with a population estimated at 286 citizens, has accomplished what no other town of comparable size, and of many towns 20 times its size, has done. Patrick is set to be recognized by the nationwide non-profit organization Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA for 18 years in 2025.
In addition, the Arbor Day Foundation awarded the Town of Patrick the Tree Growth Award for five years in 2024, and the town is well on its way to earning its sixth award for 2025. Patrick is currently in a three-way tie for five years of Tree Growth Awards with the cities of North Augusta, population 26,000, and Conway, population 29,000.
Mayor Privette works hard to improve the lives of the people of Patrick, including implementing grants and attaining awards, knowing that the residents deserve more and should earn more benefits. With Tree City USA status and the Tree Growth Award, Mayor Privette shows every city in South Carolina that the town of Patrick punches well above its weight class.
Photos by Libby Lear, Director Economic Development for Chesterfield County.
