Beautification: A two- way street
Stopping to smell the flowers
By Arlene Marturano marturano@yahoo.com

Columbia Green, a nonprofit citizen organization, is involved in landscaping projects across Columbia like the island with the Gonzales monument at Senate and Sumter Streets.

The greening of a city is a shared enterprise between Columbia's Forestry and Beautification department and its citizens. Whereas city crews are charged with responsibilities of overseeing and safeguarding a healthy tree canopy (over 46,000 trees) and installation and maintenance of gateways and landscape projects on public property, citizens participate in the beautification of Columbia through a number of partnerships.

Columbia Green, a nonprofit organization, raises funds for beautification projects and contributes to planting medi- ans, parks, gateways and public places throughout Columbia. Each May their Festival of Gardens showcases private residential gardens. This year's garden tour on May 15- 17 is in Forest Acres. Columbia Green offers beautification grants to Columbia neighborhood associations to encourage community development through gardening. Volunteer information is available at www.columbiagreen.org.

City forestry crews remove damaged trees and plant new ones on the right- of- way.

The Columbia Tree and Appearance Commission is a group of citizens appointed by City Council to develop ideas for projects to support a city in a forest and implement citizen education through Arbor Day events. The Commission oversees Forever Forest, a foundation accepting donations from individuals and corporations to support Columbia's reforestation efforts. Taxdeductible donations can be made to honor family and friends.

Through tree planting efforts, Columbia has been named a Tree City, U.S.A. annually since 1979. Forestry crews plant and prune trees along right- of- ways throughout the city. A homeowner's guide to selecting trees, City Trees, is available by calling 545- 3860. The Department works with homeowners to help them comply with regulations for planting in the right- of- way.

Homeowners augment city efforts by maintaining their properties and adopting green landscape habits. To paraphrase Lady Bird Johnson: Beautification is contagious and it starts at home. Looking after one's own little piece of real estate, contributes to the City's overall beauty.