Trees for the James River

Through funding by the Virginia Department of Forestry, the James River Association has the unique opportunity to offer exclusive Tree Workshops and free native trees for 50 residents in James City County and Williamsburg.

Workshop Information

Join your local Virginia Cooperative Extension Tree Stewards and the James River Association to learn how to select the right tree for your yard, how to plant a tree, and how to care for your trees. These workshops will be at Freedom Park in Williamsburg. We will be hosting two workshops, March 11, 2017, from 10 am to noon and March 25, 2017, from 10 am to noon. Pre-registration is required.

Free Trees

At the workshop, participants will also select their own tree, which will be delivered in early April. A Tree Steward or James River Association employee will visit your home on either April 1 or April 8 to ensure that it is installed properly and go over maintenance. The list includes the following, but is dependent on availability:

• Ornamental Trees: Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), White Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus), and Eastern Redbud (Cercis Canadensis)
• Tree for narrow space: Red Maple (Acer rubrum), cultivar ‘Armstrong’ or ‘Bowhall’
• Canopy trees: Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica), Willow Oak (Quercus phellos), and Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum)

If your home is part of a Homeowner’s Association, please be familiar with any requirements on species or placement of your tree before coming to the workshop.