SPEAKING FOR THE TREES

The State Tree of Louisiana : Cypress

I'm a tree-hugger and proud of it. I also specialize in Trees and Shrubs at the Garden Center where I work a few days a week in the growing season. So I was quite disturbed to read that the beautiful Cypresses (pictured above ) that are native to the Gulf States such as Florida and Louisiana are endangered because they are being clear-cut for mulch and not a by-product as they once were.

Cypress provide habitat for threatened and endangered species, protect from flooding, clean the water and are important for migratory birds.

These great trees, some of which are a 1,000 years old, are being sold in $2 bags in the big box stores such as Home Depot, Wal-Mart and Lowe's. The Gulf Restoration Network ( Joe @healthygulf.org ) was organized to save the Cypress and they've contacted all the aforementioned stores to stop selling the mulch, but thus far have had no success.

I call on all tree lovers to send an email to www.healthygulf.org to join the list of people that are sending a message to the CEO's of the big box stores to stop selling cypress mulch. Click on the category OUR WORK and select Save the Cypresses. They're trying to collect 5,000 emails.

The Cypress tree has stood for eons in the Louisiana and Florida wetlands and are an integral part of the landscape, hostory, culture and future.

I've alerted the owner of the garden center where I work and have added my email to the CEO's. Won't you join us to save a tree that is a vital part of history ?