Can you imagine what Santa Margarita would look like if there were no trees? What would it feel like to walk down a treeless F St. on a hot August afternoon? Gallons of ice-cold lemonade couldn't cool you!

    J. Sterling Morton, the Nebraska pioneer credited with founding Arbor Day in 1872, appreciated the value of trees and encouraged widespread participation in tree planting efforts. What if J. Sterling Morton came to visit Santa Margarita today?

    He could see that his spirit lives on at Santa Margarita School. Karen Starke, SMCF board member and Arbor Day program coordinator, reports that each of the 3 - 6 grade classrooms has partnered with a K - 2 “buddy” class to adopt and learn about a Demonstration Forest (DF) tree. Student-led tours will be held on April 7 to showcase what the students have learned. Home school students will enjoy a “tree tea” and plant an incense cedar on April 6. Delegates from each classroom will also help plant a new crabapple (‘Prairie Fire’ - see related story inside) and will become special stewards of the DF.