

Oten: The two most popular species that people choose are the dogwood and the redbud simply because they are smaller trees, but also because they’re really beautiful in the spring. TA: What are the most popular native trees you’re giving away? It is a tree people like because it’s an early bloomer, and is symmetrical, so in those ways, it’s visually pleasing to many. We had a few people who spoke out in support.

The vast majority of people seem to hate them – not just because they’re invasive, but also because they smell bad, and make messes during storms. Oten: People have a lot of strong feelings about the Bradford pear. TA: What kind of reaction have you seen from people to this program? Our goal is to give away 200 to 250 trees at each event. This year we have four programs, two in the spring and two in the fall: Wake Forest on March 18, Newton on April 22, Sanford on Oct. We ultimately had 500 trees to give away, and we had more events in the fall.
#Beelog nc eason bradford registration#
In less than 24 hours, we had twice as many people registered to participate as we had trees to give away, so we had to put a pause on registration so we could raise more money. At the time we announced the program, we had one event planned in April in Greensboro. The website we set up last year,, had 56,000 views, and we also had traction on social media. The Abstract: What was the response to the program last year? The Abstract spoke to Kelly Oten, assistant professor and Extension specialist of forestry and environmental resources at North Carolina State University, about the program and related plans for the future. NC State Extension launched the effort with the N.C.
#Beelog nc eason bradford free#
In the program, a property owner can receive a free native tree in exchange for cutting down a Bradford pear or other cultivar of the species on their property. The program, known as the “Bradford Pear Bounty,” was launched to raise awareness about the spread of the invasive offspring of the Bradford pear – a type of Pyrus calleryana tree, or the Callery pear – into natural landscapes. A popular program launched last year to raise awareness about the spread of the Bradford pear trees’ invasive offspring into North Carolina’s natural landscapes is returning in 2023 with four new native tree giveaway events around the state.
