Jackson tree giveaway repairs storm damage

A Jackson garden club is offering free seedlings to residents who may have lost trees in last year's tornado.

The Suburban Garden Club, in existence since the 1950s, has more than 900 tree seedlings to give away to tornado victims.

Kelly Hughes, a member of the club, said she volunteered to find the trees and contacted the Missouri Department of Conservation's George O. White State Forest Nursery, which donated the trees at no cost.

City officials estimate about 1,500 trees were knocked down by the tornado that hit the city on May 6, 2003.

The neighborhoods that lost the most trees are in the area of Woodland and Washington streets.

Violet Colyott's home, which was built in 1907, used to be surrounded by huge trees that insulated her lot from nearby industrial-type businesses. But the tornado wiped out about 15 to 20 of them, including one that fell through the house library.

Now, the lot is strangely bare.

"My grandson said it looks like a haunted house," Colyott said.

The garden club will pay Colyott, also a club member, a visit today for the first planting. Hughes said neighbors may stop by the home at 802 E. Washington if they're interested in picking up a tree.

Hughes said there will also be two chances for tornado victims to pick up trees at Litz Park -- from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from noon to 2 p.m. on May 29.

Julia Davis, Colyott's neighbor, said her family was devastated by the loss of the huge trees on her lot. Now, instead of deep, rich shade in her back and front yards, she has a nice view of the neighboring farmers co-op and city power plant.

"We had a lot of damage to our home and garage, and all that has been fixed or is being fixed," she said. "We're happy with that, and our home looks very nice, but you just can't replace those trees."

Davis said she probably won't take any trees from the garden club. She thinks it's a worthwhile cause, but she's planting bigger trees in her yard.

"We're buying the biggest trees we can buy, but it won't be like it was in our lifetime," she said.

If any of the seedlings are left over, they will be planted in Litz Park, which also suffered losses to the tornado.

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635

Want a tree?

What: Free seedlings for Jackson residents who lost trees in last year's tornado

When/where: Today at 802 E. Washington St. in Jackson; 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Litz Park in Jackson; noon to 2 p.m. on May 29 at Litz Park