Ritzville fifth grade class celebrates Arbor Day by planting trees

The City of Ritzville celebrated another year of being recognized as a Tree City USA on April 24 during the annual Arbor Day event.

The Ritzville fifth grade students joined in the celebration to assist with planting new trees at locations on and around the golf course.

Mayor Linda Kadlec was presented with the Tree City USA plaque by Garth Davis from the Washington State Conservation District.

During the event, the three essay winners from the fifth grade class were announced.

All of the students were asked to write an essay with the topic, My Favorite Tree.

The essay winners were able to pick a plant for their success.

All of the students in the class also received a Ponderosa Pine tree to plant at home in honor of Arbor Day.

My Favorite Tree

By Dakota Killian, First place

The Japanese Cherry Blossom tree is my favorite tree because it reminds me of delicate pink and white rose buds that hang together in a unique canopy shape.

The Japanese Cherry Blossom tree is not only delightful to look at, but is helpful as well. It produces small cherries that are used as a food source for small birds and mammals. Another quality this extraordinary tree has is its size.

Homesguides.sfgate.com states that many Japanese Cherry Blossom trees reach 25 feet. Others can reach 50 feet tall. Every time I see this tree, I am completely amazed by its beauty. Its fragrance is sweet and can fill the room in seconds! I invite you to find this tree, and see its beauty for yourself.

By Collette Nichols, Second place

I have many favorite trees, but my favorite out of all is a Weeping Willow. I like Weeping Willows because of their name. According to softschools.com, Weeping Willows get their name from raindrops falling to the ground from the drooping branches, the raindrops resemble tears.

Also, I think the droopy branches are neat because they hide many different animals such as frogs.

At Porcupine Bay there’s this Weeping Willow on a beach and a lot of frogs hide under it.

Another thing I love about Weeping Willows is their height. One fact from softschools.com is that they can grow to be the height of 70 feet tall. But most grow to be as tall as 35-50 feet in height.

Last of all, I enjoy sitting under it and reading a book with my dog, Gabriel. That’s why Weeping Willows are my favorite tree.

By Kylie De Meurers, Third place

My favorite tree is a cherry tree. I used to pick cherries off the tree with my friends and family. My dad put a swing on my tree and my friends and I would always play and jump on the tree swing.

My cousin and I would climb up my tree with a rope and listen to music.

My tree is located in my grandma’s old yard in Kelso. According to homeguides.SFgate.com, a cherry tree can grow about 30 feet tall. I like this tree so much because it was nice to climb up it and look out and see everything.