If you’re looking for a different kind of Valentine’s Day gift this year — one that actually lasts — Wilmington has you covered.
The nonprofit Alliance for Cape Fear Trees is spreading the love by giving away trees, and not just a handful. We’re talking around 1,000 trees, all aimed at rebuilding Wilmington’s tree canopy and getting more greenery back into local neighborhoods.
The giveaway is happening at D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy, right on the Northside of downtown at 813 Nixon Street. It’s a spot that makes sense for an event like this — community-focused and right where added shade and trees can make a real difference.
And these aren’t random saplings. The selection includes a mix of native and well-loved species like live oaks, bald cypress, longleaf pine, sweetbay magnolia, redbud, persimmon, pawpaw, sourwood, and several others — trees that are well-suited for our coastal climate and built to last.
Families and students from Virgo will get first pick starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, February 14. The giveaway then opens up to the general public from 11 a.m. until noon. Nearby organizations like DREAMS of Wilmington, the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern North Carolina, Voyage, and Dorothy B. Johnson Pre-K are also included.
Each household can take home up to two trees, which means a lot of yards — and a lot of future shade — are about to get greener.
So if your idea of romance includes cleaner air, cooler streets, and something you can watch grow for decades, this might be the most meaningful Valentine’s Day gesture around