I grew up in North Dakota, not exactly a place known for its trees.  In fact, the joke and the T-shirt that proves it, shows an isolated telephone pole labeled as the "North Dakota State Tree!"  But we had a few, often planted as shelter belts around farmsteads, and I loved them as a kid.  Climbing, making tree houses, bows and arrows, even falling out of one in the seventh grade and breaking my arm in an episode of "Tarzan" gone wrong!  One of the biggest faux pas in my early days as a reporter involved the poem Trees by Joyce Kilmer.  For the record, the name of the poet, Joyce Kilmer, was the author's middle and last name.  Kilmer's first name is ALFRED.  That she, is really a he.  But I didn't realize that at the time I made the gender mistake reference some 38 years ago!

Trees by Joyce Kilmer (1914)

I think that I shall never see

Fall Fund Raiser

The pictures that accompanied the poem in that story were, as I recall, fall pictures from Yakima's  Arboretum - 46 acres of cultivated display gardens, tree collections, and natural areas.  It really is a beautiful oasis.

Coming up on September 10th is the Autumn Bounty, the Arboretum's largest annual fundraising event of the year featuring a garden party-type atmosphere with music, dinner, local beer and wine, and silent auction. 

The timeline for the party starts at 5:30 PM on the Founder's Courtyard with beverages, music, appetizers, and a silent auction featuring garden art, jewelry, plants, and more! 

There's dinner, a dessert dash dancing, and more with all proceeds going to benefit the Arboretum's many plant collections, community events such as Luminaria and Arbor Fest, and educational programs like Nature Day Camp.  Ticket prices - $75 per person are available  HERE.  Attendees must be 21 years or older.

Colleen Adams-Shuppe stopped by KIT this morning to invite the community to attend the party and dance beneath the stars.