DAPHNE, Ala. — Representatives from the Daphne Beautification Committee and Public Works Department will be at Village Point Park Preserve — 27717 Main St. — at 8 a.m. on Saturday to hand out 3,500 free trees in celebration of Alabama’s Arbor Day.

Tree species available will include: red, white, pink and purple crape myrtles; white dogwood; redbud; tulip poplar; river birch; Yoshino cherry; red maple; American hornbeam; hackberry; white fringe; ginkgo; Carolina silver bell; sourwood; hophoinbeam; pinewood; willow oak; bald cyprus; and sweet and Southern magnolias.

“They’re all ornamental and shade trees to make the city beautiful,” Beautification Committee spokesperson Tomasina Werner said.

She said that no fruit trees will be available on Saturday.

As part of its Tree City USA designation, the city of Daphne is required to continue planting trees to retain its certification. According to ArborDay.org, to qualify as a Tree City USA, a city must meet four requirements:

Alabama celebrates the holiday during the last week of February. Some states proclaim Arbor Day festivities as early as January and as late as May. National Arbor Day is observed on the last Friday of April.

Doughnuts, coffee and bottled water will be provided for free, as well as class A fertilizer and mulch for the trees.

Baldwin County master gardeners will be in attendance to assist and provide planting information.

Daphne High’s Future Farmers of America Club helped bag trees in preparation for Saturday’s giveaway.

Girl Scout troop Nos. 8012 and 8278, from Daphne and Fairhope, will be present selling cookies.

An unscheduled tree planting will be held at Daphne Dog Park, on Whispering Pines Road, in conjunction with the city’s Arbor Day celebration.