By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Those looking to kick off the spring season by planting new trees will have a chance to do so for free during the city of Alabaster’s Arbor Day celebration in late February.

The city’s Parks and Recreation Department will be giving away dozens of trees for free during the event, which will be held in the maintenance building at Veterans Park off Alabama 119 on Saturday, Feb. 23, rain or shine.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m., and tree distribution will begin at 9 a.m. Because the trees are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, the city is encouraging attendees to get there early.

The city and volunteers from a local Boy Scout troop will distribute 125 free trees in 3- or 5-gallon containers to Alabaster residents and businesses, and will also distribute 200 saplings.

The following trees will be given away at the event:

-20 sugar maples

-20 Flowering dogwood – Cherokee princess

-10 flowering dogwood – pink

-Five flowering dogwood – red

-20 river birch

-20 Jane magnolia

-20 green corkscrew willow

-10 crape myrtles – cherry red