At this time, it seems especially appropriate to address the topic of how Prairie Pines is currently and will continue to aid in providing and researching tree diversity in Nebraska. After all, Walt and Virginia Bagley always had trees in mind when they settled Prairie Pines. They started the first Christmas tree farm in the state where people could pick out their trees and have them freshly cut for holiday decorating. Walt was a charter member of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. With assistance from State Senator Jerome Warner and Glenn Johnson of the Lower Platte South NRD, Bagleys established the first conservation easement in Nebraska.

Wachiska’s January 9th speaker is amply qualified to address Prairie Pines’ trees. Justin Evertson will discuss the tree diversity initiatives of the Nebraska Forest Service and the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, including the role of Prairie Pines’ test plots. In these plots, about 70 unique types of regionally native but uncommon trees and shrubs have been lined out for trial and seed block establishment since 2014.

Justin Evertson is a favorite presenter to Wachiska Audubon. He has been assisting communities across Nebraska with sustainable landscape development since 1990. He is passionate about trees and the native landscape and practices what he preaches by helping in the planting and care of several community landscapes in Waverly where he lives.

Join Wachiska on Thursday, January 9, at 7:00 p.m. at Lincoln’s Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street, for this free, public, in-person talk which will also be live-streamed on YouTube at

https://youtube.com/live/vVsa0sas-tk?feature=share

No registration is needed. This program can also be viewed at a later time. Check Wachiska’s website for links to past programs.