This year the Leon County Adopt-a-Tree Program is going to give away a Rusty Blackhaw, native of the well-drained, upland woods of southeastern North America, Rusty Blackhaw forms a multiple or (occasionally) single-trunked small tree or large shrub, reaching 25 feet in height with an equal spread. The dark bark is blocky, resembling older Flowering Dogwood bark. Trunks usually grow no thicker than six inches and arch away from the tree, forming a pleasing, vase-shaped crown. Leaves are dark green, three inches long, leathery, and extremely glossy. The tree is covered in springtime with striking five-inch-wide clusters of small, white blooms. These flowers are followed by clusters of dark blue, waxy, one-half-inch-long fruits that are extremely popular with wildlife and will occasionally persist on the plant from September throughout the autumn, if not eaten by wildlife. In fall, Rusty Blackhaw puts on a brilliant display of scarlet red to purple foliage.

If you decide you want a Rusty Blackhaw tree, the County will plant one tree per household. The tree must be placed between your house and the road, so that it will be visible to others.  To let the County know that you want a tree, Leon County Right-of-Way Management Superintendent, Tom Jackson says to follow the instructions from the coupon in the County Link in the Tallahassee Democrat in December. Alternatively, go to the County's web site at www.leoncountyfl.gov and click on Adopt-A-Tree under "Spotlights" to request a tree on-line. Coupons are also available at the Leon County Public Works Center at 2280 Miccosukee Road. If you request a tree you will need to put a wooden stake where you want the tree placed. If there is no stake, the County planting crew will pick a good spot.