“He who plants a tree plants a hope.”

So wrote the late Massachusetts poet Lucy Larcom – and that’s the quote that Guilford County Soil and Water Conservation District agency officials are using this year to promote the group’s annual tree sale, which is now underway.

Those who order seedlings or other items from the county’s conservation agency will be able to pick them up from Monday, Feb. 17 to Friday, Feb. 21 at the Guilford County Agricultural Center at 3309 Burlington Road in Greensboro.

The sale also includes other nature-promoting items.

Sean Trollinger, the education coordinator for the Soil and Water Conservation District Board said this week that trees are moving fast this year so people should go ahead and get their orders in. The seedlings are priced to move. For instance, hardwoods are just $2 each, and a bundle of white pines will only set you back $7. Other trees are available as well. Order forms can be picked up at the Agricultural Center, or people can call 336-641-2440 to hear available items and prices.

To reserve a tree or trees, people need to fill out the form and mail it in along with payment by Thursday, Feb. 13. The agency is only taking cash and checks so at least you don’t have to worry about running up your credit card debt when you help save the local environment.  

But beware, orders not picked up by February 21 will be sold and no refunds for pre-orders will be given.

Some trees may be available during the sale days for those who don’t preorder but Trollinger said that everyone should order ahead of time to make sure they get what they want rather than “wait till the last minute and get stuck with the leftovers.”

In addition to seedlings, the county is also selling birdfeeders, wood duck boxes and bluebird boxes.

Some popular trees for sale include persimmon trees – which Soil and Water officials say are great for making pudding and great for area wildlife – and wax myrtles, a small evergreen tree that’s often used to create a screen or barrier.

Buyers can also purchase some wildflower seed packets as part of the sale. A $7 pack will cover about 400 square feet of land.