BUCKHANNON – Spring has come to Buckhannon, and soon that will mean a bloom of purple and white trees.

Create Buckhannon is looking for sponsors to purchase and plant redbud and dogwood trees throughout the community. Group member Buck Edwards said planting these colorful trees is a great way to usher in spring.

“There’s nothing that improves your attitude any better than when things start to grow and things start to bloom in the spring,” Edwards said. “It’s a great time to renews your spirit and get you ready for the summer after a long winter.”

On April 5, Create Buckhannon started planting 10 new trees next to the Public Safety Building.

“This was a great place to put these 10 here in conjunction with Jawbone Park, and it will really make a huge splash of color,” Edwards said.

The city horticulturist Robert Barbor said these tree varieties were a good choice because they’re native to the area and will really flourish.

“These are native trees,” Barbor said. “They’re going to grow well here. They’re flowering, trees and we’re going to have some beautiful pinks, purples and white, so we’ll have some diversity.”

Barbor said the trees being planted are already a couple years old so people can expect to see flowers on them this year.

Edwards said they also planted two trees in the dog park and the goal is to have some set up next to Route 33 and throughout town.

Tree sponsorship is $100 and can be made by calling Mel Stemple at the Upshur County Development Authority office at 304-472-1757, or mail a check to 30 East Main St., Buckhannon, WV 26201.