Gonzales Garden Club Donates Tree to Hometown Cancer Center

In honor of National Arbor Day

  (Gonzales, La.) – The Gonzales Garden Club has been part of the green movement for 54 years. In honor of National Arbor Day each year, club members select a business they feel has enhanced the city’s landscaping for the visual enjoyment and aesthetic improvement of the community. The business is rewarded with the donation of a sizeable tree, in this case a crepe myrtle, complete with a personal tree-side ceremony conducted by the Garden Club membership. In welcoming everyone gathered around the new tree on Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center’s front lawn in Gonzales on Friday, January 20, Club President Janis Poche included in her remarks the thoughtful words, “An ever-changing, enduring gift lives in the beauty of a tree.” City of Gonzales Mayor Barney Arceneaux complimented Mary Bird Perkins for the wonderful work it does and mentioned that the beautiful garden in front of the building has won several awards. “Mary Bird Perkins is already beautiful,” he said. “It is just more beautiful with the addition of this special tree.” Thanking everyone for attending the morning’s special program was Program Manager of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Gonzales, Marian Walsworth. “We are so happy to be in this community. We become more deeply rooted every day. For me, the planting of this tree represents that.” National Arbor Day is the last Friday in April, but many states observe Arbor Day on different dates according to their best tree-planting times. Louisiana’s Arbor Day is the third Friday in January. Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is a regional cancer care organization that has been fighting cancer for more than 40 years. With five centers in Baton Rouge, Covington, Hammond, Houma and Gonzales, its service area encompasses 18 parishes across southeast Louisiana.