ALCONA — It’s almost spring and soon the color green will replace the mud and dirt and to help with spring and summer gardners the different conservation districts will conduct their annual tree sales.

The Alcona, Alpena/Montmorency and Presque Isle counties have tree sales with all different deadlines for orders and pick up.

“Our tree sale is our annual event. It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year. The order deadline is April 5,” Alcona Conservation District Manager Janet Reins said.

The pickup time is from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 28 at the Lincoln fairgrounds she said.

Alpena/Montmorency County District Manager Aprille Williamson said the order deadline is March 31. Pickup times are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. April 27 at the Alpena CD Warehouse at the Alpena Airport, and 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. April 28 at the Montmorency County Fairgrounds in Atlanta.

Presque Isle County orders are due April 5. Pick up dates are from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. April 27, and 10:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. April 28.

“We are offering seedlings for conifers and hardwood and we are offering fruit trees, apples, pears, plums, cherries and crab apples,” Reins said. “The fruit trees are sold as bare root trees. They’re approximately four to six feet tall and § inch in diameter at the time of sale.”

She added they will have shrubs, and small fruits and ornamentals.

“For example American plum, highbush cranberry, saskatoon service berry, winterberry holly,” Reins said. “We will also have bare root wildflowers. Some of which are purple coneflower, red and white trillium.”

Williamson said some of the plants they will have are conifers, hardwoods and firs as well.

“Then also we have a big selection of wildlife shrubs and plants. We have ninebark, snowberry, sweet shrub, wisteria and crabapples to name a few,” Williamson said. “We also have a big selection of wildlife shrubs and plants. We also have the bigger fruit trees for sale.”

Presque Isle County will also have conifers, hardwoods and fruit trees. Some of the shrubs they have include butterfly bush, button bush and silky dogwood.

Williamson said all of the nurseries they use for the sale are Michigan growers.

“We work with our forresters to make sure we get things that are native to Michigan,” Williamson said.

She said the money raised helps keeps the conversation district going. Reins said they also try to keep most of their plants native.

“They can select from large variety of trees when we order trees they are trees and plants proven to grow in this area. Things that thrive and survive in northeast Michigan,” Reins said. “They’re suited to the climate and conditions northeast Michigan. We strive to stay away from anything that’s invasive species; try to stay with mostly native species.”

Jordan Spence can be reached via email at jspence@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5687.

For more information on the sales call or go to:

Alcona County: 724-5272, www.alconaconservation.org

Alpena County: 989-356-3596, ext. 101, www.alpenamontcd.org

Presque Isle County: 734-4000, www.piconservation.org