SIMI CLUB LETS TREE TAKE ROOT; SEQUOIA PARK SITE OF PRE-ARBOR DAY EVENT.

Byline: John Huddy Daily News Staff Writer

In an early observance of Arbor Day, the Busy Hands Garden Club of Simi Valley was on hand to plant a tree at Sequoia Park on Friday, just in time for today's celebration.

The saturated ground provided ideal planting conditions. A hole was dug, the tree planted and smiles lit up the faces of group members.

``I think it's wonderful to plant trees and take care of the environment and the community,'' said DeeDee Turechek, a garden club member.

The tree, a Lagerstroemia indica, or crape myrtle, is native to China, and might grow taller than 30 feet. The crape myrtle is the fourth tree the garden club has planted in Sequoia Park.

The tree will sprout pink flowers just in time for the summer, club members said.

``Today was a good time to plant,'' said Eugene Molnar, a Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District grounds supervisor. ``The tree roots will get into the ground early, giving it time to establish itself.''

Founded in 1965, the Busy Hands Garden Club has 40 members who work in collaboration with the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District in providing greening and beautification projects around the Simi Valley area.

``This is a great example where club groups work with the city on special projects,'' said Rick Johnson, public information coordinator for the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District.

The garden club has planted trees and flowers at almost every park in Simi Valley, and other outdoor facilities such as the Simi Equestrian Center, the Simi Hills Golf Course and the Simi Valley Library.

Arbor Day was first observed in 1872, conceived by former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture J. Sterling Morton. It was created to increase awareness of the importance of trees in urban areas and to promote and improve the practice of urban tree planting, care and protection.