Support Us Button Widget

Grow some shade in Columbia, SC 🌳

Join in on the initiative created by Columbia Green.

Shade Lovers COLA-Lead Story Image Crop.png

Different local trees you can plant around Columbia.

Photo by COLAtoday team taken at Gardener’s Outpost.

Fun fact: Did you know that areas with less tree canopy can be 10 degrees hotter?

Columbia Green — a local nonprofit that promotes beautification through gardening, horticulture, education + conservation — is hosting an educational lunch with free food and will distribute tree vouchers for those who wish to receive a shade tree. The event takes place on Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Eau Claire Print Building at 11:30 a.m.

The Beat the Heat initiative offers residents native species trees at no cost to make the city more beautiful + sustainable. Over the next five years, it hopes tfo plant 1,750 new shade trees on private property at no cost to property owners.

Available trees include:

  • Dogwoods
  • Redbuds
  • Sycamores
  • Variety of oaks

Can’t make it to the lunch, but still want a tree? Columbia Green has you covered.

More from COLAtoday
Discover local food influencers shaping the Midlands dining scene. From trending new openings to hidden gems, these accounts showcase must-try dishes, event highlights, and foodie adventures. Whether you’re craving comfort food or something new, these insiders have recommendations for everyone.
Whether you want to be home before Midnight or be out on the town at Midnight, there are several ways to ring in the new year around Columbia.
Riverbanks Zoo’s Wild Lights dazzles with over 60 glowing lanterns of animals, plants, and pollinators. Enjoy nightly snowfall, Santa visits (through Dec. 23), cozy igloo rentals, and more through Sunday, Jan. 12.
Hi Soda Citizens. It’s that time of year again — Spotify Wrapped is out, and so is ours. Ready to see how our year stacked up?
Neighbors and businesses throughout Elmwood, Earlewood, and Cottontown are gathering to host the first Uptown Holiday Hop featuring local art, holiday shopping, an oyster roast, live music, makers markets, and more to foster community on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 4 to 8 p.m.
Sponsored
Nominate your neighborhoods, share your holiday light-seeing traditions, or even brag about your own house if you decorate at level 10. We’re looking for reader recommendations on where the best holiday light displays are in the Midlands.
Columbia’s parking rates will double to $1.50/hour starting Saturday, March 1, with increased fines and a first-hour-free policy for parking decks. The increased revenue will fund system upgrades like kiosks and EV chargers.
Welcome the coming light on this, the shortest, darkest day of the year.
Get festive at these seasonal pop-up bars around town.