Drive along Main Street in Downtown Natchez, and you will quickly see the difference that well-thought-out landscaping makes.

From Martin Luther King Boulevard to Commerce, much of the north side of Main is lined with crape myrtles and hollies, while the south side is not. The contrast is striking. Regardless of the relative beauty of the buildings, the landscaped side of the street always is more inviting. Even a parking lot is made more attractive when surrounded by trees.

During the past year, the Adams County Master Gardeners and the Natchez-Adams County Community Alliance have developed a plan to beautify downtown’s two major east-west streets by planting dozens of crape myrtles and other appropriate trees. As they mature, these new trees will add color, create shade and bring appealing uniformity to the commercial district.

On June 30, the Community Alliance will have a public meeting to discuss the project and make a visual presentation of what it will look like. All are invited to attend.

Studies show that residents and visitors are more likely to frequent an area that is lined with shade trees, and they will stay in the area longer. Especially in a hot climate as we have here, more trees make for a more pleasant atmosphere.

One reason crape myrtles are an excellent choice for downtown is that they are hearty. When planted in cement that holds in the heat and on streets where they are subject to vehicle exhaust, most tree species live only seven to 10 years. Crape myrtles, however, require very little maintenance after the first couple of years and have a lengthy lifespan.

The downtown tree beautification project will unfold over at least a couple of years. To succeed, it will require the financial support of downtown business and property owners and others interested in the beautification of the community.

The Master Gardeners have conducted significant research to select the best trees (which, ultimately, will require approval of the preservation commission), and they have agreed to maintain them for a year after the landscaper’s maintenance obligation ends.

The plan’s first phase calls for about 50 trees to be planted along Main and Franklin streets in empty tree wells and in a few places with small shrubs or inappropriate tree species. The planting will occur this September and October, the best season for it. In succeeding phases, some trees that are less attractive or less healthy will be replaced.

Beautiful and healthy trees, such as the hollies that rim the Eola Hotel, and the young river birches at Britton & Koontz Bank, will be retained. In every block, whether crape myrtle or another species is used, the same trees will be planted on both sides of the street to create a uniform look. Overall, the project will build on the luscious crape myrtle-lined streets of many Natchez residential neighborhoods and thoroughfares. It will also augment the widely praised Natchez Trails Project, which has added more than 160 crape myrtles to the bluff and already is bringing more visitors and residents downtown.

Although the tree wells belong to the City of Natchez, and the city has the prerogative on what to do with them, no city funds will be spent on the project. Tree wells will be sponsored by businesses and individuals at $250 apiece, and all donors will be appropriately recognized. The funding for several tree wells already has been pledged. And Grow Natchez Gardens, the beneficiary of the annual Symphony of Gardens Tour, has committed $5,000 to the project.

The June 30 meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Natchez Visitor Reception Center on Canal Street. Representatives of the Community Alliance, the Master Gardeners and the city will be on hand to discuss the plan as it is currently envisioned and answer questions. Among those who will speak at that meeting are City Planner Bob Nix, who has guided the project on behalf of the city, and Harvey Cotten, chief horticulturalist of the Huntsville (Ala.) Botanical Gardens. Cotten was involved with city’s original downtown tree project in the 1980s and has advised the Master Gardeners on the selection of the trees. Nix has prepared a very illustrative photo presentation that shows the visual impact trees can have on our downtown streets.

The Community Alliance is a consortium of the City of Natchez, Adams County and five non-profit groups that works for the benefit of the area. Particularly active in the tree beautification project along with the Master Gardeners have been Keep Natchez-Adams County Beautiful and the Green Alliance.

If you cannot attend the public meeting, you may contact Elaine Gemmell at egemmell@bellsouth.net for more information.

Bill Furlow is a member of the Natchez-Adams County Community Alliance.