Image by Flickr user hampshiregirl

Update December 6:

Live 5 News was there and has a fun little video. One kid said: "they're important 'cause they can give us lots of supplies like paper." Cute.

Check out the video at Live 5 News.

First reporting:

Before you go chop down a Christmas tree, come out to celebrate why trees are so lovely and important to us.

The City of Charleston is holding an Arbor Day event -- complete with the mystery elm tree. Yep the strange tree at 75 Calhoun Street was for Arbor Day [which I had a photo of but my camera ate it].

Here's e-mailed details from the city:

Please join Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr., the Department of Planning, Preservation and Sustainability, and the second grade class of Buist Academy for a celebration of Arbor Day on Friday, December 4, 2009 at 1 PM in front of 75 Calhoun Street. The theme for this year’s Arbor Day celebration is 'One Tree Makes a Difference.'

As part of the Arbor Day celebration, a deciduous Elm tree has been placed in a large planter in front of 75 Calhoun and has been decorated with green ribbons containing messages from the second graders explaining why trees are important to them. 

Note: Arbor Day dates vary from state to state. Technically in South Carolina it's the first day of December.