BOWDEN - Some spruce trees at the southern end of the Bowden Cemetery don't appear to have made it through the winter.
Coun. Wayne Milaney, a member of the Bowden and District Cemetery Association (BDCA), made that announcement during a council meeting.
"We're not exactly sure why, but we don't want it to happen again," he said.
"No, it costs us too much money," said Coun. Sandy Gamble, a fellow member of the association. "They weren't watered in, we don't think — well."
Acting chief administrative officer Jacqui Molyneux wasn't so sure about that.
"The boys were out there watering," she said.
"They kind of look like the pine beetles got 'em but I hope to hell we don't have pine beetles in Bowden," Milaney said during an interview with the Albertan.
He said while half the needles are green, the remainder are brown.
Molyneux wondered if the February cold snap killed the trees.
"I'm not sure if it's disease or just a harsh winter," Milaney said. "I've got no idea. I think it's a harsh winter."
He said the association plans to ask an arborist (tree specialist) to come out to examine the trees and determine the cause.
This isn't the first time trees in the cemetery have suffered.
"Last time we planted them the deer got 'em," Milaney said. "The deer ate all the needles off and so we replanted them last year.
"We planted them late in the fall and maybe the winter was just too severe. I just think the root system didn't get a chance to develop before the 40 below weather hit."
Milaney predicted BDCA chair Shirley Adams will address council soon to give an update of the group's activities and concerns as well as to lay out its priorities for the coming months.
"We're putting together a bunch of projects," he said, noting the group anticipates once again having inmates from the Bowden Institution on hand to help with cemetery improvements this summer.
Milaney said the association appreciates the support and assistance it receives each year from the town's public works staff and is looking forward to working with them again this year.
