Arbor Day Newsletter September/October 2021

S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 2 1 • A R B O R D AY. O R G

Black Tupelo Nyssa sylvatica

Called “one of the best and most consistent native trees for fall color” by horticulture expert Michael Dirr, the black tupelo — also known as the black gum — is a terrific landscaping choice. This tree is one of the first to turn at the start of autumn. Displaying vibrant hues of yellow, orange, bright red, and purple, passersby are sure to stop and admire its breathtaking beauty.

LEAVES: Dark green and waxy, 3-6

inches long and half as wide, with a smooth margin and tapered at both ends. Noted for fall coloration that is often bright scarlet, but sometimes brilliant yellow or orange.

FLOWERS: Small, white, and easily

missed as leaves unfurl in the spring.

FRUIT: oval berries grow to be

BARK: Dark gray or black in thick, blocky ridges resembling alligator hide.

FORM: Pyramid-shaped while

young, becoming more rounded with age. Horizontal limbs give off a layered appearance. About 30–50 feet tall at maturity with a 20–30 foot spread.

WIDLIFE VALUE: The tree’s bluishblack berries attract birds and small mammals and remain on the tree long into winter.

PLANTING: Prefers full sun or

partial shade and deep, moist, acidic soil (pH of six or lower). Tolerates a wide range of soil textures and drought conditions. Suitable for hardiness zones 4–9.

a half-inch long and mature to a shade of dark blue in autumn. Often grow in clusters of two or three.

To purchase or learn more about this tree or others, visit arborday.org/tupelo or scan this QR code. An official publication of

.

We guarantee delivery of healthy trees to our members. Please check ordering deadlines and shipping dates at arborday.org/shipping. If you need to contact us about your trees, call 888-448-7337, email us at info@arborday.org, or drop us a note at Member Services, Arbor Day Foundation, 211 N. 12th St., Lincoln, NE 68508. We want your tree planting efforts to be successful!

© 2021 Arbor Day Foundation. The Foundation sometimes exchanges mailing lists with selected organizations with offers of interest to our members. If you do not want your name included, just write, email, or call Member Services and tell us not to exchange your name.

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COMMUNITY TREE RECOVERY Hope and healing in the wake of natural disasters throughout the world

TREE BASICS

ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION CHIEF EXECUTIVE,

Matt Harris

FROM THE LIBRARY OF

I AM EXCITED TO REPORT some wonderful news. Four years ago, the Arbor Day Foundation set some lofty goals to plant 100 million trees and inspire 5 million tree planters by April, 2022, the 150th Anniversary of the first Arbor Day. The two unprecedented goals we initially set through our Time for Trees initiative have been met … one year early! Since the launch of this effort, we have inspired tree planters and planted trees around the globe at a scale we didn’t know was possible. Until now. More than 100 million trees have been planted throughout the world for so many reasons, including helping to restore forests devastated by wildfire in California, reestablish tree cover in areas of Florida hit by damaging hurricanes, improve critical wildlife habitat in Australia, and reestablish native forestland in Germany decimated by the bark beetle – just a few examples among hundreds of vital projects. In addition to this, more than 5 million new tree planters have been inspired to make their own mark on our planet and leave their own green legacy. They are planting trees in their yards and neighborhoods, with their grandchildren, in honor of loved ones, and — most importantly — as a promise to tomorrow. I share this as not the Foundation’s success, but as our collective success. This incredible impact would never have been possible without the dedication of our planting partners, corporate supporters, and you…our loyal members. Each of you is an important part of this success, and I hope you join me in celebrating. While the need for trees continues — and our work is far from over — we have shown what we can do together. This is the kind of momentum that can lead to greater change and a greener future for all of us. Thank you, once again, for being part of this great undertaking.

THE TIME FOR TREES INITIATIVE Reaching goals and building an understanding of the importance of trees THE ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION has successfully met its initial goals for the Time for Trees initiative — one year ahead of schedule. We are proud to have planted 100 million trees and inspired 5 million tree planters. More than that, we’re excited for the impact these trees will have on the Earth. After all, a greener world is a better world. In addition to planting trees and inspiring others to do the same, time was also spent helping people understand the tremendous benefits trees provide — cleaner air, healthy drinking water, cooler urban spaces, carbon sequestration, community wellness, and so much more. They truly provide the necessities of life. But our work is far from over. These goals are an important step on a journey to use trees as part of the solution to many issues we face on a global scale. And we’re excited to have the opportunity to share in this work with our dedicated partners and supporters.

Thank You to the Evergreen Alliance To help spread the message of the importance of trees — and to help further our work through the Time for Trees initiative — 18 organizations stepped up to join the Evergreen Alliance. This group worked tirelessly to communicate why we need trees now more than ever and how they can solve many of the global issues we face. Included in this dedicated alliance are: Bank of America, Bass Pro Shops, CHEP and Brambles, Church & Dwight, Exelon, FedEx, The Hershey Company, International Paper, Marriott International, Mary Kay, Oncor, Procter & Gamble, PwC, Target, TD Bank, UPS, Verizon, and Wyndham Destinations.

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On the cover: One family in Oaxaca, Mexico, is ready to plant the new trees they received through Community Tree Recovery. These native selections were specifically chosen to survive in the area’s changing climate.

Tree City USA Bulletin

Saving Trees From Subtle Death Due to Construction

The July/August edition further explains steps you can take during the construction process to help preserve your trees … as well as which trees will adapt best to this kind of change.

WHILE MOST PEOPLE wouldn’t intentionally harm their trees, landscape green spaces can ultimately pay the price for residential construction projects. It may be a new house planned on a single lot or, more often, an improvement project of some kind where trees have long been part of the landscape. In most cases, the damage to trees is as subtle as it is unintentional, and tree health declines slowly.

TO DOWNLOAD A PDF OF THE BULLETIN, PLEASE VISIT

arborday.org/bulletins

That’s why it’s so critical to take steps to keep trees safe and healthy through the construction process.

Save Your Trees from Subtle Death

Vulnerability to Construction Impacts

July/August 2021 • Editor: Dr. James R. Fazio

Some species of trees can withstand environmental change better than can others. Construction often changes a tree’s environment, so it can be helpful to consider how adaptable a tree will be to some of the impacts that result from construction activities. Below is a chart from Colorado State University showing adaptability by species. To view a more extensive list, please visit the supplemental resources for this bulletin at arborday.org/bulletins.

PLAN NOW TO PREVENT PROBLEMS LATER

Four basic steps can help you save your trees from a subtle death by construction. 1. Map Your Trees: Before any work begins, sketch out the location of trees on your property relative to the project.

DEGREE OF ADAPTABILITY TO CHANGE

American elm Common hackberry Cottonwoods Ginkgo Green ash

2. Make Objective Decisions: Outline which trees should stay, which can or should be removed, and which ones need some work. It is best to get the advice of a certified arborist during this step.

HIGH Honeylocust London planetree Siberian elm Silver maple White ash Willows

MODERATE

LOW

Aspen Black walnut Boxelder Bur oak Linden Norway maple Pines White oak

Bolleana white poplar Black locust Colorado blue spruce English oak Lombardy poplar Northern red oak Norway spruce

The northern red oak that graces this lawn is an example of a species with low tolerance to environmental change from construction.

3. Add to Your Map: For those trees to be saved, add circles on your map delineating each tree’s dripline zone and root zone. Avoid these areas when determining the locations for trucks to enter and exit, any onsite parking, and storage for excavated soil and/or building materials.

FOR MORE INFORMATION For direct links to more information about saving trees during construction, please visit arborday.org/bulletins.

Tree City USA Bulletin © 2021 Arbor Day Foundation. Published by the Arbor Day Foundation; James R. Fazio, editor; Karina Helm, graphic designer. PHOTOS COURTESY: John Hartman, University of Kentucky (Page 5). TECHNICAL REVIEWER FOR THIS ISSUE: Michael Beaudoin, Idaho Community Forestry Program Manager, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Published for the Friends of Tree City USA by

211 N. 12th Street | Lincoln, NE 68508

4. Discuss With Contractors: Have a candid discussion with any contractors you are considering for the project. They will know you have given your trees careful thought and are serious about preventing injury to them.

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andscape trees are a beloved part of most homes, institutions, and even some businesses. No one would intentionally inflict harm on these beautiful and beneficial attributes to the property. But harm comes in many ways, especially if trees are forgotten when building or landscaping projects come along. Many years ago we asked arborists and urban foresters in locations throughout the country to tell us what they found that results in the most premature deaths of urban trees. Almost unanimously the finger of infamy pointed to construction damage. This probably has not changed over the years, and the sad part is that it is preventable. The challenge to saving trees during construction can be divided into two categories. One is large-scale construction. For example, when a new housing development is slated, the land is often stripped of its vegetation (and even its top soil), and the site is cleared for work to begin on utilities, streets,

Trees deserve respect and special care during construction projects of all kinds around homes, businesses, and on institutional property such as college campuses or government buildings.

and buildings. Some say, tongue-in-cheek, this is the nuclear option! There are better ways, and this will be the topic of a future Tree City USA Bulletin. The other category is what happens around individual residences, on campuses, or next to businesses. It may be a new house planned on a single lot or, more often, an improvement project of some kind where trees have long been part of the landscape. In most cases, the damage to trees is as subtle as it is unintentional, and tree health declines slowly. In the following pages, suggestions are offered that show ways to do improvement work while at the same time keeping trees safe and healthy.

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211 N. 12th Street | Lincoln, NE 68508

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A new look for arbordayfarm.org

@arborday.org

A RB OR DAY J OU RNA L

WITH ALL THE CHANGES at Arbor Day Farm, now seemed like the right time to make some changes to the property’s online presence as well. Now you can find out more about the many ways you can connect with nature at the farm while also getting a glimpse of the beauty our guests experience every day. Once at arbordayfarm.org, you can virtually explore the Tree Adventure, Lied Lodge, Arbor Lodge State Historical Park, and all the fun and outdoor adventure that can be found across the property. This website is a beautiful reflection of the amazing legacy you have helped to build.

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Trees for Healthcare Workers in Central Missouri HEALTHCARE WORKERS BECAME NATIONAL HEROES during the pandemic. While most of us were social distancing and staying safe inside, they continued providing essential medical care to vulnerable Americans despite an enormous physical and mental toll. The Missouri Department of Conservation wanted to find a way to say “thank you” to these brave men and women — and found an answer through trees. Last March, the Department of Conservation partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation and the Missouri Community Forestry Council to offer a free tree to those working in long-term care facilities in Central Missouri. The event was hosted through Community Canopy, the Foundation’s online tree distribution service. “There are 170 long-term care facilities in the area I work in, employing about 5,400 staff in towns both large and small. I was honored to be able to reach

Nebraska City, Nebraska

FOR RESERVATIONS TO STAY AT LIED LODGE: arbordaryfarm.org • 800-546-5433 Long-term care staff in Columbia, Missouri, celebrating their free tree with Missouri Department of Conservation Community Forester, Ann Koenig.

out to express our gratitude for their monumental service during the pandemic,” said Ann Koenig, community forester at the Missouri Department of Conservation. A total of 220 trees were reserved by healthcare workers and mailed directly to their homes — a symbol of thanks and of hope for better days ahead. Once planted, they will grow to clean air and water, reduce energy bills, increase home values, and improve each community as a whole. Bettering towns and cities like those in Central Missouri is what the Community Canopy program is all about. The Arbor Day Foundation has worked with hundreds of organizations across the country to provide trees at no cost to local residents or employees. We were grateful for this opportunity to spread appreciation and hope, and we look forward to hosting many more tree distributions to come.

A Legacy of Giving: Dr. Gloria Fischer GIVING BACK HAS always been a big part of Gloria Fischer’s life. During her career as a psychology professor, she funded an endowed scholarship at her alma mater, Purdue University; contributed to the preservation of historical artifacts at Mount Vernon Estate; and funded educational opportunities for young women in developing countries. Now retired and living in Pullman, Washington, Gloria has discovered a new cause she’s passionate about — helping the environment. Gloria’s first gift to the Arbor Day Foundation was a 2019 tree planting in two low-income and low-tree-canopy neighborhoods in Vancouver, Washington. During the event, 150 volunteers helped plant 156 trees. In 2021, Gloria decided she wanted to give back to her hometown of Indianapolis. The Arbor Day Foundation

teamed up with local organizations to organize a tree distribution in seven historically underserved neighborhoods across the southern part of the city. During four events, 1,250 trees were distributed to families taking part in a free lunch program through community recreation centers. In the future, Gloria has plans to help areas in Washington devastated by wildfire. She hopes to prevent secondary impacts of fire damage such as soil erosion, mudslides, water contamination, and loss of animal habitat. We’re so grateful for donors like Gloria, who direct their gifts toward causes and locations meaningful to them. Her work will last for generations, leaving an enduring impact on our planet.

LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR OPTIONS To receive information about how you can make a planned gift to the Arbor Day Foundation to support tree planting, please call Chloé Sweet at 888-448-7337, ext. 9612, or email giftplanning@arborday.org.

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Arbor Lodge State Historical Park, located on our Arbor Day Farm property, features six trees so large they have earned statewide recognition.

Arbor Day Farm’s Champion Trees ALL TREES ARE WORTH ADMIRING — but some are so tall and impressive, they truly stand out from the rest. In official record-keeping terms, these are known as “champion trees.” To earn champion status on a state or national level, trees must meet a set of measurement criteria that factors in their diameter, height, and spread of their crown. General Sherman, located in California’s Sequoia National Park, is the biggest champion tree in the United States — clocking in at a jaw-dropping 275 feet tall. While not quite as large and infamous, there are hundreds of other champion trees across the country to appreciate. On our Nebraska City property, Arbor Day Farm, we’re proud to care for six state champion trees. They include a douglas fir, red maple, Japanese pagoda, sweetgum, walnut, and tuliptree. All six champion trees can be found in Arbor Lodge State Historical Park near Arbor Lodge. They’re stunningly

tall, with the tallest, the black walnut, measuring 101 feet high. Their spread is equally mesmerizing. Some stretch up to 100 feet across, enveloping the sky in a stunning display of leaves and branches. In addition to their grand stature, many of these champion trees are well over 100 years old. They were planted in the late 1800s by the Morton family, who had a strong interest in cultivating rare varieties across the property. Preserving history is a fundamental part of our mission at Arbor Day Farm. When visitors admire these trees, they feel a deep connection to the people that planted them all those years ago, even though they’ll never meet. They see the fruits of environmental stewardship in action and return home inspired to carry on that important work. The next time you visit Arbor Day Farm, come stroll around Arbor Lodge and see if you can spot these record-setting trees up close.

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EXPANDING THE REACH OF COMMUNITY TREE RECOVERY The Healing Power of Trees Can Be Felt Around The World

SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2005, the Arbor Day Foundation’s Community Tree Recovery program has been helping communities restore their tree canopy in the wake of wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, and more. The more than 5.3 million trees planted and distributed to homeowners speaks volumes. After a major disaster, people want their trees back. They see the budding leaves and new growth as a sign of hope…a beacon of light for a greener tomorrow. This work is more important than ever, as natural disasters continue to escalate across the U.S. But the need expands far beyond America’s borders. That’s why loyal Foundation members and supporters are stepping up to help expand the Community Tree Recovery program into other parts of the world. Because of this ongoing dedication, people around the globe facing the devastation of natural disasters have the opportunity to restore their tree canopyies. To feel that hope. To plant a better future. “It is a humbling opportunity to grow this program and expand the impact we can have on communities throughout the world,” said Lachel Bradley-Williams, events manager for the Arbor Day Foundation. “The difference we are making together is real, and it is changing lives.”

drought and excess rain, leaving the impoverished farming families who live there with nothing. Farms have washed away, sources of income have been lost, and people are homeless. In conjunction with Food 4 Farmers, the Arbor Day Foundation provided 950 trees to aid in recovery. The community’s farmers are planting the trees to not only restore the canopy but also improve soil health, reduce food insecurity, and support the pollinators critical to this farming community. In addition, many of the farmers will be able to return to shade-grown coffee production as a more stable source of income.

Jinotega, Nicaragua

"IT IS A HUMBLING OPPORTUNITY TO GROW THIS PROGRAM AND EXPAND THE IMPACT WE CAN HAVE ON COMMUNITIES

Nicaragua has been faced with the same challenges as Guatemala: hurricanes Eta and Iota followed by severe drought and excessive rainfall. The community of Jinotega, home to many shadegrown coffee farmers, lost its tree cover along with the precious topsoil necessary for farming.

AROUND THE WORLD."

The Foundation once again partnered with Food 4 Farmers to distribute 4,600 trees in an effort to restore canopy cover. These trees will grow to restore the native canopy, shade coffee, prevent soil erosion, support cleaner water, and

– Lachel Bradley-Williams, Arbor Day Foundation events manager

Adelaide, Australia From late 2019 to early 2020, 48 bushfires burned their way through South Australia. One of the fires — the Cudlee Creek Fire — ravaged 25,000 hectares of land that included a number of towns. In addition to bushland and farmland, the fire wiped out 95 homes.

(Mexico) Abundio Ruíz is helping to drive change through trees in the community of Chepeginio, Mexico. “We have planted several hundred trees, constructed 25 soil conservation barriers, and a few gabion walls in the primary school plot. Our community has changed a lot.”

The Foundation partnered with an Australia-based organization, Trees for Life, to assess the need and facilitate tree planting when the time was right. A total of 2,500 native trees were planted in June and July of this year to help restore community tree canopies and reestablish important habitat for a wide range of wildlife, including koala bears.

Santa Avelina, Guatemala Santa Avelina is a community in crisis. Two hurricanes in 2020 were followed by an intermittent pattern of severe

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(Guatemala) More young people and women are joining Maya Ixil's beekeeping program, to find new sources of income from selling honey, and improve nutritious for their families. Without a healthy and diverse agroforestry system, pollinators can't survive. They're key to healthier people, farms, ecosystems, and rural economies. add food crops for families living on less than $1.00 per day per person — an amount well below the international poverty line.

Oaxaca and Chiapas, Mexico The excessive heat and constant drought experienced throughout Oaxaca and Chiapas in 2020 deepened the poverty of already-struggling farming communities in the area. Deforested and degraded hillsides have become even more difficult to farm in the ongoing conditions, and a restored tree canopy is critical for change. The Arbor Day Foundation worked with local partner Plant with Purpose to provide 15,000 drought-resistant trees to restore forest cover in Oaxaca and Chiapas. Community members are planting these trees in their own lands as well as in the surrounding hillsides that are communally managed. A mix of fruit trees and native pine will provide a source of food and income while improving forest cover and soil health. These efforts are helping farmers improve their degraded land and create a better future for their families.

A Broader Reach, a Broader Impact Your support has helped to expand not only the Community Tree Recovery program but also the benefits of trees to people around the globe facing the devastation of natural disasters. This kind of replanting work provides so much more than trees, and we’re proud to be able to do it together.

(Nicaragua): Coffee farmers are establishing home gardens on and around their coffee farms. This project will add trees to restore the native canopy, shade coffee, provide greater soil and water security, prevent erosion due to climate catastrophes, and add food crops for families living on less than $1.00 per day per person.

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