Arbor Day Newsletter: September/October 2023

BOWLING GREEN STRONG PLANTING HOPE IN THE WAKE OF DEVASTATION

LATELY IT FEELS LIKE every time I turn on the news, I see something about increasingly bad weather. Record-setting temperatures, extended drought, serious flooding, more intense hurricanes — it’s happening all around us. Climate change has caused significant changes in our weather patterns, and these extreme conditions are becoming harder and harder for people to handle.

The good news is that trees can help.

In the following pages, you will read two stories about the power of trees in the wake of natural disasters. Restoring what’s lost. Regaining that feeling of home. The act of replanting trees naturally spreads hope and healing to those affected, and it’s an honor for the Arbor Day Foundation to help these cities and towns work to become whole again.

But even more than what they are doing for communities today, those trees are creating a better future for generations to come. They will grow to filter pollutants out of the air, control stormwater to prevent flooding, keep heat islands from forming, reduce homeowner energy use, and so much more. In short, restoring that lost tree canopy will help keep our communities livable in the face of a changing climate.

Now is the time for us to protect our planet, to ensure that we can not only survive but thrive in the years to come. Trees are needed now more than ever. Work like this can’t wait, and members and donors like you make it possible.

Thank you for your passion for trees and ongoing support as we work together to green and strengthen our communities — providing a better tomorrow for everyone.

A Sisterhood of Serving Others

Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority plants 3,000 trees nationwide

“SERVICE TO ALL MANKIND” is one of the founding tenets of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the oldest and largest Black sorority in the United States. Since 1908, its members have established scholarship funds for students, created healthcare programs for those in need, and supported research on diseases like sickle cell anemia. Most recently, they’ve picked up shovels and made their communities greener.

The sorority set a goal to plant 3,000 trees in 2023. And the initiative took off quickly — with more than 2,500 trees planted just halfway through the year.

The Canyon Ridge neighborhood of Greer, South Carolina, now has 30 new trees thanks to this effort. Prior to last spring, a third of the homes in the neighborhood had no trees in their yards. Twelve members of Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Greer chapter gathered on a rainy day in March to plant the trees, which were provided by the Arbor Day Foundation. Local nonprofit TreesUpstate helped oversee the event and teach volunteers.

Between soil conditions and rainy weather, it was a challenging day.

“We have red clay here in South Carolina. Under that clay, there was a level of rocks and shelf. It was extremely difficult to dig those holes,” said Evangeline Costa, community outreach and engagement manager at TreesUpstate.

But the outcome was more than worth it.

“One of the students who was there said to me, ‘This was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. But now that I’ve done it, I’ll always remember this day, and there’s nothing that I can’t do,’” Evangeline said.

Connecting With Nature at Every Turn

Newly completed project improves access to Arbor Day Farm

community,” said Brandon Schuster, vice president of Arbor Day Farm.

Woodland Grove, located northwest of Lied Lodge, is the crowning feature of this project. The grove features a 120-foot-diameter raised wooden deck surrounding a lower inner circle of paved stone. The outer deck is shaped like an apple blossom — a nod to the farm’s fall harvesting tradition — and made from sustainable black locust wood.

WHETHER IT’S A FIELD TRIP or corporate retreat, visitors across the country come to Arbor Day Farm to soak in the sights and sounds of nature. A recently completed project is making it easier than ever to do so.

The Nature Connection Project, a three-year effort completed this past spring, has established several new outdoor experiences directly behind the Lied Lodge hotel and event space. They include a 2.4-mile Conservation Trail loop, which leads guests through fields and forest on the property, including a section that parallels the apple orchard; an illuminated path through the farm’s hazelnut orchard; and two large fire pits.

With the exception of the Conservation Trail loop, all of the features are ADA accessible. And they’re just a short walk away from the lodge, creating greater accessibility for guests of all ages and mobility levels.

“The pandemic nudged us to think differently and create more outdoor meeting spaces for our guests and

“Our goal was to create a natural space amongst the trees that is elegant enough for a wedding, festive enough for a concert, and intimate enough for a group meeting,” Schuster said. The new space can accommodate anywhere from small groups of 20 to weddings with 250 guests.

The Nature Conservancy recently hosted a conference at Arbor Day Farm and held a wine tasting in the Woodland Grove. “Not only did our group enjoy the shaded walk into the trees, one could hear our collective gasp when the grove came into view,” said Ashley Dubriwny with The Nature Conservancy. “We sat at beautifully decorated tables, surrounded by an elevated wooded walkway that encircled us, entwined artistically with the trees that provided our canopy for the afternoon. It was a magical and unexpected experience for all.”

To learn more about the farm’s nature-based mission, visit arbordayfarm.org

RESTORING BOWLING

Helping a community feel like home again

BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY, is a quintessential Tree City USA community. Tree-lined streets and welcoming green spaces greet visitors. Neighborhoods are defined by their lush tree canopies. Western Kentucky University has been a recognized Tree Campus for 12 years running. And people relocate here simply for the natural beauty.

But what happens when a city like this loses its trees? Unfortunately, the residents of Bowling Green found out. In the midnight hours of December 11, 2021, a deadly EF3 tornado touched down and carved a path through the community.

The extent of the devastation revealed itself with the rising sun, and no one could believe what they saw. Power lines were downed, homes were leveled, and lives were lost. It was a heart-wrenching moment.

As the cleanup effort began, people worked to clear debris from not only destroyed buildings but also the nearly 4,000 trees lost in the storm. The beautiful, well-established canopy that had been preserved and maintained for generations was simply gone.

LINING UP, BUMPER TO BUMPER, FOR A NEW TREE

With support from Arbor Day Foundation members and partners, local tree planting organization Operation PRIDE handed out 565 free trees to residents rebuilding their homes and their

community. The giveaways were managed drive-thru style, meaning people didn’t even have to leave their vehicles. Volunteers walked down the line discussing tree species options, handing out planting and care information, and sharing in the excitement of the day. The mayor and other city officials were also on hand to help out with the events.

Everyone was grateful for their new trees, and it seemed each had their own reasons for wanting to replant. Melanie Lawrence, executive director of Operation PRIDE, had the opportunity to connect with many people picking up trees. “Several of them cried,” she said. “Some said they wanted their children to have the memories that they had of playing under trees. There were several others that wanted trees to mask the road noise. Then there were people committed because of the environmental aspect of what trees do for the area. People understood that the trees were more than just trees.”

No matter the motivation, though, these trees are restoring the community’s tree canopy — spreading hope for the future. And according to Melanie, “We’re still getting calls from people who want trees.”

PLANTING A NEW START FOR A SCHOOL

In addition to distributing trees to residents, 70 trees were planted in public spaces throughout Bowling Green. One of the planting locations was

GREEN

Jennings Creek Elementary. The school borders a neighborhood where several students died in the tornado. “We made the commitment to help beautify and stabilize the area by planting trees on the playground,” said Melanie. The greenway behind the school was also replanted. This space offers a safe, shady path for children to get to school.

At the planting, one of the school employees asked if she could have a tree to remember the children who passed away. “She knew all those kids, called them her ‘babies’,” recalled Melanie. “She had no way to get the tree home, so the chairman of our board put the tree in his vehicle along with a bag of mulch. He took it to her home and helped her plant it. And she goes out every day and looks at that tree in remembrance of her babies.”

AND THE TREE PLANTING GOES ON

After multiple tree giveaways and planting efforts, Bowling Green’s tree canopy is well on its way to being reestablished. It may take another four or five years, but as neighborhoods are rebuilt, even more trees will be planted by homeowners looking to restore what they lost — to restore their beloved Tree City. And our dedicated members and supporters are helping to make it possible.

Has your community lost trees in a natural disaster?

If the tree canopy where you live has been affected by fire, hurricane, tornado, or insect damage, you can take action. Reach out to your community forester to discuss options for replacing trees in both public spaces and people’s yards.

KENTUCKY

What Could be More Festive Than Trees?

Florida community weaves tree planting into cultural celebration

FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, the residents of Sunrise, Florida, have come together to celebrate community and diversity at the annual City of Sunrise Cultural Festival. Food, family activities, and live entertainment come together to make the event special. At this past festival, however, the most popular draw was free trees.

The tree canopy throughout Sunrise has suffered in recent years. Hurricanes, tropical storms, and ongoing drought have taken a toll. Many of the trees lost were in people’s yards. So local planting partner Community Greening teamed up with the Arbor Day Foundation and State Farm to distribute 225 trees at the festival to help homeowners replant.

People chose from a mix of native and fruit trees that could offer a broad range of benefits such as improved air quality, lower energy bills, and stormwater management. It was a wonderful opportunity to not only replace a beloved tree but also improve the community overall, as trees on private property are key to a healthy tree canopy in Sunrise.

Community members lined up for trees, and volunteers like State Farm team member Angela Giunta were on hand to help with distribution. “Hopefully the trees distributed today will help bring families closer together, give them something to do as a family, and benefit the environment around them both today and in the long term,” she said.

As people in Sunrise continue to restore their trees, they are also planting a better future for all of us.

A Passion for Trees That Lives On

AN ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION SUPPORTER for more than 35 years, Christine found peace among the trees. And that came as no surprise, as she was raised by an avid tree planting father and a mother who loved birdwatching. In fact, she and her five siblings were all raised with a strong connection to the outdoors.

Three massive heritage trees created a backyard sanctuary in her Seattle home, and forests served as a stress reliever through the years. Park trails and urban gardens were welcome getaways — particularly in the final years of her life.

Christine included the Arbor Day Foundation in her will. And to honor her generosity, a portion of her bequest is being leveraged as a match for gifts from other donors and members — inspiring more people to support tree planting.

Christine knew that she was leaving a lasting legacy, and you can too. To learn more about including the Arbor Day Foundation in your will or exploring how your bequest could be used as a match, contact Erin Mousel at 888-448-7337, ext. 9614, or email giftplanning@arborday.org.

Drew Magsamen, development officer for the Foundation, and Christine’s sister, Anne Rothe, meet to discuss the best way to use Christine’s gift.

TREE BASICS

FALLING LEAVES are a surefire sign that autumn has begun. They can also create headaches for homeowners, between the time spent raking, bagging, and leaf blowing.

But this natural cycle doesn’t have to be a nuisance.

When shredded and spread across a landscape, dead leaves infuse the soil with more than a dozen vital nutrients — making them much more effective than synthetic fertilizers. They also insulate the soil, retain moisture, suppress weeds, and prevent soil compaction.

Tips for Mulching With Leaves

Avoid spreading whole leaves in a thick layer. This will have a negative effect on your soil, blocking out sunlight and trapping water underneath. Small animals like mice or voles might also be attracted to this dense environment.

Instead, shred leaves into small, dime-sized pieces before spreading them on your soil. You can do so by simply running them over with your lawn mower. You can also use the reverse vacuum function on your leaf blower, shredding them in the process.

An increasingly popular — and easy method — is buying an electric leaf mulcher. This can generate large amounts of dust and noise, so ear and face protection are recommended.

Flower beds and vegetable gardens will thrive with a 2-inch layer of shredded leaves. Trees and shrubs require a deeper layer, around 4 inches.

If you don’t have a garden or trees to mulch, you can leave your shredded mixture directly on your lawn. Blend the leaves well into the base of the grass for best results.

Bring the Outdoors In

MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS UNDERSTAND the peaceful feelings of well-being when outside surrounded by the beauty and benefits of trees. Part of that can happen inside your home, too. Find ideas to spruce up your indoor space by checking out our new line of house and patio trees, available in over 10 varieties!

Each tree comes in a decorative pot, allowing for easy display right out of the box. Most importantly, for each one purchased, we’ll plant a tree in a forest of need.

Browse the collection today at arborday.org/houseandpatio

London Planetree

Platanus x acerifolia

THE LONDON PLANETREE is believed to be a cross between the Oriental planetree (Platanus orientalis) and the American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) While the exact details of the tree’s origin have been lost over time, this hybrid became well-known for tolerating the smoke and grime of London.

As a result, it has been widely planted in cities around the world. Its mottled bark is a standout feature — as is its large size and longevity.

LEAVES: Large, 7" long and 10" wide, with slightly toothed edges. They somewhat resemble the leaves of black, sugar, and red maples.

FLOWERS: Small, inconspicuous red blooms that appear in April as the leaves unfurl.

FRUIT: Tightly packed seed balls, approximately 1" in diameter.

BARK: Mottled, with reddish-brown scales that flake to reveal shades of green, white, and creamy yellow.

FORM: 75' to 100' tall with an 80' spread. Pyramidal while young, becoming oval-shaped with maturity.

WILDLIFE VALUE: The London planetree’s seed balls are enjoyed by purple finches, goldfinches, and squirrels.

GROWTH RATE: Medium, with height increases of 13" to 24" per year.

PLANTING: Requires a spacious, sunny area. Adaptable to a variety of soil types, including acidic, alkaline, loamy, moist, sandy, well-drained, wet, and clay. Suitable for hardiness zones 5 to 9.

To purchase or learn more about this tree and others, visit arborday.org/londonplanetree 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!

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