The Leaflet — December 2011

Casey Trees News

leaflet

the

December 2011

e t a r b e l Ce

R E T N I W

Standing up for trees Allies attend Councilmember Phil Mendelson’s meeting on the UFA Reorganization Act on Nov. 4.

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In this issue...

2 December Tree Plantings

Casey Trees planting more than 250 trees.

3 Year-End Giving to Casey Trees

CFCNCA enrollment extended to Dec. 31

4 Celebrate Trees in December

Learn how to identify trees in winter.

5 Tree Benefits

How important are D.C.’s trees in winter? Find out.

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Winterize Your Trees Holiday Gift-giving Ideas Citizen Forester Celebration Winter 2012 Class Schedule Kids Corner

D.C. Council to hold public hearing on UFA Reorganization Act of 2011 Allies urged to attend, send committee members letters of support

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n Dec. 7 at 10:30 a.m., Councilmember Mary M. Cheh, chair of the Committee on the Environment, Public Works, and Transportation, will hold a public hearing on the Urban Forest Administration Reorganization Act of 2011 (B19-484). This legislation, introduced by Councilmember Phil

LET’S HEAR FROM YOU! Join Executive Director Mark Buscaino for an online chat to discuss the UFA Reorganization Act and Casey Trees’ recommendations.

Details: Thursday, Dec. 8

12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.

Free.

Pre-register and receive a reminder for the session. Email questions in advance to treedc@caseytrees.org or submit them during the online chat session.

Mendelson, is intended to address shortcomings of the Urban Forest Preservation Act (UFPA) of 2002 that have resulted in the loss of thousands of trees across the District.

Casey Trees has proposed seven recommendations to strengthen the legislation to make the UFPA more effective at protecting and growing the District’s tree canopy.

Modifications include reducing the size limit for trees covered by UFPA from 55 inches to 29 inches in circumference; increasing the removal fee from $35 per caliper inch to $40 per caliper inch to account for tree planting cost increases from the time the UFPA was passed; and creating a division within the District Department of the Environment to monitor, enforce and administer the UFPA and Tree Fund.

D.C.

residents

and

business

owners are encouraged to attend the public hearing to support the recommendations and submit letters of support to the committee’s five members: Mary Cheh, Yvette Alexander, Muriel Bowser, Jim Graham and Tommy Wells. A template support letter and the full list of recommendations is available online.

“Without a strong voice of support from our friends, allies and those who care about their neighborhood trees, the UFPA will continue to languish and D.C.’s tree canopy, once the envy of the world, will continue its slow decline,” Casey Trees Executive Director Mark Buscaino said.

B19-484 public hearing, John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Room 412, Wed, Dec. 7, 10:30 a.m. Advance registration is encouraged; sign up online.

Casey Trees to plant more than 250 trees this winter T

hough the fall Community Tree Planting and RiverSmart Homes Shade Tree programs are coming to a close, Casey Trees will continue to add trees across the city through the American Elm Restoration program and in partnership with Trees for Georgetown.

AMERICAN ELM RESTORATION Through the American Elm Restoration program, Casey Trees will plant 200 American elms beginning in mid-December.

Each winter, the Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) identifies locations for new elms and Casey Trees purchases the trees with their own funds and plants them.

Along with popular disease-tolerant cultivars such as Jefferson and Valley Forge, Casey Trees will also plant hybrid elms.

Since 2003, Casey Trees has planted more than 1,800 disease tolerant cultivars of American elms in historic elm corridors in the District.

TREES FOR GEORGETOWN Just before Thanksgiving, Casey Trees added 24 residential street trees in Georgetown. 28 more trees will be planted in March.

For the last three years, Casey

Trees has partnered with Trees for Georgetown and the Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) to add street trees to the neighborhood.

for Georgetown are educating the public and promoting a new desired specification for street tree boxes,” said Jim Woodworth, Director of Tree Planting “The streetscape in UFA identifies at Casey Trees. potential planting Georgetown is changing to “The streetscape locations and provide trees more space in Georgetown Trees for is changing to G e o r g e t o w n to grow, ample access to provide trees more selects the stormwater and protection space to grow, planting sites and from possible damage and ample access to c o r r e s p o n d i n g litter debris.” stormwater and tree species. protection from possible damage Additionally, Trees for Georgetown and litter debris.” sponsors the purchase and planting of the trees along with custom Casey Trees will water each tree in fencing. the summer and provide structural pruning as necessary the second “Together, Casey Trees and Trees year they are in the ground.

DID YOU KNOW? Data from a new study released by the Center for Chesapeake Communities and Pinchot Institute for Conservation shows how valuable D.C.’s urban forest really is.

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Trees in the Washington, D.C. area remove more than 8.3 million pounds of nitrogen dioxide each year. More than 274,000 cars would need to be taken off the road each year to achieve the same amount of pollutant reduction.

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Based on studies of the costs of pollution to society such as health care, the District’s tree cover saves nearly $51 million each year annually.

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Trees in D.C.’s Rock Creek Park remove 63,500 pounds of ozone-forming pollutants each year, which has a value of $285,000 dollars.

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December 2011 | theleaflet

Year-end gifts can reap tax benefits Year-end is a great time for giving. In addition to the good feeling you will get, knowing you are helping to retree D.C., making a gift by the end of the year benefits you in other ways as well.

GIFT VIA CHECK:

As a 501(c)3 charity, contributions to Casey Trees are deductible as charitable contributions on your Federal Income Tax Return. You receive the tax deduction in the year you actually pay or deliver your gift, so making a gift by this Dec. 31 means that your contribution is deductible this year.

Mail checks to:

As an individual, if you itemize on your tax returns, you are generally able to deduct charitable contributions representing up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income. For most people, that leaves a lot of room for giving!

To make your gift count for 2011, please do the following:

GIFT VIA CREDIT CARD: Make your gift securely online before 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31. Be sure to give yourself time to fill out the online form. You will receive a preliminary receipt that will confirm your gift was made prior to Jan. 1.

NEW STAFF MEMBER Toni Frazier Office Manager

Make sure your gift is dated and postmarked no later than Dec. 31.

Make checks payable to Casey Trees.

tfrazier@caseytrees.org 202.349.1900

A native of the District, Toni joins Casey Trees after years of office management experience at various organizations in the D.C. area. She is a proud parent of two.

Casey Trees c/o Development 3030 12th Street NE Washington, D.C. 20017 lf you work for a company that matches gifts made to charitable organizations, you can double or triple the value of your contribution by following your employer’s matching gift procedures.

Toni is thrilled to join the Casey Trees team and looks forward to learning more about Casey Trees and its programs and outreach initiatives.

Many companies match the gifts of spouses, retirees and surviving spouses of retirees in addition to gifts from current employees.

Please contact your personnel or human resources office for eligibility information and to request a matching gift form.

With your help, we will have the necesary dollars to continue restoring the tree canopy of the nation’s capital.

If you have any questions, please contact Mark DeSantis, Development Associate, by email or at 202.833.9125.

CFCNCA enrollment deadline extended to Dec. 31, 2011 Federal employees have a little longer to designate Casey Trees as the recipient of their workplace giving.

24598

of the National Capital Area

Casey Trees CFC Number.

The Office of Personnel Management has granted the Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area an extension of the campaign to Dec. 31.

Make your pledge online today.

theleaflet | December 2011

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CELEBRATE WINTER Clues make winter tree identification possible M any people give up on winter tree identification but abundant clues abound in leaves, bark, twigs and form. Bundle up, take your time and enjoy!

LEAVES Deciduous — Some species such as oak and beech retain their leaves well into or all through winter. Fallen leaves can also be a great clue but do not assume they come from the closest tree!

Evergreen — If the tree has broad leaves, it is probably a magnolia or holly species. Does the tree have needles? If they are pointed, longer and in bundles of two to five, you are looking at a pine.

If the needles are pointed, shorter Spruce needles and whirled around the stem, it is most likely a spruce. If your needles have blunt tips and are oriented more upward than around the stem, you probably found a fir.

exfoliating bark of river birches and the warty bark of hackberries. The bark on younger cherry trees will be a shiny silver to bronze with lateral stripes caused by lenticels (holes for respiration).

most likely an ash which produces compound leaves.

Then there are the River birch bark trees, such as the native flowering dogwood and the common persimmon that produce blocky alligator-like bark as they mature.

The American elm is a great example of a tree that can be readily identified simply by form.

TWIGS The shape, size and color of the twigs can tell you a lot. A smaller tree with delicate rusty brown twigs in a distinctive zig-zag formation could very well be an eastern redbud. You will see this zig-zag form on elms and plane trees/ sycamores as well.

If you see yellowgreen twigs on a tree during winter, you could be looking at a boxelder. While BARK Eastern redbud visiting Rock Creek Park, you may see a Plane trees and sycamores have a twigs very telling smooth, camoflauge-like large tree with oppositely arranged bark. Do not forget the pinkish-gold branching and stout twigs, this is 4

Horsechestnut twigs are not only chunky, but you will also see one or more, huge brown shiny terminal bud that makes it truly stand out.

FORM

As elms mature, their decurrent growth — meaning they have no distinctive terminal leader — causes the crown to open up and result in what some call a vase-like or v-shaped form.

Hackberries and Japanese zelkovas also share this characteristic.

American elm Look for American elms along Nebraska Avenue and East Capitol Street.

Interested in learning more?

Register for our winter idenftification tree tour on March 10 in Rock Creek Park or read the field guide, Woody Plants in Winter.

December 2011 | theleaflet

Trees continue to provide benefits through winter months WINTERIZE YOUR TREES

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inter officially blows into D.C. on Dec. 21 making it time to prepare your trees for the cold months looming ahead.

Doing so will help to prevent them from falling victim to the cold, dry conditions and winter precipitation.

Follow these five easy steps:

• Inspect for broken branches.

I

t could probably be agreed that individuals appreciate trees the most for the cooling shade they cast in the hot summer months. However, even during the winter, after many tree species have lost their leaves, they continue to provide invaluable benefits to human and animal alike.

WATER RUNOFF MITIGATION

Here are four great reasons to continue giving thanks for our spectacular tree canopy:

AESTHETICS

ENERGY SAVINGS Large-canopy deciduous trees when planted strategically cool our homes and help us save on utility costs.

When they shed their leaves in the fall and winter, sunshine breaks through and warms our homes.

Evergreen trees when planted on the north or west sides of a structure serve as great natural windbreaks.

By intercepting and redirecting cold winter winds, a stand of evergreens can save you from 10 to 20 percent on your heating bills.

theleaflet | December 2011

Evergreen trees capture 22 percent of winter precipitation and deciduous trees capture seven percent of winter precipitation. By temporarily holding rain and snow, less water can collect and flood areas.

Trees reveal their structure in winter. Use this time to enjoy the pop of color evergreens provide and marvel at the difference in cones produced by conifers including cedars, pines, spruces and junipers.

Certain deciduous trees such as the American sycamore and river birch also have distinctive bark that is especially beautiful in the winter.

HABITAT Trees provide birds and animals places to live, eat and hibernate during the winter. Just look up to find squirrel and bird nests nestled in the branches.

This is especially important following snow or ice storms.

Damaged branches should be pruned carefully. View this post from Casey Trees’ blog, Tree Speak, for pruning techniques.

• Assess trees for structural

issues. If your tree has been in the ground for at least three years, you can begin structurally pruning. Make sure there are no competing central leaders or included bark.

Some branches may need to be subordinated to help other, more important branches grow stronger.

• Water your trees once or twice a month if temperatures stay above 40 degrees. Evergreens are especially vulnerable to drying out in winter. Once the ground has frozen, do not water.

• Protect your trees. Use a broom to remove heavy snow or ice that weigh down evergreen branches. Do not sweep leftover salt into tree boxes or storm drains. Sweep it up and dispose of it properly.

• Install

deer damage management practices when appropriate, such as mesh fencing or tall tree guards.

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Holiday gift giving made simple for all • N ot sure what to get your friends and family this holiday season? Lucky for you, Casey Trees is your one-stop shop for this year’s environmentally conscience presents. Here are just a few great gift ideas for the treehugger on your list:

Casey Trees T-Shirt: Our comfy, cozy graphic tees are the perfect present for adults and youth. Go online and get yours today for just $25.

• Live Green Membership: For

just $18 you can get discounts at eco-friendly stores across D.C. Use the referral code “Casey TreesLG” when signing up and Live Green will donate $10 to Casey Trees!

• Tree Dedication: Honor your

friends and family by dedicating a tree to them this holiday season.

Dedications are listed online and the honoree receives an acknowledgement card and site map.

Looking good A McLearn Gardens CTP volunteer sports her new Casey Trees “I dig trees” t-shirt.

Live Green, Casey Trees partner up to save you money

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ooking to save money while helping out in your community this fall? Well you’re in luck! For a limited time Casey Trees is partnering up with Live Green to make eco-friendly living a little more easy, fun, and affordable in the D.C. metro area.

Live Green is a D.C.-based organization that partners with ecofriendly businesses and provides them with exposure to their network of environmentally-conscious members who get exclusive discounts on green products, services, or events.

From now until the end of the year, for every new Live Green membership sold, a donation of $10 will be made to Casey Trees and our tree planting initiatives.

A Live Green membership includes a Live Green discount card that you can use at over 50 participating businesses throughout the D.C. metro area.

• RiverSmart Homes Shade Tree:

Give your friend a treescape consult. A Casey Trees arborist will visit their home, identify planting locations, recommended tree species and return to plant them all for $50 per tree.

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The number of Community Tree Planting applications received for spring 2012 — breaking the previous record by 11.

By going online and typing in the referral code “CaseyTreesLG,” you will join the thousands who already enjoy the discounts and deals offered daily around the city, while helping us add some trees to the District!

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December 2011 | theleaflet

CITIZEN FORESTERS...

YOU’RE INVITED Please join us for the

Citizen Forester Appreciation Celebration recognizing the accomplishments and contributions of Casey Trees’ tremendous 1,200-person strong volunteer corps.

Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Community Tree Planting Franciscan Monastery 1400 Quincy Street NE

12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Celebration Casey Trees Headquarters 3030 12th Street NE

R.s.v.p. by Dec. 7

lball@caseytrees.org or 202.349.1907 One guest per person. Please indicate whether you will attend the planting and/or celebration and your guest’s full name if applicable.

theleaflet | December 2011

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Winter 2012 programs and classes

All programs and classes are free unless otherwise noted. Advance registration is required; space is limited. Light meals or refreshments are provided at most classes. If a class is full and you would like to be placed on a wait list, contact Shawn Walker, Urban Forestry Instructor, at 202.828.4132 or swalker@caseytrees.org. If you signed up but are unable to attend, please contact Shawn so your spot can be given to someone on the wait list. Register here.

Citizen Forester qualifying course.

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

Pruning Workshop

Stand Up for Trees

Barry Stahl, Horticulturist, National Park Service

Casey Trees Staff

Sat., Jan. 14, 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Daingerfield Island Marina Dr. and George Washington Pkwy., Alexandria, Va. Barry Stahl, the man responsible for growing and nurturing the stock of American elms that the National Park Service plants on its lands, will provide tree pruning instruction and the methods that encourage healthy structural development.

Put your new skills to the test during the class’ field component.

Sat., Feb. 4, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Casey Trees Headquarters 3030 12th St. NE Take action and advocate for trees in your community. Learn what tools are available through the District’s municipal services, hear success stories and receive advice from community members who have on-the-ground experience in effectively increasing tree canopy in their neighborhoods.

Trees 201: ID and Selection

What’s Bugging D.C.?: Our Urban Forest Pests Rick Turcotte, Entomologist, U.S. Forest Service Wed., Feb. 8, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Casey Trees Headquarters 3030 12th St. NE Rick Turcotte will provide an overview of the major pests threatening D.C.’s urban forest and discuss the vulnerability of our tree population. Particular attention will be paid to the emerald ash borer (EAB) and the implications of D.C.’s recent EAB quarantine.

Casey Trees Staff

Trees 101 Casey Trees Staff Sat., Jan. 21, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Casey Trees Headquarters 3030 12th St. NE Get to know D.C.’s trees. This course provides a foundation in tree anatomy, identification and an overview of how trees function to provide the benefits we enjoy in the urban forest. A street tree identification walk led by Casey Trees staff will follow.

Sat., Feb. 11, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Casey Trees Headquarters 3030 12th St. NE This course features more in-depth training on tree identification and issues facing D.C.’s trees. Learn a tree’s year-round outstanding characteristics, limitations or tolerances in urban conditions and societal contexts.

NOTE: This course is geared toward Citizen Foresters, CTP Project Organizers and others interested in building tree identification skills and selecting the right tree for the right place.

Forest Gardens Lincoln Smith, Founder, Forester, LLC Wed., Feb. 22, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Casey Trees Headquarters 3030 12th St. NE Learn about an exciting way of producing what people need in healthy ecosystems.

Modeled on a young natural woodland, a forest garden can produce food ranging from herbs, vegetables and greens to flour for bread. Besides food, forest gardens can also produce wood and other fiber for building, crafts and fuel.

MARCH Tree Planting Casey Trees Staff Sat., March 3, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

National Zoo Visitor’s Center 3100 Connecticut Ave. NW Learn to select and prepare a tree planting site, choose appropriate species and properly plant trees to ensure survival. We cover the techniques critical to maintaining urban tree health, including mulching, watering and pruning. After lunch, participants will plant trees to test their new skills.

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Tree Tour — Winter ID: Trees in Transition Melanie Choukas-Bradley, Author of City of Trees Sat., March 10, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Rock Creek Park Join us for a winter walk in the Boundary Bridge area of Rock Creek Park on the Maryland-D.C. border. Observe the many native trees that are easily identifiable in winter — sycamores, river birches, tuliptrees and boxelders — and some head scratchers that put identification skills to the test.

Remarkable Trees of Virginia Jeff Kirwan, Co-author of Remarkable Trees of Virginia Fri., March 23, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Casey Trees Headquarters 3030 12th St. NE Kirwan will mix science, history, literature and beautiful photographs to celebrate some of Virginia’s venerable trees, highlighting those that were living during important events in American history, including the founding of Jamestown, the French and Indian War and the Civil War. December 2011 | theleaflet

Kids Corner

Edible Evergreen Tree Decorations The holidays are a time for sharing, so show some goodwill to our furry and feathery friends and hang — and edible — decorations on the evergreens in your yard.

FRUIT ORNAMENTS 1. Poke three holes in the edges of a hollowed-out fruit such as an orange or grapefruit.

2. Run twine through the holes.

3. Mix 1 suet cake (bird seed cake), 1 to 2 cups of peanut butter and 2-1/2 cups of corn meal together. Add some dried fruit, bird food, nuts and seeds if you want.

4. Put the food mixture into the fruit and place in the freezer to harden.

5. Once hardened, knot the strings at the top and the bottom to secure.

6. Hang on a tree in your yard.

NUT & SEED GARLAND 1. Ask your parents to go with you on a stroll through a wooded area.

2. While on your walk, collect nuts, seeds, legumes and leaves from the trees you pass.

3. Using a drill and a small bit, have your parents drill holes in the seeds and nuts.

4. String everything together and tie a knot to close off the garland.

5. Hang outside near a window.

OTHER IDEAS • Simply slice some fresh fruit to hang for the birds to eat. Oranges, apples, star fruit, and kiwi give a tree a colorful, festive look.

• String some popcorn, berries, dried fruit, nuts or grapes together to form an edible garland. Note: Popcorn strings better after it has had a chance to sit for a day and get soft.

• Using the same food mixture from the fruit ornaments, apply to conifer cones you collect from your yard or a walk around your neighborhood.

• Use the sameHang the ornaments on a tree near a window, and you can watch while the birds enjoy the holiday feast you created for them. theleaflet | December 2011

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