THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER FOR UP WITH TREES - FALL 2015
GREEN LEAF GALA DREAMS FOR A GREENER TULSA
On Oct. 9, Up With Trees invited patrons to Dream for a Greener Tulsa for the sixth annual Green Leaf Gala. The whimsical black tie affair, brought together Tulsans interested in becoming a part of the dream and vision of a greener Tulsa - focusing specifically on the creation of an Urban Forest Master Plan for the greater Tulsa area. Patrons were entertained from the moment they arrived with Perpetual Motion Dance Company’s dancers flowing throughout the crowd, “Bourbon, Bubbles & Bling,” provided an opportunity for donors to win a beautiful jade and diamond ring generously donated by Israel Diamond, an exciting live auction included an opportunity to dine at Polo Grill with Mayor Bartlett, and a performance by the live band, Lost Wax, inspired
everyone to get on their feet and dance the night away. Thanks to the hard work of our Gala Chairwoman Terrie Shipley, Honorary Chair Cassie Reese, Patron Chair Reed Jules Oppenheimer Foundation, and the Gala Committee, the night was a huge success. Inviting new faces to the Up With Trees family, we partnered for a common goal to leave a legacy for the Tulsa community that will last for generations. The money raised at the Green Leaf Gala advances Up With Trees’ vision to provide Tulsa County with cleaner air, improved water quality, an overall healthier community, and a place for families to grow and enjoy the rich natural environment surrounding them. The Green Leaf Gala was truly a spectacular night!
SAVE THE DATE
Green Leaf Gala, Friday October 7, 2016
IN THIS ISSUE CRYSTAL BRIDGES TREE TRIP
TULSA HOUSING AUTHORITY COLLABORATION
L.A.N.D. FORUM
WELCOME
FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - STEVE GRANTHAM
I love fall for many reasons. The changing colors of the leaves. The cooler weather. football, and possibly most importantly for Up With Trees, fall marks the beginning of our planting season. We turn in our weed-eaters and mowers for shovels and pick axes and head out to change the Oklahoma landscape nearly every day for the next six months. I am especially excited for the coming planting season because of all of the incredible projects that we have lined up. From planting 98 trees at Parkview Terrace through a partnership with the Tulsa Housing Authority and a local donor, to kicking off a ma jor planting project to redo the I-44 corridor. And finally, we are officially in the early stages of drafting an Urban Forest Master Plan that will envision what Tulsa will be and look like in the next twenty years and beyond. So many good things for Up With Trees and an excellent beginning to the fall season. As always, we simply could not do these things without people like you. Thank you for your support, your time and your generosity. Happy Planting!
Sid Patterson
Founder (1921 - 2012)
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Michael Patton
Bob Jack
Laura Parrott
President
Vice President
2nd Vice President
Joe Howell
Jeffrey Case
Shane Fernandez
Secretary
Bill Ainsworth Nick Doctor Chris Hodges Terrell Hoagland
Treasurer
Joy McGill Tim Nall E.J. Oppenheimer Nathan Pickard
Past President
Cassie Reese Joe Roberts Susan Scott April Stuart
Board Interns: Anne Brockman and Chris Carter
Vanessa Thompson Ron Walker Tom Wallce Paul Woodul
CRYSTAL BRIDGES TREE TRIP On Saturday, September 12th, Up With Trees hosted a trip to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas for its first Tree Trip. The day began with a tour of the museum’s art collections - exploring magnificent works of art from the past and present. Then, taking full advantage of a beautiful fall day, we went on a private tour along lush tree lined trails, learning about the many unique features of the architecture and landscape to which Crystal Bridges is home. Being surrounded by inspiring art, innovative architecture, vibrant nature, and our community friends, it was an incredible trip making us all the more excited for the many Tree Trips to come. Join us in September 2016 for our Tree Trip to Dallas Arboretum & Fort Worth Arboretum! Stay tuned to our website for details.
"To plant trees is to give body and life to one's dreams of a better world." -Russell Page
Through intercepting runo, tree roots can reduce pollution in water sources by up to 80%. #treesmeancleanwater
CURRENT TULSA HOUSING AUTHORITY COLLABORATION
The residents of Parkview Terrace Apartments and Sandy Park Apartments will soon look out their windows to a landscape of newly planted trees in their community. The Tulsa Housing Authority and Up With Trees are partnering to provide these communities with a natural resource that will make an everlasting positive impact. “We are thrilled to work with the Tulsa Housing Authority to further improve their propoerties,” said Steve Grantham, Executive Director of Up With Trees, when asked about the partnership. “These trees will provide many benefits – cleaner air, energy conservation, healthier communities. We are extremely thankful for the generous donor who saw a need and are excited to be a part in helping to build a healthier, more beautiful and sustainable Tulsa.” Ms. Chea Redditt, President and CEO of Tulsa Housing Authority, stated “When an anonymous donor stepped up and selected the Tulsa Housing Authority as the lucky recipient of their generous donation, we were pleasantly surprised. We have worked hard since the early ‘90s when most of our communities had no grass, few trees, and no landscaping to make all of our communities more inviting. So we are extremely pleased to have two of our properties chosen as part of the “Up With Trees” initiative”. A total of 98 trees will be planted at the Parkview Terrace Apartments, and 52 trees will be planted at Sandy Park Apartments.
WORKING WITH DICK CONNER CORRECTIONAL CENTER Up With Trees is collaborating with the Dick Conner Correctional Center by donating more than 150 potted seedlings for the offenders to learn how to properly care for these trees. John Kahre, Education Coordinator at Up With Trees, has worked on developing this program through collaborating with our organization and the Tulsa Community College program. The inmates have built a small nursery onsite and planted seedlings, along with several other plant species. The seedlings will grow into 3-gallon trees in the next year to two years. Up With Trees will distribute these trees to under-served neighborhoods in Tulsa. This process will be a recurring cycle of seedling donations from Up With Trees and seedling care facilitated by the Correctional Center.
PROJECTS Up With Trees is currently in the process of developing a Tulsa Urban Forest Master Plan. The Master Plan will be a 20 year plan for planting and maintenace in the greater Tulsa area. The first step in formulating the Urban Forest Master Plan is to assess what we currently have. Up With Trees has partnered with Davey Resource Group to begin gathering this data through an iTree Eco Canopy Assessment that will be used to determine health and constitution of the trees of Tulsa. This assessment will also quantify in real dollar amounts the environmental and economic benefits that Tulsa's trees provide. Once the report is finalized, we will have concrete data with which to educate the public as to the benefits that Tulsa's trees provide on an annual basis, as well as planning tools to help shape the future of the urban forest. In addition to the iTree Eco Canopy Assessment, Up With Trees has been sending out surveys to the Tulsa public asking questions regarding Tulsa's trees. We have had great response from these surveys (see some below), and we will continue to collect surveys throughout the formulation of the Master Plan to help better pair the desires of the public, to the need of the Tulsa urban forest. An Advisory Council is working to help formulate the goals, strategies and implementation plan. We are grateful to have representatives from all backgrounds of experience, from all geographic locations in Tulsa, and more. Go to www.upwithtrees.org for access to more information and to stay updated on the progress of the Tulsa Urban Forest Master Plan. Where would you want trees planted?
What does Tulsa’s canopy need most? 10% Community Education About Trees 19.7% Protect the Trees for Future Generations 16% Better Maintenance
.3% Fewer Trees
15.6% Shopping Centers
54% More Trees
12% Schools
3.8% Hillsides
6.3% 6.6% Parks & Lining Cemeteries River & Other Water Sources
.5% Homes
24.6% Neighborhoods
30.7% Main City Streets
up with trees celebrates 40 years Save the date! On April 1, help us honor Up With Trees’ history and our volunteers. We will also unveil Sid Patterson’s Statue at its new home in the Woodward Arboretum.
L.A.N.D. Forum In an effort to increase efficiency and minimize costs associated with urban planting challenges, Up With Trees brought together diverse groups within the planting and landscaping industry to explore potential solutions at the first Landscape Architects, Nurseries and Developers (LAND) Forum on October 23, 2015. The day included breakout sessions to discuss topical solutions to common problems that can result because of communication challenges, education and onsite issues. After the breakouts, a panel including Paul James, known as "The Gardener Guy” and host of HGTV’s Gardening by the Yard, David Redhage, Vice President of the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, and Terrell Hoagland, Director of Sustainability at the Jones Design Studio, answered questions concerning complications they have faced in the field. The day was a success with 20 local industry experts coming up with actionable solutions to improve planting in our community.
SAVE THE DATE!
April 22 at the Tulsa Zoo The 3rd annual Up With Trees Tree-Via Event will be held on April 22 at the Tulsa Zoo for a wild experience! Teams of 8-10 players test their trivia knowledge on this fun-filled night that you won’t want to miss! Contact Julie Etchison at jetchison@upwithtrees.org for more information.
CITIZEN FORESTER CLASS COMING IN FEBRUARY
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
TULSA OILERS STAFF
Interested in trees and want to learn more? Join our Citizen Forester Program to learn about Planning, Planting, Preserving, and Promoting your trees and Tulsa’s urban forest. To apply for the Citizen Forester program, go to www.upwithtrees.org or contact Shawn Poynor at (918) 610-8733, shawn@upwithtrees.org to have an application mailed to you. Class size is limited, so be sure and apply today!
We are so grateful to have the staff of the Tulsa Oilers continuously volunteer with us. From mulching trees to pruning our sites, they have been a huge asset to our organization. Steve Duffy, VP of Corporate Partnerships for the Tulsa Oilers, said, "We truly enjoy volunteering with Up With Trees and doing our part in the community. Not only do our hours of service help revitalize Tulsa, but the events also serve as a way of team building with our staff. We look to continue our efforts throughout the fall and winter season, and continue making an impact in this great city we live in." We at Up With Trees look forward to growing our relationship with them as we collectively work to grow, maintain, and educate on Tulsa’s urban forest.
NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID Tulsa, OK. PERMIT NO. 512 1102 S BOSTON AVE. TULSA, OK 74119 Address Service Requested
FEBRUARY Citizen Forester Classes - 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
MARCH
DATES TO REMEMBER Check out UpWithTrees.org for all the details on upcoming events in 2016
5th
APRIL 1st 12th 21st 22nd
Seedling Distribution
Planting the 10,000th Tree for ReGreen
Seedling Distribution
Celebrating 40th Anniversary and Volunteers Tree Walks Begin Kendra Scott Gives Back Tree-Via: Go Wild!
MAY 10th 21st
Tree Walk Tree Trip to Oklahoma City
JUNE 14th
Tree Walk