Up With Trees 2018 Spring Canopy Newsletter

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER FOR UP WITH TREES - SPRING 2018

OSAGE PRAIRIE TRAIL

PROGRESS: FOOD FORESTS & CLEANUP

North of Mohawk Boulevard Planting

Langston University Rest Area

North of Virgin Street Planting

Generously funded by the Joe and Jean Holliman Family Foundation, the Osage Prairie Trail project from Greenwood Cultural Center to 36th Street North consists of planting 650 trees, extensive clean up, and installing several rest areas.

Beginning Fall 2017, this project is designed to address safety, education, beautification, health, food sustainability, and outdoor recreation for surrounding schools, public parks, and neighborhoods.

Up With Trees is planting four food forests to address the area’s food desert

Langston University Planting

issue. Langston University, being one of the first food forests along the trail, is now home to 30 food bearing trees. The trees will not only serve as a fresh food source, but they beautify and shade the college campus. The other three food forests are located near Lacy Park, between Hawthorne Elementary and

EduCare, and at Carver Middle School.

Having planted 508 trees so far, these trees will shade the trail, improve water quality of nearby waterways, and serve as privacy buffers for the nearby neighborhoods.

The cleanup efforts are continuing ...continued in Current Projects

IN THIS ISSUE TREE DOWNTOWN TULSA

TULSA ARBOR DAY

VOLUNTEER HONORS LUNCHEON

WELCOME

FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STEVE GRANTHAM “Changes aren’t permanent; but change is.”

Each year we experience the transition from another beautiful Oklahoma spring – resplendent with all of its blooms and blossoms - to the shade of our

stately trees in summer, that come fall, are painted with brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows.

Thank you for partnering with us to make Tulsa an even more livable, more sustainable, and

more vibrant place. Your generosity and dedication will ensure beautiful changes for countless seasons to come.

As a resident of Tulsa for almost six years, I am proud to be part of Oklahoma’s Green Country. We live in a county that hosts abundant lush foliage, rolling green hills, pasture and agricultural lands, the Arkansas river, numerous creeks, lakes, and wooded areas – these are geographic highlights that should not be taken for granted. By joining the Up With Trees Board, I hope to remind and engage Tulsans that it takes community support to protect and preserve our beautiful green space, while thoughtfully planning for its long-term sustainability.

- Jeff Weagley, Board Member

Sid Patterson

Founder (1921-2012)

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bob Jack

President

Kathy Vancuren Secretary

Anne Brockman Laura Bryant Chris Carter Larry Hovis

Jeff Case

Tom Wallace

Vice President

2nd Vice President

Michael Patton

Chris Hodges

Immediate Past President

Tim Nall Nathan Pickard Joe Roberts Susan Scott

Farrell Seay Chuck Stanton Stewart Swayze Vanessa Thompson

Treasurer

Ron Walker Jeff Weagley Christen Webb

TULSA CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY AS TREE CITY USA March 29th, Tulsa celebrated Arbor Day and the city’s 25th anniversary as a Tree City USA. Held at McClure Park, we welcomed the community and over 150 students from Dove Science Academy to add 25 trees, generously

donated by the Public Service Company of Oklahoma, to the park’s landscape.

Mayor Bynum issued a proclamation reaffirming our city’s dedication to a healthy and growing urban forest.

Students dispersed across the park and learned the proper ways to plant and maintain trees as well as the benefits these additions will continue to bring our community. In partnership with the City of Tulsa and Public Service Company of Oklahoma, McClure Park now has 25 healthy and growing young trees. We thank the students, citizens, and organizations that help propel our city forward.

Further our mission by giving through your will or trust.

Learn more today by calling our Planned Giving offices at (918) 491 - 0079 or visit UPWITHTREES.org.

L e av e a l as t i n g l e g acy f o r T u lsa' s u r b a n f o r e s t!

SAVE THE DATE: TREE TRIP OCTOBER 12-14 Join us for our Fall Tree Trip as we explore the Arbor Day Farm at Lied Lodge in Nebraska City, the birth place of Arbor Day! For more information visit

UPWITHTREES.org

CURRENT TREE DOWNTOWN TULSA In partnership with the Downtown Coordinating Council, we have planted 897 trees in Downtown Tulsa since 2012.

These trees not only beautify the city, but provide essential benefits such as increasing customer spending, improving air quality, combating the urban heat island effect for cooler summers, and improving the safety and walkability of Downtown. We look forward to continue growing Downtown Tulsa!

1st & Elgin

Learn how to get involved at UPWITHTREES.org.

3rd & Cincinnati

OSAGE TRAIL FAST FACTS:

Archer & Cheyenne

OSAGE PRAIRIE TRAIL

continued from cover

700,000+ Sq. Ft. Cleanup 508 Trees Planted

Hawthorne Elementary

450 Volunteer Hours 4 Food Forests Planted 4 Tree Schools Planted

North of Mohawk Boulevard Planting

this summer to grow the safety and walkability of the trail each day, creating a better environment for children walking to and from school.

In addition to their food forest, Hawthorne Elementary 4th grade students participated in our youth education program, Tree School.

With a better understanding of the benefits trees provide, they are now stewards in growing the health of their city. To

further its impact, the Hawthorne food forest will be managed

by Crossover Community Impact - a local 501c(3) organization, and be used as a resource for students and their families in need of fresh food.

We look forward to continuing the cleanup, installing rest areas (including eight benches & four picnic tables), and planting efforts this fall. Learn more about the project at UPWITHTREES.org.

PROJECTS SPONSOR Q & A CHICK-FIL-A SOUTHROADS

With David Chen, Owner/Operator What about Up With Trees’ mission resonates with Chick-fil-A?

Complete the word search below, post a picture of it, and tag us on any social media platform to be entered in a raffle for an Up With Trees swag bag!

Our mission is to have a positive influence on all who come into Chick-fil-A. We believe one of the ways that we do this is by having a positive impact in our local community.

Why did you choose the Adopt A Tree Site Program?

We started picking up trash around our shopping center. I noticed the exit to our location was bare and thought if we could partner with Up With Trees and really make that site look great, it would be a win-win for the city and our shopping center.

What do you think about when you see your sign?

I think about driving by the site and seeing those trees fully grown. Just thinking about that investment excites me and I hope that people who drive by our location also think the same as they see those trees develop.

Facebook

LinkedIn

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Twitter

@up.with.trees

@up with trees

@upwithtrees_

@upwithtrees

How has your view of Tulsa changed since becoming a sponsor?

The longer I live in Tulsa, the more it’s affirmed into me Tulsa is a great community that cares about giving back and you can see in Up With Trees they truly have the desire to give back to the local community. It’s great when you can partner with people that are like-minded and when we can maximize our resources to make the most impact in Tulsa.

What would you say to someone on the edge of sponsoring a tree site?

[Tree Sites] make Tulsa better and I think when we can do that, anything is worthwhile.

To Adopt a Tree Site visit UPWITHTREES.org.

ACID

CONIFER

MARGIN

POLLINATION

ALKALINE

DECIDUOUS

MIDRIB

SCION

ALLELOPATHY EVERGREEN

PALMATE

SINUS

BLADE

EXFOLIATE

PETIOLE

SPURS

BRACT

LOBE

PINNATE

XERISCAPE

Up With Trees celebrated all of the hard work our volunteers did this past year to help grow Tulsa’s urban forest at our Volunteer Honors Luncheon. We could not do what we do without your unwearying dedication to our mission. Hats off to you and our award recipients below for their contributions to our organization!

PLANNING AWARD ZAC KULSRUD

Zac first became involved with Up With Trees on the 2016 Gala Committee.

Since then, he has been involved with the Education Committee, the Marketing Group, and the Finance Committee. We are thankful for the perspective Zac brings to these working groups and our organization as a whole.

PLANTING AWARD MIKE & DAISY SHADLEY

A father-daughter duo who got involved at Up With Trees through the 2017 Citizen Forester Program. Since then, they have had their hands in almost every volunteer activity, including planting and pruning trees, distributing seedlings, and representing at booths.

PRESERVING AWARD ROBERT MARTINEZ

PROMOTING AWARD AMY RIDDLE

PEOPLE AWARD JOHN KAHRE

CITIZEN FORESTER OF THE YEAR AWARD GERRY WEBER

There is never a dull moment when Robert is in the field. He prunes our sites twice a week, sharpens our tools, and brings a smile to everyone around him.

He has served Up With Trees for decades in just about every capacity imaginable - board member, president, volunteer, and now as Education Coordinator. John has infused Up With Trees with his knowledge, passion, and fun-loving spirit.

She promotes our organization within the community by educating youth through the Tree School program, distributing seedlings to the public, and leading volunteer groups in the field. Amy is an advocate for Up With Trees, connecting us to the community in every way she can.

He is a skilled, versatile volunteer involved in virtually every facet of Up With Trees, including making signs, pruning, planting, and spending countless hours assessing the health of our trees.

Gerry is known as a dependable, hard-working and kind person, not only by staff, but by the volunteers who work alongside him.

SID PATTERSON LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD ALICE COSTAS In over three decades of involvement at Up With Trees, as a board member, volunteer, and patron, Alice has played an integral role in making Up With Trees what it is today. Her leadership, dedication, and passion have helped to set the vision and trajectory of our organization for years to come. Thank you for all that you’ve done and continue to do.

SAVE THE DATE

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 6:00PM

DoubleTree Warren Place 6110 S Yale Ave, Tulsa, OK 74136 GreenLeafGala.org

2018 GALA CHAIRS We are thrilled to announce board members, Kathy Vancuren and Christen Webb, as our 2018 Green Leaf Gala Chairs!

Kathy said, “after spending many years in the Dallas area, I developed a new appreciation for the

natural beauty of my hometown. Trees are the key to that beauty.”

Kathy and Christen hope to see you at this year’s Green Leaf Gala: Seasons, as we work to make Tulsa more beautiful, no matter the season.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT-

JAMES DANIEL

From a young age, James Daniel knew he wanted to be a part of the tree-loving world. After seeing our signs all over the city, he sought out Up With Trees to become a part of the Citizen Forester Class of 2017, and we’re so lucky he did.

Since completing the program, James has become an integral part of the Up With Trees family as he helps preserve and promote Tulsa’s urban forest. He assesses the health of our trees, attends classes and tree walks, and is a strong supporter of our Tulsa Urban Forest Master Plan.

James shares, “When I travel to Oklahoma City and people ask where I’m from, I say I’m from the pretty end of the turnpike, and Up With Trees helps maintain the [prettiness] and the ability for us to say that.” We are forever grateful to have gained a volunteer so devoted to our efforts in beautifying Tulsa.

NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID Tulsa, OK. PERMIT NO. 512

1102 SOUTH BOSTON AVENUE, TULSA, OK 74119 Address Service Requested

DA TES TO R E ME MBE R JUNE

2nd 9th 14th 26th

National Trails Day at Turkey Mountain Pruning Class Green Leaf Gala: Pre-Party on the Pavers Tree Walk at TCC Northeast Campus

SEPTEMBER

29th Green Leaf Gala: Seasons

OCTOBER

12th - 14th Arbor Day Farm Tree Trip

26th Volunteer Cookout

DECEMBER

7th Holiday Party

Check out UpWithTrees.org for all the details and upcoming events in 2018.