adopt a tree

Have you heard of the Openlands adopt a tree program? This local environmental non-profit has worked with volunteers in many Chicago neighborhoods, including ours, to plant new trees.

They are asking for our help to monitor the health of these young trees.  It's not a big time commitment. You sign up online (via the link above) to adopt one of more trees, then visit them occasionally and send an email reporting their condition.

Visiting my trees

A few years ago I volunteered to plant some trees along the Major Taylor Trail near 91st St. station. I have adopted several of those trees and went to visit them recently.

It's an easy way to help make a difference in our neighborhood.

Christmas tree recycling locations in Chicago

Please don't put your Christmas tree out with the trash. If you got a real (non-artificial) tree this year, please consider taking it to a recycling location so that it can be chipped and used as mulch instead of going into a landfill. Jan. 2 through Jan. 16 for recycling. You can even get free mulch at a few spots starting Jan. 11.

* Mulch will be available for free on a limited basis Jan. 11-17 at select locations:
- Mt. Greenwood Park, 3721 W. 111th St.
- Bessemer Park, 8930 S. Muskegon
- Lincoln Park, Cannon Drive at Fullerton
- North Park Village, 5801 N. Pulaski
- Warren Park, 6601 N. Western

Christmas tree sale at the Irish castle

Beverly Unitarian Church is selling Christmas trees as a fundraiser today and tomorrow (12/1 and 12/2) as well as next weekend (12/8 and 12/9) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  They're at 103rd and Longwood.  The parking lot is on the Seeley (uphill) side.  They have about 100 trees available.  For more information, call 773-233-7080.

tree watering

A couple of sources that I've read give a reminder about watering to keep your trees healthy during dry times in summer. Trees need enough moisture to prevent drought stress, otherwise they are more vulnerable to disease, insect problems or death.

A regular sprinkler does not water a tree efficiently and wastes a lot of water. Use a soaker hose instead. Start with a wrap around the trunk, working outward in circles towards the edge of the tree canopy (otherwise known as the drip line). Give the tree a good soak for about 2 hours per week in weeks when there is no rain. The soaker hose will let the water go just where it's needed, without a lot of evaporation or runoff to the street. Your tree will stay healthier.

don't trash that tree!

Are you thinking about taking down that Christmas tree and disposing of it now that the needles are dropping? Don't toss it in the trash. From now thru 1/17, you can take it to one of the following locations to be recycled:

Kennedy Park, 11320 S. Western
Marquette Park, 6700 S. Kedzie
Forestry Site, 900 E. 103rd St.
Mt. Greenwood Park, 3721 W. 111th St.
Rowan Park, 11546 S. Avenue L
Jackson Park, 6300 S. Cornell

Trees will be chipped and turned into mulch. Free mulch will be available to residents at the same sites beginning Friday 1/8.

For additional info on recycling drop-off locations, call 311.

caring for trees and planting new ones

Have you ever seen neglected trees in local parks and forest preserves and wished you could do something to help them? Or have you seen open spaces that really need some trees and wanted to plant some? Are you interested in habitat restoration in local forests and prairie preserves? Treekeepers could offer you an opportunity to help.

There's a new 7-week session of classes starting 9/12 at Humboldt Park. If you're interesting in the fall class session, check out the brochure here.

bad news for trees

The emerald ash borer has reached Cook County forests. The only thing that mitigates this news, IMO, is that ash varieties are a small fraction of the trees in our forests, and that the emerald ash borer only likes ash trees.

Oaks are a much higher percentage of our forest trees. Ash trees were heavily planted along city and suburban streets to replace elm trees destroyed by Dutch elm disease and other trees infested with the Asian longhorned beetle, which likes many different tree species.

planting a tree

On Saturday, I got to be part of a special event: planting a tree in a city park.


Bringing the tree to its new home


Measuring the root ball so we could dig the right size hole


Moving the tree into the hole


The root ball is unwrapped. Sorry I don't have shots of filling the hole, but I had a shovel in my hand.


Putting mulch in place


Water is soaking in

The Treekeepers class has been a great learning experience. I'm looking forward to going to volunteer workdays starting next month. This class is almost over, but the next series will be in the spring at Warren Park.

Root for Chicago

Every so often American Express does a cool promotion to benefit some type of program in local areas. A while back it was historic preservation. Now thru 10/31, it's Root for Chicago to win money for local tree planting, which would be done through Openlands. I'd like to see Chicago win it.

treekeepers

Are you interested in the health of trees in parks and other public spaces? You might want to check out this program for training volunteers in tree care and health, starting this Saturday.

man disguised as tree robs bank

This is a true story from Manchester, New Hampshire. Suitable "news of the weird" item for today. I guess he decided to leaf no stone unturned, branch out a bit.... Ah, the pun-sibilities here are endless.