BayScapes are environmentally-friendly landscapes that create wildlife habitat, utilize native plants, conserve water, and prevent pollution; all for the benefit and restoration of the James River and the rest of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This workshop and tour will feature speakers that will talk about various aspects of BayScaping – from wildlife habitat to native plants to rain barrels. The Richmond BayScapes Workshop & Tour will be Oct.25, 8AM-4PM. [via]

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Richmond Tree Stewards classes will be offered again this fall. Classes begin Oct.7; find out more and sign up! In other tree-related news, the deadline to participate in the Adopt-A-Tree Program for this year is Oct.1, with trees adopted this year to be planted late November through the end of February. Visit the city’s Urban Forrestry site to learn more or download the application (.doc) to get your block a nice tree!

From Tricycle Gardens:

Participants will receive a 55 gallon #2 plastic food grade barrel with all the necessary components to make a usable rain collector. Tools and helpers will be on hand to assist in the assembling.

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In the most recent edition of richmond.com’s Ask the Mayor, Mayor Wilder essentially explains that, short of the $50 Adopt-a-Tree program, the city does not have a plan for replacing the trees that it removes from our urban forest.

Get a great tree for $50! The deadline to participate in the Adopt-A-Tree Program for this year is October 1, with trees adopted this year to be planted late November through the end of February. Visit the city’s Urban Forrestry site to learn more or download the application (.doc) to get started.

River City Harvest is a new Richmond blog that “aspires to become a local hub for Richmond’s growing edible gardening community.” The site is already stocked with information of interest to other urban gardeners, as well as folks interested in improving their knowledge of composting, irrigation and rainwater collection techniques.

Sit down with Partnership for Smarter Growth tonight between 5-10PM at Que Pasa (623 North 25th Street). Meet other citizens concerned with patterns of growth in the Richmond region, enjoy delicious and affordable Puerto Rican and South American food, and be part of Church Hill’s exciting revitalization.

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Ever wanted a topographical map of the East End (12.7MB .pdf)? [via]

The Richmond Voice has the story of area resident Rosalene Bullock and her experiences with being cited by the city for code violations at her property. Cited for “having trash in her yard, garage roof deterioration, and exterior housing damages”, Bullock was allegedly given 5 weeks to make the repairs to her garage and house (in which she is living) or see the structures demolished.

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Did you ever want to learn how to identify trees? Or how to properly prune a young tree to insure good development? Are you interested in taking care of the trees in our community? Richmond Tree Stewards training may be for you!

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The City of Richmond will open three cooling shelters today at 12PM to assist residents during the anticipated heat. The shelters are located at Southside Community Center, 4100 Hull Street; the Department of Social Services, 900 East Marshall Street; and the East District Center, 701 North 25th Street.

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A pack of 6 skunks (or “polecats”), one all white, has been reported around the north end of 33rd Street. Be careful.

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Tricycle Gardens are presenting the first of a series of workshops on organic gardening: Introduction to Organic Gardening (7/24), Getting Started with Organic Gardening (8/7), and Fall Gardening and Winter Preparations (9/11). Each workshop will cost $15 and take place at 211 West 7th Street in Old Manchester. Please contact allison@tricyclegardens.org if you have questions.

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Are you interested in starting a community garden in your neighborhood? Tricycle Gardens is hosting 4 identical workshops on how to jump start a community garden. Covered will be the nuts and bolts of what it takes to get a garden off the ground, and sustain it. Wednesday June 25th, Wednesday July 9th, Wednesday July 30th, and Wednesday August 13th. All workshops are free, and are from 6:30-9pm, at the Tricycle Gardens office: 211 W. 7th St in old Manchester. More information is available by emailing lisa@tricyclegardens.org or phone 231-7767

The battle over Richmond Intermediate Terminal continues afresh. A new partnership between the proposed developer of Echo Harbor George T. Ross and restaurateur Michael Ripp offers “a joint project that would include moving Dock Street to allow the shifting of the condominium towers out of the view from Libby Hill Park and expanding public access to the river along the property”. [via]

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Volunteers are needed for a Church Hill Alley Rally on 14 June 2008 for neighborhood trash and debris clean up. Meet at the Park House at 2800 E Franklin at 8:00 AM to help clean the neighborhood. The best way to make sure your alley is covered is to volunteer and be there! Contact Chris Bergen at 640-2710 for more information.

A reader writes from North 27th Street between Franklin and Grace Streets:

They came here this morning to trim the limbs from 2 trees interfering with power lines - and they CUT DOWN THE WHOLE F*CKING TREE! Two of them! Completely healthy, beautiful mature red oaks that were 75 years old, at least.

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A Union Hill resident has shared that the city has cut back on cutting the grass around Jefferson Park and that some folks are worried that this could create an unsafe environment at the park this summer.

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A reader writes: “I’ve been cutting the yard of the vacant house next door. Does this open me up to any legal liability? What if I plant some trees?”