There are still a few spaces left in the 2012 Tree Steward Class (begins Jan.10).

Urban tree canopy provides health, cultural, economic and environmental benefits for all. Richmond will have the vibrant urban canopy needed to provide these benefits only if there is citizen support and participation in tree care activities and community education. Richmond needs more tree stewards in more places to make this happen.

Our 10 week Tree Steward course includes tree biology, identification, and pathology and will give you the latest information on tree care, planting and pruning techniques. You’ll also learn about watersheds, soils and the challenges our urban trees face.

The goal is to prepare you to become a volunteer with Richmond Tree Stewards and help care for our urban trees. We also educate the community about their care and benefits.

A message from Will Snyder of Tricycle Gardens:

I went to water one of our orchards at 1410 North 32nd Street. Well, there was nothing left to water because every tree had been uprooted and piled at the back of the property. That’s 34 heirloom fruit trees–apples, pears, pomegranates and figs–ready to be firewood. While Tricycle Gardens has endured only a couple of small acts of vandalism in the past, nothing at this scale has ever happened and we’re devastated by it. Not only did this orchard cost upwards of $2,000, it also utilized almost 200 hours of volunteer time this summer to keep it maintained. So I wanted to get the word out on CHPN to help us solve the crime and to also share ideas about next steps. Should we replant on the site? Pack our bags and look for another orchard? We welcome any and all thoughts.

I don’t want to end on a down note. Our other orchard, at 1626 N 27th Street, will be the site of the Church Hill Central Civic Association’s picnic next Monday at 7pm. Stop by and check out the healthy, fruit-laden trees.

It simply is not possible to take care of this many trees without community assistance. All we are asking is that folks who have a new street tree (planted this year or last) near their home, church or business water that tree. Directions for summer tree care (useful to anyone with trees) are on our website.

Tricycle Gardens’ first urban orchard became a reality on Saturday when volunteers got together and planted pears, cherries, pawpaws, plums and more in the empty lot at 1626 North 27th Street.

Join us Saturday, March 26th from 9am-1pm to help plant Tricycle Gardens’ first urban orchard. We’re gathering at an empty lot located at 1626 North 27th Street to plant pears, cherries, pawpaws, plums and more.

Why are we doing this? Because fruit and nut trees used to be a greater part of the urban landscape. There are still surviving trees and bushes in Richmond. Now, unfortunately, trees with prominent fruits (black walnuts, apples, pears) are now viewed by many people as a nuisance. We want to return people to an awareness of fruit and nut trees and their value and importance in our local food web and re-create an acceptance of them in urban areas. And as with so many of our projects, we want to do this in a very visible way.

Like our neighborhoods (and our neighbors) these trees take care of us as we take care of them.

Join Tricycle Gardens & HandsOn Greater Richmond for a productive day of hands-on work planting fruit trees to kick start our newest initiative…Church Hill Orchards. This is an exciting, multi-phase project and we need your support to make it happen. What a great way to learn new skills and meet new friends!

To participate in this group workday, please sign up through the HandsOn Greater Richmond’s website. Together we can continue to grow healthy food, healthy communities and a healthy economy!

March 26, 2011 9AM-1PM

The locations for those sessions will be announced in class.

A variety of topics will be covered throughout the course, including tree identification, tree biology, soil characteristics, planting and care, health and maintenance, proper pruning methods, community and regional planning and many others. Each participant is asked to commit to 20 hours of community service upon completion of the program.

Registration is $75 for city residents and $100 for non-city residents. Checks should be made to Richmond Recreation and Parks Foundation. Participants can register early or at the door. The deadline for mail-in registration is February 10. Tree Stewards who completed the class from 2004-2010 may sit in the classes at no charge.

To download a registration form log onto http://www.richmondgov.com/PublicWorks/UrbanForestry.aspx or call 646-6785 for more information. For more information on city services and schedules, please visit us on line at www.RichmondGov.com.

Are you interested in learning more about proper tree care? The city of Richmond boasts one of the top urban forests in the country, and now you have the opportunity to learn more about the thriving trees in our community.

Who: Richmond residents interested in learning the proper methods of planting and maintaining trees by becoming Tree Stewards

What: Richmond Tree Stewards Fall 2010 Class

Where: Tuesdays at the Round House in Byrd Park and one Saturday class

When: Every Tuesday – September 7 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 6 from 9 a.m. – noon at the Round House in Byrd Park.

Background: Class topics include tree identification, tree biology, soil characteristics, planting and care, health and maintenance, and proper pruning methods. The Tree Planting class will be taught by area tree care industry professionals.

Registration is $95 for city residents and $150 for non-city residents. Each participant is asked to commit to 20 hours of community service upon completion of the program. Tree Stewards who completed the class between 2004-2009 may sit in the classes at no charge. The registration deadline is August 31, 2010. Checks should be made to Richmond Recreation and Parks Foundation. To download a registration form log onto http://treestewards.rrpfoundation.org/ or call (804)646-6785 for more information.

Residents may participate in the Adopt-A-Tree Program by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Parks & Recreation Foundation which will go toward planting a new tree or trees. Additionally, participants agree to water the tree for the first two years as outlined in the Tree Maintenance Agreement. Applications for the Adopt-A-Tree are due by [September 1]. Trees are planted late November through the end of February. For additional information please refer to Frequently Asked Questions and the Approved Tree Planting List.

Much thanks to Selden Richardson for sending this in!

Large trees are a defining factor in the character of the many neighborhoods and are the most valuable assets to our landscapes. Please help them survive. Most of us know that newly planted trees need regular watering. However, as the extreme heat drags on without any rain for weeks, the older and larger trees are starting to show signs of stress.

Read more to see what you can do to help keep our trees healthy.

Who: Richmond residents interested in learning the proper methods of planting and maintaining trees by becoming Tree Stewards

What: Richmond Tree Stewards Fall 2010 Class

Where: Tuesdays at the Round House in Byrd Park and one Saturday class

When: Every Tuesday – September 7 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 6 from 9 a.m. – noon at the Round House in Byrd Park.

Background: Class topics include tree identification, tree biology, soil characteristics, planting and care, health and maintenance, and proper pruning methods. The Tree Planting class will be taught by area tree care industry professionals.

Registration is $95 for city residents and $150 for non-city residents. Each participant is asked to commit to 20 hours of community service upon completion of the program. Tree Stewards who completed the class between 2004-2009 may sit in the classes at no charge. The registration deadline is August 31, 2010. Checks should be made to Richmond Recreation and Parks Foundation. To download a registration form log onto http://www.treestewards.rrpfoundation.org or call (804)646-6785 for more information.

It’s that time of year when the guys from Dominion come out and eff up some nice trees.

Ord. No. 2010-33 (Patron: Mayor Jones) – To amend *** the City Code by adding *** a new div. 2 *** and to repeal Ord. No. 92-231-227 *** concerning the Municipal Tree Policy, for the purpose of establishing revised procedures and guidelines for the maintenance and removal of trees on City- owned property.

Ord. No. 2010-18 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) – To amend *** the City Code *** for the purpose of establishing a new R-8 Urban Residential District zoning classification.

Ord. No. 2010-19 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) – To amend *** the City Code *** for the purpose of establishing a new B-7 Mixed-Use Business District zoning classification.

Res. No. 2010-R17 (Patrons: Ms. Newbille and President Graziano) – To reappoint Marilyn B. Olds as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority ***.

An email concerning 2010-33 is circulaiting and points out that the new policy was introduced without much public notice, the public has not had a chance to speak on the matter, and that no new policy should be enacted before the Urban Forestry Commission has been appointed:

As you may know, the 1992 Municipal Tree Policy has been being revised for some months now.  The Dept of Urban Forestry has worked variously with the Dept of Community Development and the Urban Design Committee and members of the Mayor’s staff to update the outdated policy and address many of the concerns we all have. [...]

I believe that we should object to its adoption at this time for the following reasons:

1.  The public was not made aware of the policy changes and had no opportunity to read and comment on the ordinance, and 

2.  We strongly feel that no new tree policy should be instituted before the Urban Forestry Commission has been appointed and begun its work with the city staff to develop an appropriate ordinance.

The inventory, a sampling of Richmond’s estimated 84,000 trees in public rights of way, found that 56 percent of the spaces available were stocked with trees, lagging the national average of 60 percent and well below the ideal of 75 to 80 percent.

Sugar maples are most common, followed by willow oaks and crape myrtles, according to the partial inventory, conducted by Truetimber, a South Richmond tree service. Trees are most abundant along streets in the Fan District, the West End, North Side and portions of South Side, and least well-stocked in the East End and some parts of South Side annexed 40 years ago.

Who: Richmond residents interested in learning the proper methods of planting and maintaining trees by becoming Tree Stewards

What: Richmond Tree Stewards 2010

Where: Tuesdays at the Round House in Byrd Park and one Saturday class, location TBA

When: Every Tuesday, February 9 – April 13 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 20 from 9 a.m. – noon

Background: Class topics include tree identification, tree biology, soil characteristics, planting and care, health and maintenance, and proper pruning methods. The Tree Planting class will be taught by area tree care industry professionals.

Registration is $95 for city residents and $150 for non-city residents. Each participant is asked to commit to 20 hours of community service upon completion of the program. Tree Stewards who completed the class between 2004-2009 may sit in the classes at no charge. The registration deadline is Friday, January 15, 2010. Checks should be made to Richmond Recreation and Parks Foundation.

To download a registration form log onto http://www.treestewards.rrpfoundation.org or call 646-6785 for more information.

• 513 North 28th Street – Maple
• 1423 North 23rd Street – Maple
• 1423 North 23rd Street – Maple
• 2203 North 28th Street – Maple
• 2302 North 29th Street – Locust
• 2301 North 29th Street – Zelkova
• 11 1/2 North 29th Street – Oak
• 1421 North 31st Street – Locust
• 901 North 31stStreet – Locust
• 1327 North 31st Street – Maple
• 1421 North 31st Street – Locust
• 1208 North 32nd Street – Maple

• 1406 Melton Ave – Maple
• 103 N 18th Street – Locust
• 1423 N 23rd Street – Maple
• 2203 N 28th Street – Maple
• 2302 N 29th Street – Locust
• 2301 N 29th Street – Zelkova
• 1421 N 31st Street – Locust
• 901 N 31st Street – Locust
• 1327 N 31st Street – Maple
• 1421 N 31st Street – Locust
• 1208 N 32nd Street – Maple
• 11 1/2 N 29th Street – Oak

The City of Richmond boasts one of the top urban forests in the country, and the Tree Steward Program is the perfect opportunity for residents to learn more about the trees in our community. Courses will cover a variety of topics, including tree biology, planting and pruning, and tree evaluation. Registration is $95 for City residents, and each participant is asked to commit to 20 hours of community service upon program completion. Download a registration form or call 646-6785 for more information.

Where: Tuesdays at the Round House in Byrd Park and one Saturday class, location TBA

When: Every Tuesday, February 9 – April 13 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 20 from 9 a.m. – noon

Background: Class topics include tree identification, tree biology, soil characteristics, planting and care, health and maintenance, and proper pruning methods. The Tree Planting class will be taught by area tree care industry professionals.

Registration is $95 for city residents and $150 for non-city residents. Each participant is asked to commit to 20 hours of community service upon completion of the program. Tree Stewards who completed the program from 2004-2009 may sit in the classes at no charge. The registration deadline is January 15, 2010. Checks should be made to Richmond Recreation and Parks Foundation.

There is an amazing sycamore behind the dead-end where 24th Street doesn’t meet Franklin Street, down from Bellevue ES. Check out this panorama from Franklin Street.

Residents may participate in the Adopt-A-Tree Program by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Parks & Recreation Foundation which will go toward planting a new tree or trees. Additionally, participants agree to water the tree for the first two years as outlined in the Tree Maintenance Agreement. Applications are due by October 1. Trees are planted late November through the end of February.

“Buildings with high levels of vegetation had 52% fewer total crimes, 48% fewer property crimes, and 56% fewer violent crimes than buildings with low levels of vegetation."

“(Researchers) compared street blocks with higher and lower levels of high-maintenance gardening and found fewer problems reported on street blocks with higher levels of high-maintenance gardening.”

Chuy sent in these photos of Libby Hill Park from a foggy morning in the time before Hurricane Isabel tore through:

… pictures were taken in a foggy morning as you can see, the quality is not as good, I had my old non-digital camera, we had many more trees in the park then, hopefully the new ones will grow quick and restore the old look, it looks like the rain forest

Got a photo to share? Sign up for a FREE flickr account and then add your photos to the Church Hill flickr pool.

We need help watering our newly planted trees as well as our “yearlings.” Please let me know if you can be part of a team and be responsible for watering trees in the park for one week — that means that you’re committing to watering just one time during that week. You don’t have to have a partner to sign up, just let me know the date you choose and we’ll try to fill the spot.

Contact Alli Alligood (804)782-1170 or Marion Macdonald (804)644-1347 with questions or to get involved.

The stunning burl on a sycamore on T Street (between 22nd & 23rd) has recently been made surreal with the addition of a painted face and heart.

The city’s Department of Public Works – Urban Forestry page list of trees to be removed has been updated and now includes 11 neighborhood trees that will be taken down within the next 30 days. (previously)

Sure to be stunningly beautiful next spring, the Department of Urban Forestry has lined the formerly barren 1500 block of 30th Street with more than 25 plum and cherry trees.

I ran into Norm Brown on Oakwood Avenue yesterday and stopped to thank him for what his department has been able to do in Fairmount recently. As hard-working and passionate as Norm is about trees, he is also reluctant to take too much credit. He chalked up the new trees in Fairmount and on 30th Street to the energies of interested folks in the areas, and the focus of the director of the of Public Works, Dexter White.

The way Norm describes it, he was tasked from above to find places that needed the trees, and he then turned to people in the neighborhoods to locate the specific locations that could really use the plantings. We have promised to take care of our new trees in Fairmount, and Norm says that block captains have stepped forward n 30th Street to nurture their new piece of Richmond’s urban forest.

The south end of Fairmount has recently been blessed with 25 or so new street trees via the Urban Forestry Division, mostly along the 1000, 1100, and 1200 blocks of 21st and 22nd Streets. Anybody want to volunteer to help water these trees this summer?

Some of the new trees have already been adopted by neighbors, but many are in front of rental properties or vacant lots and may not find a sponsor. The New Vision Civic League has an ad hoc water truck and is seeking volunteers to help with watering as needed, volunteers to provide water on occasion, and sponsors willing to provide for individual trees. Comment below or contact John to get involved.

The Church Hill Planters and the Friend of Libby Hill Park pulled together community volunteers to plant 24 new trees and mulch 40 existing trees in Libby Hill Park this morning. About 60 people turned out to help, including a solid contingent from the Richmond Tree Stewards.

The new trees include dogwood, redbud, serviceberries, yellow wood, and white oak. All of the trees planted are native species to Virginia. (To find out more about the importance of planting native species, check out Douglas W. Tallamy’s Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens – or give him a listen online….)

As much as everyone involved worked for the pure interest of seeing new trees and a beautiful park, the spread of muffins, brownies, and a frickin’ fantastic split pea & ham soup was a nice reward after a morning of labor. Thanks to everyone that cooked, planted, mulched, and watered!

The City of Richmond boasts one of the top urban forests in the country, and the Tree Steward Program is the perfect opportunity for residents to learn more about the trees in our community. Courses will cover a variety of topics, including tree biology, planting and pruning, and tree evaluation. Registration is $95 for City residents, and each participant is asked to commit to 20 hours of community service upon program completion. Download a registration form or call 646-6785 for more information.

I wanted to use this photo with this post, but I hadn’t taken it yet and it was raining the day that the blight post went up. The houses are actually semi-recently vacant, as they were occupied back in July.

Join the Church Hill Planters and the Friends of Libby Hill Park for another day of Tree Love on the Hill on Saturday, Feb 21st at 9AM.

Working in cooperation with the City’s Departments of Parks and Recreation and Urban Forestry, we will spend the morning caring for our special park by mulching our existing trees and planting some new ones. This is a great opportunity to meet neighbors, enjoy some wonderful homemade refreshments, and show the City how much we care about our park.

Come out. Join the fun. Many hands make light work.

If you have them, please bring tools — wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes and gloves.

For more information, contact Marion Macdonald – MacMarion@aol.com, or Alli Alligood — allialligood@verizon.net

Class topics include: Tree Identification, Tree Biology, Selecting Planting Sites, Selecting Trees, Planting and Care, Health and Maintenance, and Proper Pruning Methods. Classes will be taught by area professionals in the tree care industry.

Registration is $95 for city residents, $150 for non-city residents. Each participant is also asked to commit to 20 hrs of community service upon completion of the program.

Tree Stewards who have completed the class in 2004-08 may sit in the classes at no charge. Pruning Tools will be awarded to participants completing the class. If the participant does not complete the class they will not receive the tools.

Classes will be held on Tuesdays in February, March, and April. Classes on Tuesdays will be from 6:30-8:30PM at the round house in Byrd Park. The Tree Planting class will be held on a Saturday from 9:00AM-12:00PM TBA.

Richmond Tree Stewards
APPLICATION: (.pdf) – (.doc)

ABOVE: Church Hill Park by camp.brian // BELOW skyline by John Murden

Ord. No. 2008-239 – To impose a moratorium on the removal of trees pursuant to the provisions of the City of Richmond Municipal Tree Policy ***, until such time as the City’s Administration makes a presentation to the City Council on the criteria used to determine when tree removal is necessary.

1. No tree shall be planted at least 25 feet from street intersections and at least 10 feet from alleys.
2. No tree shall be planted closer than 10 feet to a utility pole.

Information received about the impact of this ordinance on the Fan District should be of interest to all city property owners. According to Fan resident Calder Loth, the Fan District has 359 tree wells that are within 10 feet of an alley, of which currently 83 of these tree wells are empty and could not be filled. If this ordinance is passed, the 276 existing trees will not be replanted if they die. The Fan has 125 intersections, each has the potential for 8 trees each. That’s one thousand trees around intersections in the Fan that would thus be banned.

The meeting is open to the public.

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.

Class topics include: Tree Identification, Tree Biology, Selecting Planting Sites, Selecting Trees, Planting and Care, Health and Maintenance, and Proper Pruning Methods. Classes will be taught by area professionals in the tree care industry.

Registration is $95. Each participant is also asked to commit to 20 hrs of community service upon completion of the program.

Tree Stewards who have completed the class in 2004-08 may sit in the classes at no charge. Pruning Tools will be awarded to participants completing the class. If the participant does not complete the class they will not receive the tools.

Classes will be held on Tuesdays in October, November, and December. Classes on Tuesdays will be from 6:30-8:30PM at the round house in Byrd Park. The Tree Planting class will be held on Sat. From 9:00A-12:00PM TBA.

Richmond Tree Stewards
APPLICATION: (.pdf) – (.doc)

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.

From the Google Street View image of the block from the end of last summer:

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?”

The Richmond Tree Stewards put in volunteer hours at Oakwood Cemetery this weekend pruning the trees.

Oakwood Cemetery (1865)

Arbor Day activities took place in Jefferson Park, Libby Hill Park, and Chimborazo Park. New trees including crape myrtles, Kentucky coffee trees, Valley Forge elms, a willow oak, and Kwanzan Cherry trees were planted by Richmond Tree Stewards, students, Boy and Girl Scouts, and neighbors.

• Jefferson Park – 4 Crepe Myrtle trees – These trees are part of the project that Friends of Jefferson Park, The City’s Parks Dept,Tree Stewards, and Urban Forestry started a few months ago.The trees are being provided by The Recreation and Parks Dept.
• Libby Hill Park – 2 Kentucky coffee trees to finish the March 26th project, they are provided by the Urban Forestry Dept. 3 Trees provided by Glen Allen Nursery as a donation by the nursery for Arbor Day. They include two Valley Forge Elms and one Willow Oak. They will be planted by Glen Allen Nursery staff, who are new Richmond Tree Stewards.
• Chimborazo Park – 3 trees donated by Colesville Nursery for Arbor Day. They will include 3 Yoshino Cherry. They will be planted by Colesville Nursery staff, who are new Richmond Tree Stewards.
• Chimborazo Park – 100 trees 6-12″ donated by The Virginia Forestry Dept. They are scheduled to be planted by students, Scouts, and Tree Stewards.
• Chimborazo Park – 1 Blue Spruce to be planted by Girl Scouts and provided by them.

All of the plantings are scheduled for 5:30PM on April 15th.

This coming Saturday, a group of the Richmond Tree Stewards, Church Hill Planters and Friends of Libby Hill Park along with the city parks and urban forestry will team up to plant six new shade trees on the recently denuded plateau of Libby Hill Park. In addition, they will be mulching under the big old trees to help them weather the inevitable summer drought. Come out and join the fun!

This is an opportunity to care for our trees in a substantial way. According to the Tree Steward Program, mulching and watering is the best way to prolong the life of old trees.

Come out and join the fun. “Many hands make light work”, as they say… Children can help, too. Bring a wheel barrow, shovel or rake and gloves if you can..

Libby Hill Park
Saturday March 29th @ 9AM

A great detail of early spring in Church Hill by 100wordminimum.

Does it have a bright green “gator” bag like this one attached to it? If so, please fill it once a week — and maybe even talk with your neighbors about helping you. (The fill-up slot is underneath the label at the top of the bag.) These bags are important to the survival of the small trees — over 50% of new trees fail because of lack of water, and rainfall is short this winter.

Thanks for helping make our neighborhood a greener place to live.

If you have questions, or need help with how to fill the bag, call Alli at 782-1170 or Marion at 644-1347.