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April 2012
Growing Urban Orchards
Casey Trees News in Brief
Casey Trees reaches midway point of spring Community Tree Planting season Last month, Casey Trees planted 354 trees at 21 sites, 14 of which were District schools, through its flagship Community Tree Planting (CTP) program. Of the many residential communities that received trees in March, North Portal Estates was one of the largest planting events Casey Trees has ever had at 107 trees. The planting at Harriet Tubman Elementary School was partially sponsored by ANC1A, where it is located, and eight schools have a total of new 22 National Cherry Blossom Festival-sponsored cherry trees on their campuses. The Mayfair Mansions planting on March 31 was sponsored by The Charitable Foundation of the Energy Bar Association and the EBA Young Lawyers Committee. The Nebraska Society also donated money towards the program. Of note this month are the Macy’s-sponsored planting at the Mt. Vernon Triangle on April 12; the April 14 planting at Beet Street Gardens, sponsored by the USDA People’s Garden and Alliance for Community Trees; and five trees at Groundworks Anacostia sponsored by The Tower Companies. Even more cherry trees sponsored by the National Cherry Blossom Festival will be planted at Fort McNair and Oxon Run. CTP sponsorship opportunities are still available; contact Development Associate Mark DeSantis at 202.833.9125 or by email.
Casey Trees News Register for casey trees’ summer youth education program | Casey Trees is accepting applications from groups interested in participating in TreeWise, a natureand place-based summer education program, developed to get youth ages 6-13 outdoors and foster appreciation and understanding of trees through fun, hands-on activities. Requests for counselors will be accepted until May 31. Get your Casey Trees tote bag today | This spring, Casey Trees is offering its first 50 Tree Champions a limited-edition tote bag, designed by our friends at Bare Tree Apparel. By pledging $25 or more per month, you will join some of Casey Trees’ most dedicated donors who help sustain our tree planting and education initiatives throughout the year. Perfect for a trip to the store or a walk around town, this hand-printed, reusable tote is made from recycled cotton. But make your pledge fast as these bags are available for a limited time only!
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participate in green scavenger hunt with new recoup deal | Save 50 percent and pay only $17 to participate in Live Green and Clean Currents’ 2012 Green Rush Earth Day Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, April 21. The deal is available on Recoup and benefits Casey Trees. Hurry though! The deal ends April 10. Details are available online.
Urban Forestry News D.C. government debuts new way to adopt a tree | Residents with a smart phone can now adopt neighborhood trees simply by scanning the Quick Response (QR) tag hanging on newly planted street trees. The Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) is piloting the tags in four neighborhoods: Adams Morgan (Ward 1), Brookland (Ward 5), Fairlawn (Ward 8) and Tenleytown (Ward 3). Upon scanning the tag, users are directed to the registration form for the Canopy Keepers program, the District’s volunteer street tree watering and care program. Residents and businesses can also adopt street trees by calling 311 or submitting an application online. April 2012 | theleaflet
April means arbor day | National Arbor Day is on April 27 — D.C. celebrates on that day, too — so show your support for trees! Celebrate with the rest of the United States as well:
South Dakota (Black Hills spruce); Texas (pecan); Utah (blue spruce); Virginia (flowering dogwood); Wisconsin (sugar maple) April 30: Wyoming (cottonwood).
April 1 to April 7: Oregon (Douglas-fir) April 4: Maryland (white oak) April 6: Kentucky (tulip poplar); Missouri (flowering dogwood) April 11: Washington (western hemlock April 13: West Virginia (sugar maple) April 20: Colorado (blue spruce) April 27: Arizona (paloverde); Connecticut (white oak); D.C. (scarlet oak); Delaware (American holly); Iowa (oak); Idaho (western white pine); Illinois (white oak); Indiana (tulip poplar); Kansas (cottonwood); Massachusetts (American elm); Michigan (eastern white pine); Minnesota (red pine); Montana (ponderosa pine); Nebraska (cottonwood); New Hampshire (paper birch); New Jersey (northern red oak); Nevada (singleleaf pinon and bristlecone pine); New York (sugar maple); Ohio (Ohio buckeye); Pennsylvania (eastern hemlock); Rhode Island (red maple);
If you would like to view some of these trees, visit the U.S. National Arboretum’s Grove of State Trees to see 45 of the 50 official state trees or the U.S. Capitol grounds, where more than 30 state trees stand. Traveling to another state this month? Join in the celebration of that state’s Arbor Day. For more Arbor Day listings, including those occurring outside the month of April, please visit the Arbor Day Foundation online.
In this issue... Spotlight: Casey Trees Donor Craig Langford............................................................................ 4 Giving: Casey Trees teams with potbelly for school plantings........................................ 5 Tree Talk Thursdays spring/summer schedule announced.................................................. 6 High School summer crew application window is now open............................................. 7 Urban orchards: community gardens and school campuses get fruit trees........ 8-9 What it could be: 12th Street in Brookland........................................................................ 10-11 innovative planting techniques find their way to casey tree farm........................ 12-13 Aerial imagery shows d.c. tree canopy changes over last five years.......................... 14 Casey Trees releases annual spring tree-care guide.......................................................... 15 One Month down, more than one month to go in spring ctp season............................ 16 Arbor Kids: TBD....................................................................................................................................... 17
theleaflet | April 2012
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Spotlight Craig Langford is helping Casey Trees through matching gift program Craig Langford does not remember when he heard the name Casey Trees for the first time. That is because he saw the work instead. “I kept seeing the Casey Trees tags on trees in my neighborhood,” the Woodley Park resident said. “I wanted to learn more.” That initial spark of curiosity led Langford to find out what many have known for years: after a decade’s worth of work and more than 11,000 trees, Casey Trees has established itself as a true leader within the D.C. community. Inspired by Casey Trees’ work and looking to make a difference himself, Langford decided to do his part in making our nation’s capital a greener place to live.
Donor Craig Langford made his first contribution after seeing Casey Trees’ work around the city.
“It can be a little deflating to follow what’s happening to the environment, especially with global climate change,” he said. “And lately, progress can feel slow and incremental on the macro level. That’s why I decided to support Casey Trees — because I can see the tangible results of their good work the positive impact they’re having on our community and the local environment.” Having worked in the nonprofit sector for years, Langford understood the value of giving back to your community, whether it is financially or otherwise. In the case of Casey Trees, he decided
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to reach into his pocket and donate to a cause he believed in — and one that saw real results. More than a year later, Langford remains one of Casey Trees’ most loyal donors, contributing through his employer’s matching gift program and effectively doubling the amount of his gift as a result.
I wanted to know that I was advancing a cause. With Casey Trees, I know that’s what I’m doing. “It’s great because of how easy it is,” he said about his workplace’s giving policy. “My organization does a lot of outreach so employees know about, and take advantage of, the match. And the contribution is automatically taken out of each paycheck, so I don’t even have to think about it.” Langford’s generosity, and that of others like him, has allowed Casey Trees to continue to grow and expand its programs in D.C. for the last ten years. The personal records that have been set and the incredible milestones reached serve as a testament to the direct impact supporters such as Langford have had in their own city. “I like to know that I’m supporting a good cause,” he said. “And Casey Trees is a great cause.” Take advantage of your company’s matching gift program and make your donation go further. Ask your Human Resources department about your workplace giving options.
April 2012 | theleaflet
Giving Potbelly’s Cherry Blossom Shakes help bring trees to D.C. schools Spring came early this year in D.C. and what better way to keep cool in the heat than with Potbelly Sandwich Shop’s limited-time-only Cherry Blossom Shake! In honor of the 100th anniversary of the original gift of cherry trees from the city of Tokyo, Potbelly is offering this seasonal tasty treat from now until May 1. And the “cherry” on top? For every shake sold this spring, a portion of the proceeds will go to Casey Trees to support our School Community Tree Planting program! As part their partnership with Casey Trees, each of the 22 Potbelly locations in D.C. will “adopt” the 22 schools set to receive trees this fall as part of our Community Tree Planting season. “We are thrilled to partner with D.C. Potbelly Sandwich Shop locations to green schoolyards across the District with trees,” Executive Director Mark Buscaino said. “With each Cherry Blossom Shake purchased, Potbelly customers will be helping to increase opportunities for recreation and outdoor environmental education, make schools more welcoming for students, parents and faculty and reduce facility’s energy costs.” If you’re looking for that perfect treat during these hot spring months, pick up a refreshing Cherry Blossom Shake from Potbelly and help bring trees to our city’s schools today! Donations are accepted securely online or via mail. Make your donation today.
theleaflet | April 2012
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Education Spring and summer Tree Talk Thursdays schedule announced One year ago this month, Casey Trees unveiled its free online chat series, Tree Talk Thursdays. The live Q&A forum highlights issues that affect the District’s tree canopy and serves as resource for the public to have their tree questions answered by certified arborists and design professionals. The spring/summer 2012 Tree Talk Thursdays schedule features some of Casey Trees’ experts in arboriculture, landscape design and technology.
April 12 — Region’s Best Trees: Selecting and planting trees suited for the D.C. metro area. Sara Turner, Casey Trees’ Urban Forestry Manager. May 10 — Fourth Annual Tree Report Card: Assessing the District’s tree canopy. Executive Director Mark Buscaino. June 12 — The Value of Trees: Calculating the dollar benefits of your trees. Tom Buckley, Director of Technical Services & Research at Casey Trees.
July 14 — Tree Spotting: Finding Hosted on Casey Urban Forestry Manager Sara Turner will be a guest contributor for Tree Talk D.C.’s woody plant Trees’ website, Tree Thursdays’ April 12 session, offering advice on selecting and planting trees that gems. Talk Thursdays airs on thrive in the D.C. area. Melanie Choukasthe second Thursday Bradley, author of City of Trees. of every month from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET. Individuals can participate in live sessions or replay past chats online. Questions are accepted prior to and during the chat session. To submit a question in advance or suggest a topic, email us.
Have a recommendation for a topic or a particular question you would like answered? Email Casey Trees with your suggestion or question, or post on Facebook or Twitter.
Spring/summer dates, topics and guests include:
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April 2012 | theleaflet
High School Summer Crew application period opens Do you know a high school student who is at least 16 years old, enjoys working outdoors, has a passion for the environment and wants a cool summer job? Encourage him or her to apply for Casey Tree’s High School Summer Crew jobs program. Casey Trees will select 10 students who will be trained in proper tree care, then travel in teams by bicycle or truck to former Casey Trees planting sites across D.C. to water, weed and mulch trees that have been in the ground for less than two years. Crew members work 35 hours Monday to Friday for $9 an hour. Applicants must meet age requirements, be enrolled in or just graduating high school, demonstrate an interest in the environment, lift 40 pounds and be willing and able to work outdoors in all weather conditions with a variety of landscaping tools. Applications must
theleaflet | April 2012
be completed online in one sitting and are due by May 18. Interviews will take place on a rolling basis and finalists will participate in all-day field tryouts on June 18 and 19 to learn firsthand the type of treecare work they would be doing during the program. Last year’s crew members logged 6,202 High School Summer Crew members travel by bicycle or truck to past Casey Trees planting sites to water and care for the trees. “tree touches” — the number of trees crew members care for — shattering the 2010 record of 4,510 touches. Since 2002, 104 high school students have served as Summer Crew members helping to care for Casey Trees-planted trees in all eight Wards. More information regarding the Summer Crew program, including the online application, is available online.
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Education Casey Trees helps D.C. schools start gardens and orchard groves Schools across the District got a little sweeter with every fruit tree Casey Trees planted — all 50 of them — through its school planting program. Fifty fruit trees were planted, including pawpaw, persimmon, apple, plum and fig. “The students have been really excited to learn about the new types of fruit they haven’t heard of before and think it’s really cool they will be getting fruit from them,” said Priscilla Plumb, an Education Coordinator with Casey Trees. Many of the schools were adding fruit trees to pre-existing garden spaces, and often the students involved in the planting were part of a science class or a garden club at the Students at Paul Public Charter School in Ward 4 will soon be able to harvest their school. Some schools new fruit trees, including this peach tree. hope students will be able to eat the fruit that is harvested from their trees, especially because some of the fruits are new and different that students and even some faculty haven’t tried before. At the schools’ tree rallies, which introduce students
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to the species of trees they will be planting, shows them how to properly handle and plant the trees and promotes discussion on the value of trees, there is a little extra time spent going over the pruning needs of the fruit trees and how and when to harvest the fruit. “Trees on school campuses serve as great educational resources,” Director of Education Sue Erhardt said. “Fruit trees enhance curriculums by teaching students about personal nutrition and healthy eating choices.” Most fruit trees require more maintenance than shade trees do, so Casey Trees ensures schools that are incorporating fruit trees into their school planting are prepared for that responsibility and have a team of individuals committed to providing that extra care. Schools receive their trees at no cost. Fruit trees at Harriet Tubman Elementary School were partially sponsored by ANC1A. Casey Trees’ school plantings have wrapped up for the spring, but groups that submit applications by June 15 will be considered for the fall 2012 planting season. Are you an educator who would like to add trees of any kind to your school’s campus? Submit an application for the fall 2012 Community Tree Planting season. Applications are due June 15.
April 2012 | theleaflet
Tree Planting Casey Trees expands fruit tree operations in its tree planting programs So far this spring, Casey Trees has planted fruit trees at 13 school campuses and community gardens through its Community Tree Planting (CTP) program. “We shouldn’t be taken by surprise at the interest in urban orchards,” said Jim Woodworth, Director of Tree Planting at Casey Trees. “It’s not a new, urban hipster thing. It’s an old idea — to pick a fresh apple or fig right off the tree — but it’s gaining renewed interest because new resources are being made available to support it.” The growing interest is clear: last month’s Tree Talk Thursdays chat session on fruit trees had the highest rate of participation ever. “This is a natural convergence of interest among those already engaged in urban agriculture and others who want to improve their communities, make healthy choices for personal nutrition, have a closer connection to their food production, and generally appreciate doing things themselves,” Woodworth said. To qualify for the CTP program, groups must have space for at least 10 trees. Small spaces that may not be conducive to planting large shade trees could actually sustain fruit trees, including espalier trees that grow two-dimensionally along a wall or fence — Casey Trees planted these at its Brookland headquarters — and columnar trees. Individuals who are not sure how to utilize your space can set up a site visit with Casey Trees staff.
theleaflet | April 2012
Casey Trees is accepting CTP applications for fall 2012 from now until June 15. Groups who receive fruit trees through the CTP program also get an fruit tree maintenance plan covering every aspect of care. Casey Trees’ Tree Rebate program offers another option for individuals who want to add fruit trees, but don’t have the space to qualify for a CTP event. Casey Trees offers rebates of up to $50 per standard-sized fruit tree planted on private property in the District. Dwarf and semidwarf trees are not eligible.
A Casey Trees-planted orchard at THEARC in Ward 8.
Casey Trees offers many additional free services to assist aspiring urban orchardists, including free classes and workshops dealing with fruit trees, forest gardens, and other tree-maintenance issues. For more information on fruit trees and Casey Trees’ fruit tree programs, email Casey Trees Urban Forestry Crew Member Josh Singer. Get fruit trees in the ground and up to $50 back per tree with the Tree Rebate program. Or apply for the fall 2012 CTP season by June 15 if you have space for 10 or more trees.
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Planning & Design What It Could Be: 12th and Newton Streets — Brookland These Before and After images show streetscape changes to an iconic intersection near the Casey Trees office in Brookland at 12th and Newton Streets NE. The CVS occupies the art deco building that housed the Newton Theater until the late1970s. The heart of Brookland, 12th Street is a lively area and these changes could make it an even better place to live, work and shop. In the Before image, several features detract from the streetscape and make it difficult for trees to thrive: • Above-ground powerlines take up valuable space for tree canopy to grow and create a visual blight. • The only large street tree has been overpruned and is in poor health because of conflicts with the utility lines. • Small tree boxes and compacted soil under sidewalks limit soil space for trees, making it difficult for roots to grow and for trees to reach their full canopy potential. The After image’s streetscape has been transformed into a green and inviting pedestrian environment with the following features: • Burying utility lines removes a visual blight and frees up space for canopy to grow. • Silva cells under the sidewalks create a grid-
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like structure that provides stability for the sidewalk while allowing tree roots to stretch out through uncompacted soil. • Bioretention planters at curb bumpouts capture and treat stormwater and help create an attractive streetscape. • Colored permeable pavers at crosswalks make intersections safer for pedestrians. Want to learn more about trees in low-impact development? Register for a “Streetscape Design” First Fridays presentation on May 4 or Aug. 3.
April 2012 | theleaflet
theleaflet | April 2012
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Casey Tree Farm Nursery personnel at Casey Tree Farm employ innovative planting techniques Nursery personnel at Casey Tree Farm have been hard at work the past few weeks, adding 2,000 trees — three acres’ worth — to the current nursery. Roughly 370 of the trees will be added using two innovative bare-root tree planting techniques — Missouri Gravel Bed (MGB) and root bags — that will limit the amount of stress on each tree during transplantation to future Community Tree Planting (CTP) sites in the Washington, D.C. area. Casey Trees mostly uses balled & burlapped (B&B) trees in its planting programs. At 2.5 to 3 inches in circumference, B&B trees weigh hundreds of pounds. Nursery Manager Brian Mayell believes these techniques will improve the tree stock Casey Trees receives for its planting programs. “Alternative growing techniques will allow us to produce trees with much lighter soil balls,” Mayell said, “which are better suited to the volunteer-based tree planting events Casey Trees coordinates.”
ROOT BAG
Using the Missouri Gravel Bed method, bare-root trees are planted in an irrigated gravel bed that can sustain them up to a year before being planted in a landscape.
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This spring’s CTP season included the first root bag trees Casey Trees has planted.
Nursery staff are using 14- and 16-inch root bags. Their weight at the time of transplantation will be significantly less than a B&B tree, ranging from 60 to 80 pounds. Lower weight could make it easier for Casey Trees to plant more trees at a single event or throughout a season. Bare-root trees are planted in felt-like bags filled with soil. As the tree’s roots reach the sides of the bags, they pinch and create nodules that hold valuable carbohydrates that will benefit the tree when it is transplanted. Smaller feeder roots subsequently grow from the nodules. Root bags differ from containerized trees — also light and easy to handle — in that containerized tree roots begin to circle, which is bad for the root system, when they come into contact with the plastic container. Root bags are easy to grow, transport and plant, which could reap benefits for Casey Trees’ tree planting programs.
Missouri Gravel Bed Created in 1985 at the University of Missouri, the MGB method entails dormant, bare-root trees planted in the spring in an irrigated planter box filled with gravel — the Farm’s is 30 by 30 feet and 16 inches deep. The trees are held for up to a year before being planted, in full leaf, in the landscape. Though not used as a proper growing technique, the MGB method makes handling the trees easier and less problematic because root growth in gravel
April 2012 | theleaflet
Counter-clockwise from top left: A bare-root tree is prepped for planting; a felt-like root bag placed in a pre-dug hole; using a plastic container as a mold, bag is filled with soil; the rest of the hole is filled and a leader pole is installed.
is fibrous and few roots are damaged when plants are removed from the gravel. Alternatively, B&B trees can lose upwards of 80 percent of their root system when they are prepared for transplantation. Nursery staff are planting 70 trees in the gravel bed, including cherry, yellowwood, linden, honeylocust, and a variety of oaks and maples.
theleaflet | April 2012
The MGB trees will be planted during the early part of the fall 2012 CTP season, when the trees are still in leaf. Keep checking The Leaflet and Casey Trees blog Tree Speak for information on activities at Casey Tree Farm.
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Technology & Research Department analyzes tree growth and removal over last five years Using two separate datasets of aerial imagery from 2006 and 2011, Casey Trees and the University of Vermont Spatial Analysis Lab looked at D.C.’s tree canopy change over the last five years. The images are displayed in false color infrared — vegetation appears red — making it easier to spot
trees while leaving most other urban features easily identifiable. A few areas with striking differences were selected to demonstrate how quickly the urban environment can change, for the good and the bad. View more tree maps and online tools from Technical Services & Research online.
Dupont Circle — New Hampshire Avenue NW
Suitland parkway se
Most of the trees along New Hampshire Avenue NW have been growing since 2006. However, if you look closely, a few trees have disappeared from the northeastern triangle park at N Street and New Hampshire Avenue NW.
This project has cleared out a large stand of trees along the Suitland Parkway SE. The cleared space will be made into a housing development.
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April 2012 | theleaflet
Tree Care Annual spring almanac offers residents tree-care tips Though the D.C. area has experienced spring-like weather for weeks now, March 20 marked the official first day of spring and with it came some useful tree-care tips from Casey Trees. D.C. residents are encouraged to: Install slow-release watering bags around newly planted trees. Practice 25 to Stay Alive by giving trees that have been in the ground less than three years 25 gallons of water, equal to 1.5 inches of rain, a week. Remove winter weeds and emerging grasses from around the trunk base. Add trunk guards if lawn mowers or weed whackers will come near the trees. If you live near locations with deer populations, install deer guards. Mulch your trees to keep the soil moist, discourage summer weeds and deter pests and diseases. Apply mulch using the 3-3-3 rule — 3 inches of mulch in a 3-foot ring with a 3-inch space around the tree trunk. Inspect for dead or crossing branches. Damaged branches should be pruned carefully. Dead branches should be removed. Visit us online for step-by-step instruction on how to properly plant and care for trees and information on programs available to D.C. residents to help offset the cost of purchasing trees. Learn more about proper tree care by taking a class, participating in a Tree Talk Thursdays session or subscribing to the Casey Trees blog Tree Speak.
theleaflet | April 2012
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Citizen Forester Update Citizen Foresters needed for remainder of planting season Casey Trees is looking for available Citizen Foresters to join staff and volunteers at remaining planting events. Contact Liz Ball, Volunteer Coordinator, by email or by calling 202.349.1907. Also, CFs who come on May 5 are invited to join us for an end-of-season celebration!
April Date Day
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Group Registration Location
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9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m.
Tregaron Conservancy Friendship Community Garden Groundwork Anacostia — Learning Garden Mount Vernon Triangle St. Paul’s at Rock Creek Parish Allison Street Orchard Community Garden The Elizabeth Ministry — TKC Apartments Beet Street Gardens Our Stadium Armory Community Garden American University Community Garden Fort McNair The Catholic University of America Park at Ledroit Community Garden Justice Park Community Garden Ecolocity at Bruce Monroe DC Office of Planning — Burke Park Oxon Run
3029 Klingle Road NW 4210 45th Street NW 48th Street & Sheriff Road SE 901 4th Street NW Rock Creek Church Road & Webster Street NW 3rd & Allison Streets NW 200 55th Street NE 260 54th Street NE 19th & Burke Streets SE 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW 4th & P Streets SW Crough Center Oakdale Place & V Street NW 14th & Euclid Streets NW 3000 Georgia Avenue NW 11th Street & Massachusetts Avenue NW Valley Avenue & Wheeler Road SE
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Calvin Coolidge Alumni Association & Friends of Tacoma Park Recreation Center
6315 5th Street NW
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Ward Trees
May 5 Sat. 9:00 a.m.
Season sponsors
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The Nebraska Society The Nussbaum Family
April 2012 | theleaflet
Arbor Kids Spring Color Bingo While playing in your neighborhood or nearby park, look out for the rainbow of colors trees display in the spring. Can you find trees sporting the bright colors below?
Flowering dogwood
Tulip poplar
Red Maple Seeds
theleaflet | April 2012
Emerging sweet gum leaves
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