The Leaflet — February 2012

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FEBRUARY 2012

BECOME A TREE CHAMPION RECEIVE A FREE TOTE BAG. SEE MORE ON PAGE 5

CASEY TREES NEWS IN BRIEF

Vote for Casey Trees in Washington City Paper’s Best of D.C. Readers’ Poll Casey Trees is up for Best Place to Volunteer and Best Non-Profit in Washington City Paper’s 2012 Readers’ Poll.

Vote us Best Non-Profit and Best Place to Volunteer now and encourage your friends, family and coworkers to do the same. All that is a needed is a valid email account. Polls close March 1 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Casey Trees was voted Best Place to Volunteer in 2010, while the Best NonProfit award is new this year.

CASEY TREES NEWS SPRING COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING SCHEDULE RELEASED | Casey Trees has released the schedule for the spring Community Tree Planting (CTP) season. Of the record 46 planting events, 21 are on education campuses.

The season features many fruit tree plantings and National Cherry Blossom Festival-sponsored cherry trees at 11 planting sites. View the entire schedule on page 12. Registration will open on Feb. 14.

MACY’S TO SPONSOR SPRING CTP SEASON | Macy’s, Inc., the U.S. department store retailer, has been named a sponsor for the spring 2012 CTP season. Through its District Grant Program, Macy’s supports thousands of nonprofit organizations annually, focusing on areas like education, the environment and women’s issues.

We are proud to have Macy’s as a contributing sponsor this season and want to thank them for helping us restore our city’s tree canopy. If you are interested in becoming a Casey Trees sponsor, please contact the Development Department at 202.349.3470 or by email.

NEW CITIZEN FORESTER QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS | There are new requirements to become a Citizen Planter — the volunteer tree planting component of Casey Trees’ Citizen Forester program. Interested individuals must attend the Tree Planting class — register for the one on March 3! — and volunteer at two or more CTP events in the same season. No prior experience is necessary.

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CASEY TREES PARTNERS WITH RECOUP | Casey Trees is excited to announce we are now partnering with Recoup, an online marketplace where people can buy brands they want while supporting causes they care about. By registering online, you can receive great daily deals from businesses throughout D.C. For every purchase made, Recoup will donate 10 percent of the cost to the participating nonprofit of your choice — meaning when you save money, Casey Trees wins!

To start saving, join Recoup today and help make a difference in D.C. CASEY TREES BIDS FAREWELL TO TWO STAFF | January marked the last month of two great staff members, Mike Nelson and Shawn Walker. Nelson, a tree planting crew chief, was with Casey Trees for two years and is moving to Colorado, where he will work for Tree Denver.

Walker was with Casey Trees for 13 months as the urban forestry instructor. He will relocate to West Virginia, where he plans to care for the garden of a backyard nursery or a mushroom farm.

TREE PLANTING CREW UPDATES | The Tree Planting Department promoted crew member Edward Bell to crew chief. Bell has been on the tree planting crew for more than two years and is excited to take on his new role.

Fellow crew chief Mike Ferguson is now certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). He is one of six ISA-certified arborists on staff. The Tree Planting department strives to stay abreast of arboricultural best practices through continuing education. To note, if you require tree February 2012 | theleaflet

care work, however major or dangerous, Casey Trees recommends hiring an ISA-certified arborist and provides helpful tips for D.C.-area residents online to find the best arborist for them.

NEW HORTICULTURIST AT CASEY TREE FARM | Seth Fillmore has accepted the horticulturist/grounds maintenance technician position at Casey Tree Farm. Fillmore, who has worked in landscaping for eight years and interned at the Farm last summer, is studying forestry at Pennsylvania College of Technology. He is excited to help expand the nursery operations at the Farm.

PLANNING & DESIGN ANNOUNCES FIRST FRIDAYS SCHEDULE | On the first Friday of every month, the Planning & Design Department will host “lunch and learn” presentations and tours — known as First Fridays — at Casey Trees’ headquarters. The presentations, which begin at noon, are geared towards design professionals and those interested in sustainable design. The schedule for the spring summer is:

March 2 — St. Elizabeth’s Secret Treasure/ Streetscape Design April 6 — Protecting D.C.’s Trees Through Policy May 4 — Streetscape Design June 1 — The District’s Curb Alternative: Where advocacy meets design July 6 — Protecting D.C.’s Trees Through Policy Aug. 3 — Streetscape Design Sept. 7 — Development and Tree Canopy in the Nation’s Capital Detailed descriptions and registration for First Fridays will be available online soon.

URBAN FORESTRY NEWS NEW SOIL MANAGEMENT STANDARDS | The American National Standard Institute and Tree Care Industry Association recently amended soil management standards, including a new provision against placing mulch against tree trunks. Casey Trees has always practiced and encouraged this with its 3-3-3 rule, but now that it is standard practice, maybe we will see less volcano mulching around the District.

IN THIS ISSUE...

SPOTLIGHT: BOARD MEMBER JIM SHERALD.......................................................................................... 4 GIVING: BECOME A TREE CHAMPION........................................................................................................ 5 AMERICAN ELM RESTORATION MONTH RECAP...................................................................................... 6 AERIAL IMAGERY FROM 1950s SHOWS DECLINE IN D.C. VEGETATION............................................... 7 Witness the drastic change along historic D.C. American elm corridors from the 1950s to now.

WHAT IT COULD BE: MARTIN LUTHER KING AVENUE SE................................................................... 8-9 Take a look at a stretch of D.C.’s Southeast could look like with a sustainable treescape.

WINTER 2012 CLASS SCHEDULE.............................................................................................................. 10 BARRY STAHL DISCUSSES HIS LOVE OF AMERICAN ELMS................................................................. 11 SPRING COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING SCHEDULE......................................................................... 12-13 ARBOR KIDS................................................................................................................................................. 14

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Spotlight Jim Sherald brings years of horticultural expertise to Board of Directors When Jim Sherald retired in 2010 from the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), he knew he wanted to stay in the horticulture field, even if it was in a different capacity.

Enter Casey Trees, which Sherald worked with in the early days of the organization’s history as an advisory board member.

Last year, Sherald became a member of the Board of Directors.

“Joining Casey Trees again was an opportunity to remain in the field and share my experiences from NPS with an organization I thought very highly of,” he said.

Sherald was instrumental in getting the 2002 D.C. street tree inventory completed and in his second stint with Casey Trees, he is glad to help plan for the future.

“The current focus is to stay the course and build on our D.C. programs,” he said. “In the long term, as places become more urbanized, we have to make areas sustainable and hospitable. It’s important for Casey Trees and D.C. to be a model.”

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Trees — American elms in particular — are Sherald’s first love, one he gladly shares with Casey Trees. But the aspect of Casey Trees that he finds most important is citizen engagement.

“Casey Trees effectively engages citizens in understanding the value of the urban forest,” he said, “and Casey Trees’ educational tools help residents turn knowledge into active participation in restoring the tree canopy.”

In the long term, as places become more urbanized, we have to make areas sustainable and hospitable. It’s important for Casey Trees and D.C. to be a model.

Sherald participated in his first Community Tree Planting event last December at the Franciscan Monastery in Brookland. He was inspired by how many volunteers showed up and how enthusiastic they were to plant trees.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to gather with people of like mind and like interest,” he said. “It’s like a party. If you have a real — or even moderate — passion for trees, it’s for you.”

When he speaks with people about his involvement with Casey Trees, Sherald talks about how well the organization has been brought people together.

“Every person who volunteers will share the same experience and share it with neighbors.”

February 2012 | theleaflet

Giving Celebrate Ten Years of Growth — Become a Tree Champion Today On Feb. 13, Casey Trees officially turns 10 — a milestone for our organization and D.C. A decade ago, Casey Trees opened its doors with a very clear mission — restore, enhance and protect the tree canopy of the nation’s capital. Since then, we have planted more than 10,000 trees across the District, worked with hundreds of adults and youth and helped pass much-needed legislation ensuring the protection of one of our city’s most valuable resources — its trees. All this has been accomplished with your help.

As we enter into this new chapter, Casey Trees is looking to you again — a committed investor in our city’s future — to renew your support for our organization and our mission by becoming a Tree Champion.

Tree Champions are our most dedicated supporters, contributing a monthly gift of $10 or more to advance our restoration work in all eight wards. By making a monthly pledge, you will provide Casey Trees with an ongoing, reliable source of funding for our tree planting, education and advocacy programs. It is green, flexible and hassle free.

It truly does not take much for one individual to make a real and lasting difference: • $25 per month provides a dozen newly planted trees with life-sustaining slow-release

theleaflet | February 2012

watering bags, mulch and protective trunk guards.

• $50 per month sponsors a High School Summer Crew team member to water, weed and mulch trees for one week.

• $100 per month allows us to purchase up to a dozen 15-foot-tall, 200-pound trees to plant in the District.

Choose an amount that works best for you, starting at just $10 a month — less than $.50 a day. You may change or cancel your pledge at any time.

This spring, celebrate the past ten years of progress by renewing your support for an organization that has truly made a difference in your community.

Make your pledge to Casey Trees today and join us in making the next 10 years even better.

Donations are accepted securely online or via mail. Make your donation today.

LIMITED TIME OFFER! Starting now, if you become a Tree Champion monthly donor at the $25 per month level or higher, we will send you a limited-edition “Plant a Tree” tote bag. Made from recycled cotton, this reusable bag was designed especially for Casey Trees by our friends at Bare Tree Apparel. It is our way of recognizing your special commitment to Casey Trees and our entire community.

Offer applies only to the first 50 new Tree Champions, so sign up today!

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Tree Planting American Elm Restoration tree plantings included new species hybrids To help ensure a diverse and healthy urban forest and reach our Urban Tree Canopy Goal of 40 percent by 2035, Casey Trees plants a variety of tree species. Casey Trees also uses this philosophy for the American Elm Restoration (AER) program, which this year featured a few new species hybrids.

A great place to view some of D.C.’s grandest American elms is at the National Mall.

In December and January, the Tree Planting crew planted 200 elms, of which 150 were an assortment of the cultivars Casey Trees regularly plants, including Jefferson, New Harmony, Princeton and Valley Forge. The remaining 50 trees consisted of two types of Asian elm hybrids, Dynasty and Patriot, which were planted through AER for the first time.

The introduction of these two hybrids will add diversity to the local American elm population.

with the Urban Forestry Administration to identify AER planting locations.

Additionally, January was American Elm Restoration Awareness Month, during which Casey Trees published several informative blog posts about the American elm on Tree Speak. On Jan. 12, a record number of individuals tuned into Tree Talk Thursdays, Casey Trees’ free, online chat forum, to ask questions about American elms. An archived session of the chat is available online.

Since 2003, the AER program has added more than 1,750 American elms to the District to counter the devastating effects of Dutch elm disease.

For additional information about Casey Trees’ American Elm Restoration program and other tree planting programs, visit us online.

Among the American elm corridors Casey Trees planted along, a new half-mile median on Blandensburg Avenue in Ward 5 proved to be an especially great spot to include a stand of elms.

Additional planting areas included North Capitol Street, Nebraska Avenue NW in Ward 3, Missouri and Arkansas Avenues in Ward 4 and several streets in Capitol Hill. Each year, Casey Trees works

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February 2012 | theleaflet

Technology & Research New imagery shows changes in D.C.’s urban forest since the 1950s

By Michael Potts, GIS Specialist, Casey Trees | Casey Trees recently acquired 156 aerial photos from the U.S. Geological Survey. The photos were taken in 1951 and cover nearly half the city.

In comparing these images to ones from 2008, the decline in tree canopy that has taken place during the past 60 years is clear.

DUPONT CIRCLE — NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE NW JULY 1951

While American Elm Restoration Awareness Month was in full swing, the Technical Services & Research department used the historical data set to graphically show how notable American elm corridors in the District have changed.

MAY 2008

The image pairs below are from 1951 and 2008 and represent historic elm corridors in Dupont Circle (New Hampshire Avenue NW) and Capitol Hill (East Capitol Street SE). In both sets of images, you can see how the American elm populations have decreased substantially.

View more tree maps and online tools from Technical Services & Research online.

CAPITOL HILL — EAST CAPITOL STREET JULY 1951

MAY 2008 Areas circled in red show the significant decline in tree population.

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Planning & Design What It Could Be: Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE — Ward 8 A new recurring feature, Casey Trees’ Planning & Design department will look at an area of D.C. and demonstrate “What It Could Be” if it incorporated bioretention that promoted the growth of large shade trees. This month, we highlighted the potential at 2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. The drawing shows two different streetscapes, the current one on the left and the imagined one on the right. Notice the before design constrains roots whereas the after design gives larger trees more space for their roots, in turn preserving the sidewalk, encouraging growth and making streets biodiverse.

The extra soil space allows for stormwater capture, which removes pollution and helps prevent dirty water from entering our waterways. In many street boxes in the District, like those in the photograph on the left, additional vegetation impedes on a tree’s root growth and sends polluted water to the river through the sewer system.

Want to learn more about trees in low-impact development?

Register for a “Streetscape Design” First Fridays presentation on March 2, May 4 or Aug. 3.

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theleaflet | February 2012

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Education Winter 2012 classes remain open...register now!

Casey Trees still has continuing education courses available, including one Citizen Forester-qualifying class is also open to registrants. Register online for one or more of the classes below.

FEBRUARY

CITIZEN FORESTER-QUALIFYING COURSES

Forest Gardens

Tree Planting

Lincoln Smith, Founder, Forester, LLC Wed., Feb. 22, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Casey Trees Headquarters 3030 12th St. NE

Casey Trees Staff Sat., March 3, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

National Zoo Visitor’s Center 3100 Connecticut Ave. NW

Learn about an exciting way of producing what people need in healthy ecosystems. Modeled on a young natural woodland, a forest garden can produce food ranging from herbs, vegetables and greens to flour for bread. Besides food, forest gardens can also produce wood and other fiber for building, crafts and fuel.

Learn to select and prepare a tree planting site, choose appropriate species and properly plant trees to ensure survival. We cover the techniques critical to maintaining urban tree health, including mulching, watering and pruning. After lunch, participants will plant trees to test their new skills.

MARCH Tree Tour — Winter ID: Trees in Transition

Remarkable Trees of Virginia

Melanie Choukas-Bradley, Author of City of Trees Sat., March 10, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Rock Creek Park Rock Creek Trail and Beach Dr. NW

Jeff Kirwan, Co-author of Remarkable Trees of Virginia Fri., March 23, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Casey Trees Headquarters 3030 12th St. NE

Join us for a winter walk in the Boundary Bridge area of Rock Creek Park on the Maryland-D.C. border.

Observe the many native trees that are easily identifiable in winter — sycamores, river birches, tulip poplars and boxelders — and some head scratchers that put identification skills to the test.

Kirwan will mix science, history, literature and beautiful photographs to celebrate some of Virginia’s venerable trees, highlighting those that were living during important events in American history, including the founding of Jamestown, the French and Indian War and the Civil War.

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February 2012 | theleaflet

American elm stories from the U.S. National Park Service’s Barry Stahl For the last few years, Barry Stahl, horticulturist at the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) American elm nursery in Alexandria, Va., has collaborated with Casey Trees to instruct our staff, volunteers and High School Summer Crew members how to properly plant and care for American elms. In fact, the elms staff and Citizen Foresters pruned on Jan. 14 were planted by the Summer Crew in 2008.

Since the partnership with Casey Trees started, 90 percent of Stahl’s elms have passed inspection to be planted on the National Mall, up from 60 percent before Casey Trees engagement.

Stahl decided to discuss his love for the American elm and what it’s been like working with Casey Trees to help repopulation efforts.

Q: What is your favorite thing about elms and the work you do with them?

A: One of my favorite quotes is from Nelson Henderson. “The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”

This is the legacy that motivates my work with trees every day. I am very proud to be growing trees for national parks as I know they will be appreciated by millions of visitors. And I am especially pleased to be growing American elms as there is no other tree with its majestic stature.

A: For the past several years, NPS and Casey Trees have formed a mutually beneficial partnership. The pruning workshops are held to train Casey staff and volunteers in proper techniques and in turn, volunteers have accomplished much of the pruning needed on the 1,000 elms growing at any given time.

Q: Why is it important to maintain the American elms on the National Mall?

A: If you look at old photographs, you can see how many towns, parks and college campuses had avenues of elms beautifully arching over them, before they were wiped out by Dutch elm disease.

The National Mall is the only remaining planting of this kind. It is only through vigilant monitoring and treatment that these magnificent trees can be preserved here for all to enjoy.

Stahl leads a pruning workshop at the U.S. National Park Service’s

Though the next Stahl-led pruning workshop won’t be for months, consider registering for one of the classes on the preceding page and learning more about the urban forest.

Q: What can you say about Casey Trees’ engagement in NPS’ elm program at Daingerfield Island?

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Volunteer Casey Trees announces spring Community Tree Planting schedule We welcome volunteers of all ages and abilities but advance registration is required and space is limited.

Please note that school plantings are restricted to students, faculty and parents of that school.

Registration will become available on our Calendar of Events on Feb. 14. Groups of five or more should contact Liz Ball, Volunteer Coordinator, by email or by calling 202.349.1907.

MARCH DATE DAY

TIME

GROUP

REGISTRATION LOCATION

3 7 7 8 9 9 10 13 14 14 15 16 17 20 20 21 22 22 24 24 25 27 27 28 29 29 31 31

9:00 a.m.

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9:00 a.m.

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12:30 p.m.

12:30 p.m.

9:00 a.m.

2:30 p.m.

9:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

National Zoo National Child Research Center British School of Washington Kingsbury Center Phelps A.C.E. High School Spingarn High School Crestwood Citizens Association DC Prep PCS Chamberlain Elementary PCS Blow Pierce PCS J.C. Nalle Elementary School H.D. Cooke Elementary School Friends of Fenwick & Blair Tributaries Collegiate Academy PCS Harriet Tubman Elementary School Southeast & Tech Prep Academies PCS Maury Elementary School Powell Elementary School Langston Apartments Westover Drive Community Group Bread for the City Murch Elementary School Bancroft Elementary School Paul PCS Woodridge Elementary School Washington Jesuit Academy CPDC & Mayfair Mansions Apartments Michigan Park Citizens Association

3001 Connecticut Avenue NW 3209 Highland Place NW 2001 Wisconsin Avenue NW 5000 14th Street NW 704 26th Street NE 2500 Benning Road NE 1800 Shepherd Street NW 100 41st Street NE 1345 Potomac Avenue SE 725 19th Street NE 219 50th Street SE 2525 17th Street NW 1815 East Beach Street NW 4095 Minnesota Avenue NE 3101 13th Street NW 645/620 Milwaukee Place SE 1250 Constitution Avenue NE 1350 Upshur Street NW 2726 Langston Place SE Westover Drive & 31 Street SE 12001 Old Baltimore Pike, Beltsville, MD 4810 36th Street NW 1755 Newton Street NW 5800 8th Street NW 2959 Carlton Avenue NE 900 Varnum Street NE 3744-1/2 Hayes Street NE Bunker Hill Road & Michigan Avenue NE

Sat. Wed. Wed. Thu. Fri. Fri. Sat. Tue. Wed. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. Tue. Tue. Wed. Thu. Thu. Sat. Sat. Sun. Tue. Tue. Wed. Thu. Thu. Sat. Sat.

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WARD TREES 1 3 2 4 5 5 4 7 6 7 7 1 4 7 1 8 6 4 8 7

30 5 5 5 5 5 35 5 5 5 10 5 100 5 5 10 11 5 10 10

3 1 4 5 5 7 5

15 12 15 5 8 10 17

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APRIL DATE DAY

TIME

GROUP

REGISTRATION LOCATION

4 7 7 7 12 13 13 14 14 14 17 18 19 21 21 21 28

9:00 a.m.

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4:00 p.m.

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DC Office of Planning — Burke Park 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 Oxon Run

11th Street & Massachusetts Avenue NW 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 Valley Avenue & Wheeler Road SE

2 3 3 7 6 4 4 7 7 6 3 6 5 1 1 1 8

10 20 18 14 15 20 10 11 23 15 20 34 10 15 12 10 50

Calvin Coolidge Alumni Association & Friends of Tacoma Park Recreation Center

6315 5th Street NW

4

50

Wed. Sat. Sat. Sat. Thu. Fri. Fri. Sat. Sat. Sat. Tue. Wed. Thu. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat.

WARD TREES

MAY 5 Sat. 9:00 a.m.

SPONSORS

Events highlighted in pink will receive a select number of National Cherry Blossom Festivalsponsored cherry trees.

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The Nussbaum Family

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Arbor Kids Winter Neighborhood Tree Walk Though it may not feel much like winter, trees near you are still in their dormant state. It may seem pretty quiet this time of year, but there is still a lot to see if you know what to look for. What do you see in the winter treescape around your neighborhood, local park and school?

EVERGREENS

Do they have needles or leaves? Do they have cones?

LEAVES Some brown leaves cling to the tree into the winter before they finally drop off.

NESTS

Bird & squirrel nests in trees are now really easy to see with the leaves off.

SEEDS

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February 2012 | theleaflet

BARK Now is a good time of year to look at a trees bark. Do you see some different kinds of bark?

BERRIES Berries from species such as the American holly are food for animals during the winter.

CATKINS Some tree species have flower structures called catkins that are very easy to see in the winter.

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