The Commons

Queen Village’s canopy includes many Accolade Flowering Cherry trees. The species is one of the most adaptable trees to urban environments, and horticulturalists consider it a top choice for curbside planting. Photo by Dan Gibbon

As you and your tree come out of winter’s hibernation, it’s time to think about what you might do to ensure that you and your tree become or remain BFFs.

From Compacted Hibernation to Exposed Flares Take a good look at the pit your tree lives in. The soil is likely compacted, so it’s time to un-compact it—like shedding the layers of winter sweaters. Minding the roots, so as not to damage them, carefully work a shovel, trowel or soil knife in between large, woody roots. While you’re loosening up the soil, work on exposing the root flare—the place where the tree’s roots meet the trunk. Buried root flares restrict the carbon dioxide/oxygen exchange that is critical to the health of your tree. Gloved hands are the best tool for uncovering the root flare. If you

Outside and Waiting: Your New BFF Three easy steps to becoming Best Friends Forever with your tree.

By Dan Gibbon

want some help with this, I and other members of Queen Village Tree Tenders would be happy to lend a hand.

Mulch Moat vs Mulch Volcano When the soil in the pit has been loosened up and the root flare exposed, it’s time to add mulch. Be careful to keep the mulch away from the trunk of the tree and the exposed root flare, and lay down about three inches of mulch in the pit. Think in terms of a ‘mulch moat’ as opposed to a ‘mulch volcano,’ where mulch is piled up against the trunk. Your friendly tree tender will be happy to provide you with mulch.

Two Buckets are Better than One Last, but certainly not least, your BFF needs water to survive. For the first two years after planting, a tree needs about twenty gallons of water a week during the warm and hot months of April-September. That’s equivalent to one of those green gator bags full of water. While Queen Village Tree Tenders has a limited supply of gator bags, Home Depot has an unlimited supply of utility buckets. Here’s a great life hack for watering your BFF: buy two Home Depot buckets and put a dime size hole near the bottom of one. Put the bucket with the hole in the pit next to the trunk of the tree and fill it four times a week with the other bucket. The water will slowly trickle out, fully saturating the roots

Queen Village Tree Tenders believe every tree, especially new ones, needs a BFF. So claim one in front of your house or on your block. You can get those utility buckets for $3.25 a pop, or go in on a 20 pack ($55) with neighbors and share the love of watering! It’s a great block project, and your BFF will be singing your praises forever. Have a tree question? Let us know at TreeTenders@QVNA.org. ■

Philadelphia Gardens, Inc. URBAN GARDEN DESIGN + INSTALLATION CONTAINERGARDENS TONI ANN FLANIGAN 215.951.9193 WWW.PHILADELPHIAGARDENS.COM

Where Tree Huggers Go to Grow PHS’ Tree Tender training program starts in May

The PHS Tree Tenders Basic Training Program Dates: May 6, 13 and 20, 2020 Time: 5:45 p.m. until 9 p.m. Location: PHS Headquarters, 100 N. 20th Street 1st Floor Fee: $40 Register: http://bit.ly/TreeTenderTraining

On three Wednesday nights in May budding dendrophiles will unite to learn about tree care and planting during Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Tree Tenders basic training. This nine-hour course offers classroom and outdoor hands-on learning on topics including tree biology, identification, planting and proper care.

Tree Tenders are given the tools to plant and nurture trees in their own neighborhoods. More than 100 neighborhoods, including Queen Village, benefit from this PHS program. In fact, over the past five years, our community’s tree canopy has grown by more than 400 trees, thanks to Queen Village’s Tree Tenders. For more information call (215) 988-1698. ■

Cartoon: Jim Hunt

Did You Know? Queen Village Tree Tenders will source and plant curbside trees for Queen Village property owners, free of charge. If necessary, they even provide sidewalk cuts for the tree pit.

Each Spring and Fall, QVNA announces when tree applications are available in its email, News You Can Use. (Think April and November.)

In a chariot of light, from the regions of the day, The Goddess of Liberty came, Ten thousand celestials directed her way, And hither conducted the dame. A fair budding branch from the gardens above, Where millions with millions agree, She brought in her hand as a pledge of her love, And the plant she named Liberty Tree. The celestial exotic stuck deep in the ground, Like a native it flourished and bore; The fame of its fruit drew the nations around, To seek out this peaceable shore. Unmindful of names or distinctions they came, For freemen like brothers agree; With one spirit endued, they one friendship pursued, And their temple was Liberty Tree. Beneath this fair tree, like the patriarchs of old, Their bread in contentment they ate, Unvexed with the troubles of silver or gold, The cares of the grand and the great. With timber and tar they Old England supplied, And supported her power on the sea; Her battles they fought,

without getting a groat, For the honor of Liberty Tree. But hear, O ye swains (’tis a tale most profane), How all the tyrannical powers, Kings, Commons and Lords, are uniting amain To cut down this guardian of ours. From the East to the West

blow the trumpet to arms, Thro’ the land let the sound of it flee; Let the far and the near all unite with a cheer, In defense of our Liberty Tree. by Thomas Paine

215.886.6111 (Glenside, PA) 215.725.3637 (Philadelphia, PA) 215.572.6937 (Fax) www.libertytreecare.com

MIKE DUFFY Certified Arborist PD-1766A

Eco-conscious Reminders Are Afoot Students help connect stormwater and the river to your faucet

by Marissa Stern

Ever wonder who placed those blue storm drain labels on Queen Village street corners and why? Meet the River Ambassadors from the Independence Seaport Museum. An environmental education program for high school students, River Ambassadors provides intensive, hands-on science learning experiences about Philadelphia’s waterways -- and why and how to protect them.

Last summer, using materials provided by the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and the Philadelphia Water Department, River Ambassadors labeled storm drains in Queen Village and other neighborhoods to remind neighbors that any trash, chemicals or water runoff in those storm drains will end up in the Delaware River. In the process, the students learned why it’s important to keep our storm drains clean -- because the Delaware River provides drinking water for 15 million people.

“Storm drain labeling is important,” said Mara, 15, a 2019 River Ambassador, “because it encourages and reminds the public that storm drains are not for trash, but to collect water to prevent flooding.” According to the Philadelphia Water Department, about 75,000 inlets throughout the city collect stormwater runoff, which is known to be the number one cause of pollution to rivers and streams, the source of our drinking water. In addition to its storm drain labeling program, River Ambassadors participate in on-water activities, conduct daily water testing in the Delaware River’s boat basin and care for its floating wetlands, thus demonstrating that anyone can take small steps to care for our environment. To find out more, visit www.phillyseaport.org/ riverambassadors. ■

Supervised River Ambassadors label corner storm drains, reminding us that keeping them clean helps keep the river clean. Photo provided by the Independence Seaport Museum

Dog Run Improvements in the Works QVK9 rolls out short- and long-term resurfacing plans

by Holly Russel

The dog run at Mario Lanza Park, located in the 200 block of Catherine and Queen streets, will soon get a facelift. This project is spearheaded by QVK9, a group of Queen Village neighbors who volunteer to maintain and improve the dog run.

“Phase One” improvements include the gates, doggie fountain, and seating. But the biggest – and perhaps most exciting – project will be the resurfacing of the ground cover in the dog run. The current surface, which has seen countless pawprints and potholes over the years, will be replaced by clean, pet-safe gravel. Resurfacing is slated for summer.

“Phase Two” is QVK9’s plan to install K9Grass in the run, which is a more sustainable surface than gravel, providing better drainage and antimicrobial protection. The cost to purchase and install K9Grass is $40,000, and QVK9 hopes all dog lovers will donate funds for this project at www.QVK9.org. ■

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