URBAN TREE GUIDE
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Field Guide Book was written and designed by graduate students of Rhode Island School of Design’s Landscape Architecture department class of 2021. All of the photographs and works by other artist are reproduced and credited for academic purposes. Every reasonable attempt has been made to identify owners of copyright. Error or omissions will be corrected in subsequent editions. The original content and design of this book is Š Rhode Island School of Design Landscape Architecture Department. Printed and bound by Blurb. Typeface: Inter by Rasmus Andersson, August 2017.
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PVD Above the Shade LDAR 22ST Advanced Design Studio MLA Landscape Architecture, RISD
above the shade urban tree guide
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Introduction The Tree of Life. The Tree of Knowledge. The Sacred Tree. Every culture has them, every religion exalts them. But what of the urban tree? Every city plants them. Trees define the character of the city. Many have become iconic symbols of those cities. Trees are the living architecture of the natural world. Their trunks, branches and crowns envelop our world in gentle green embraces. Their change through seasons, affords us with ephemeral phenomena of brilliant color, shade, shape and form. Trees offer shelter, food, fuel and wood. Trees make us feel safe and content. Trees create oxygen as they breathe and store carbon. Tree roots stabilize soil and help maintain clean groundwater. Trees are the living witnesses of histories gone by. PVD Above the Shade is a field guide—albeit more like a literary bosque—an assemblage of select urban trees and their unique stories. The field guide’s primary purpose is to make its user pause and ponder about the subjects and the stories they hold. The stories are told not by arborists or botanists, but by artists, designers and creative thinkers whose aim and mission are to speak for the trees.
How To Use This Guide
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The Urban Tree Guide is made up of Six Chapters: Structure, Ephemera, Symbolism, Elemental0, Movement, and Habitation. Each chapter begins with ten plates of ten unique trees showcasing the visual characteristics of each tree corresponding to that chapter. Following the plates are narratives of specific trees that the collaborators chose to include in those chapters that reflect the overall concept of that tree story. Each narrative is supplemented by a map showing the location of the tree in the city. The map allows the user to take a rubbing from a tree tag as a keepsake of having visited that tree in person. Chapters and narratives are color coded in the same manner throughout the guide, starting with the table of contents.
Above the Shade Urban Tree Guide
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Tree Tags
Each tree is tagged with a custom tag allowing the urban explorer to find the trees and learn more about them. The tags are etched with symbols representing the specific tree species. This allows the explorer to take a rubbing from the tag as a keepsake of having visited the tree in person. Additionally, the tags are equipped with QR codes that link our fielders to the PVD Above the Shade website.
Foldout Map
The field guide is supplemented by a map showing the location of each tree in the city. This allows our urban tree explorers to see where the trees are, as well as their locations relative to each other. The map works in tandem with the tree tags, which allows the user to further explore the information about our trees.
Field Guide
The Urban Tree Guide is a field guide that features ten unique trees and their stories. The trees are organized among six chapters: Structure, Ephemera, Symbolism, Elemental, Movement and Habitation. Each chapter begins with illustrations showcasing the visual characteristics of each tree corresponding to that chapter. Following the illustrations are specific tree narratives that correspond to those chapters.
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The Website
The PVD Above the Shade website was developed for an interactive experience for our urban hikers. Videos and timelines detailing the artist’s/designer’s process of exploration, offer up tree narratives imbued with a medley of scientific fact, historical accounts and artistic interpretation.
3D
Building on the narratives of the ten existing trees are site installations that are meant to extend the dialogue between people and trees in a physical space. To foster new types of relationships and experiences with trees, the stories represented in the field guide and the website are drawn upon to construct installations that encourage a new level of awareness with trees in the landscape. As such, the installations are an attempt to establish an interactive connection between people and trees, which we hope will promote curiosity and thought, and prompt additional empathy for our arboreal friends.
yuxi liu
xin wen
xiaodong yang
ilya iskhakov
wen
yuxi
liu
93 London Plane, Platanus × acerifolia - The memory of a London Plane tree
xin
67 Thornless Honeylocust, Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis - Locust in Kennedy Plaza
55 EPHEMERAL
83 SYMBOLISM
xiaodong yang
37 Thornless Honeylocust, Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis - Honey grove on Kennedy Plaza
ilya iskhakov
23 European Linden, Tilia x europaea - Lindens on Gano
11 STRUCTURE
Above the Shade Urban Tree Guide 9
ruochen wang
xueying chen
yiling wang
geruihan xu
siqi rao
guoxi zhou
rao
geruihan xu
165 Weeping Willow, Salix babylonica - Dancer by the River
153 MOVEMENT
ruochen wang
223 Chinese Elm, Ulmus parvifolia - Foraging from an Elm
xueying chen
205 Northern Red Oak, Quercus rubra - Little Acorn Fairy
yiling wang
191 Thornless Honeylocust, Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis - Invisible Friends
179 HABITATION
siqi
139 European Beech, Fagus sylvatica - Feeling under the Tree
guoxi zhou
117 London Plane, Platanus × acerifolia - Peeling as Protecting
105 ELEMENTAL
contents
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Above the Shade Urban Tree Guide
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Chapter One Structure
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Structure
European Linden, Tilia x europaea - Lindens on Gano ilya iskhakov
Thornless Honeylocust, Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis - Locust in Kennedy Plaza
xiaodong yang
Tree architecture has been with us for a very long time. Our ancestors dwelled in trees long before they had inhabited caves. When it came to constructing with trees, we did not limit ourselves to the use of their timber. To this day, the people of Northeast Indian state of Meghalaya construct living infrastructure. By weaving aerial roots of the strangler fig, they build “living root bridges.” People in Costa Rica create living fences from tree cuttings. And, as any child who had the pleasure of playing in one can attest to, an ideal tree makes all the difference in a great tree house. More commonly though, we plant trees to serve as the living infrastructure of our cities and regions. Trees define and create spaces, they delineate territories, form corridors for pedestrians and wildlife, screen and frame views, serve as windbreaks and provide respite from the relentless sun. In the cities, amidst hardscaping and architecture trees provide balance, sanctity and sanctuary. They provide connectivity to the greater network of Earth’s biosphere.
13 Northern Red Oak Xueying Chen
Chinese Elm Ruochen Wang
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Yuxi Liu
London Plane
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18 Thornless Honeylocust Yiling Wang
European Beech Siqi Rao
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London Plane Guoxi Zhou
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European Linden Ilya Iskhakov
21 Weeping Willow Geruihan Xu
American Sweetgum Xin Wen
Thornless Honeylocust Xiaodong Yang
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European Linden Tilo europeo 西洋椴 Tilia x europaea
The Linden Room on Gano
I’m compelled to hug a tree as it hugs me with its embrace of generous green beauty The Linden Room on Gano is a small but palpable example of humankind’s shaping of the natural environment. Intentionally pruned for utilities at the top and unintentionally pruned by passing trucks below, the trees advanced their remaining limbs laterally. The resulting shape of the centennial survivors is a reflection of Nature’s resilience and adaptability to our reconfiguration of the environment. The narrative speculates on the history of a pair of European lindens on Gano Street and proposes a new street tree typology. Analyzing the species innate growth habits and comparing them against the series of events that shaped the trees’ current form and structure, the story posits the placemaking potentials of the unintended shape and proposes a way to cultivate an intentional one.
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Common name: European Linden Botanical name: Tilia x europaea Native Range: Europe Height & Spread: 50-70 ft x 30-50 ft Flower: Pale yellow, fragrant blooms in June followed by small nutlets attached to narrow, bractlike, strap-shaped leafy wings Leaf Color: Dark green, pale green beneath Fall Color: Pale green to pale yellow Linden trees have been cultivated since ancient times. The fragrant flowers are used in tea making and are loved by bees who in turn make delicious linden honey. In Europe, lindens, line city streets and boulevards. They are a typical tree for formal allĂŠes as they lend themselves well to structured pruning and pollarding.
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The Linden Room on Gano Intentionally pruned for utilities at the top and unintentionally pruned by passing vehicles below, the trees advanced laterally. The resulting shape is a reflection of Nature’s adaptability to our reconfiguration of the environment.
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Habitation out of Habit What can we learn from unintentional happenstance that can be used for function and intent?
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Movement out of Motivation Would it make sense to conceive of a new type of street tree?
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Linden Room on Gano: A story of two
The house on the corner on E. George St and
European lindens on Gano Street shaped by
Gano Street is constructed in 1900. Shortly
intentional and unintentional forces.
after, a pair of linden trees is planted.
Trees are pruned to make room for utilities.
Large vehicles, such as trucks and buses,
Directional pruning removes entire branches
which traverse Gano St, “prune� the canopy
to the main trunk to permanently hollow trees.
from beneath and on the sides.
With selective pruning and tree training, we
Sympodial growth pattern of linden trees is
can shape trees with more intention and less
also common to elms, locusts and sycamores.
detrimental to trees.
This is ideal for altering tree shape.
Tilted and tied back the tree is trained to
Once the tree is trained it can be harvested
grow in a leaned position. Primary branches
and installed to its final planting site. There,
are pruned for a balanced weight distribution.
the tree’s form is maintained by arborists.
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Streets of Providence get paved for vehicular
Electricity is introduced to Providence and its
traffic but our lindens benefit from being on
infrastructure shares the space with the tree
the path of a watershed to Providence River.
canopy above.
Pruned for utilities above and by vehicles
What can we apply from the lessons learned?
below, tree limbs grow laterally and the tree
Do we change our pruning practices? Can we
shape we see today starts to emerge.
re-imagine street trees? Perhaps we can.
Propagated trees are grown in nurseries
It is during their time at the nurseries that
where they are cared for and pruned to the
trees can be modified to fit a new typology.
desired shape and form.
Leaned away from utilities and buildings, the
Tree rooms like this could not only alter the
tree has more space to develop a its crown
way we view and use trees, they can also
and provide greater canopy coverage.
redefine our streets and cities.
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Elemental Engagement Hefty and grounded, lithe and surreal, the canopy of the linden reveals secrets to those with patience to seek them
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Love & the Linden Symbolism imbues the lindens with altruism, love, luck and healing, fidelity and fertility, justice and friendship, prosperity, protection and peace.
Throwing Shade Above the shade there lies a world, A world of which we may not know; Until we tilt our heads to thought and reach out to the words untold
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Linden Room on Gano Could re-imagining the urban canopy begin with re-imagining the street tree typology?
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Thornless Honeylocust Langosta de miel sin espinas 无刺美国皂荚 Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis
Honey Grove on Kennedy Plaza
It witnessed the past, it will change the future Honeylocust has been planted and replaced repeatedly on this site, from when it was called Exchange Place to when it was renamed Kennedy Plaza. The trees have not only witnessed the historical changes of this central location of the city but also impacted the way people used the space due to its innate placemaking quality. The honeylocust will continue to impact this space, and change the narrative of it.
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Introduction of Thornless Honeylocust Species features and growth timeline
Parti Diagram of Change Historical change of the function of the Kennedy Plaza
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Context Originally called Exchange Place in the 1800s and renamed in 1964, Kennedy Plaza has functioned primarily as a transportation hub and bus depot for the City of Providence, while also acting as a civic space for large events.
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It is a rectangular central plaza located at the heart of the downtown Providence between the city hall and the federal building. Regardless of changes throughout the history, It has always been served as a transit hub prioritizing various transportation systems, from horse carriage to trolley buses, automobiles to the public buses.
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By 1913 there was still no presence of any trees in the Plaza, the space is primarily still occupied by trolleys, horse drawn carts, and effectively acts as a parking lot for the new automobiles.
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The plaza is often associated with large social gathering event, including WWI Preparedness Parade and WWI Victory parade. During that time, trees first appeared on the Plaza, an ornamental garden was formed which offered a softer environment and a more grand view connecting the state buildings BUT were not designed for public engagement, mostly viewing and passing by.
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As auto industry is booming and gradually replacing the trolley, the plaza becomes used as parking lot for the several decades.
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Even though the ornamental garden grew in nicely and created a link within the space, no one would actually interact with it with the enclosure of the parking lot. The plaza had become even more focused around the bus and transportation and less central to public city life as the automobile revolutionized American life. The passive park-like gardens, traffic lanes and parking lots served many who drove in from the suburbs working around the plaza.
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In the 1990s, the plaza functioned a transportation hub and the majority of the users are passengers waiting for buses on the periphery of the plaza.
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The two recent decades had been a struggle for both the plaza and the trees as construction and renovations have taken place multiple times. Trees have been removed during each construction and what is worse is that more space is built up for the increasing bus lanes.
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Future of Kennedy Plaza as Civic Space By utilizing the honeylocust and raising people’ s awareness of the importance of the trees to this space, my goal is to reclaim the status of plaza as a genuine civic space for the people.
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Above the Shade Urban Tree Guide
Ephemera
Thornless Honeylocust, Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis - Locust in Kennedy Plaza xin wen
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Chapter Two Ephemeral
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Almost everyone is familiar with the seasonal characteristics of the woods, particularly the autumnal leaf color. Occurring around September and October in the Northern Hemisphere, the carotenoid and anthocyanin pigments that give trees their fall color appear in April to May in the Southern Hemisphere. Other ephemeral phenomena of trees less spoken about but equally as important and is bud break, a phenomenon that occurs during the growing season when buds open into leaves and flowers. All too familiar is the pollen that follows, albeit mostly to those who suffer from it. Before going to fruit and seed of myriad variety, many trees lure us and their pollinating pundits with their fleeting floral fragrances and promises of nectar. Shade too is a familiar phenomenon attributed to trees, changing with seasons, with the ever-shifting states of canopy and density and shape of trees. Shed of the leaves in autumn, trees serve to model different states of winter wear and wonder. Flashed by the bright streetlights, glistening icicles clad the branches the way that only nature can devise, and dark silhouettes creep up the sidewalks and the buildings.
57 Weeping Willow Geruihan Xu
Thornless Honeylocust Xiaodong Yang
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60 American Sweetgum Xin Wen
Northern Red Oak Xueying Chen
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London Plane Yuxi Liu
London Plane Guoxi Zhou
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Ilya Iskhakov
European Linden
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yiling wang
-thornless honeylocust
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European Beech Siqi Rao
Chinese Elm Ruochen Wang
Thornless Honeylocust Yiling Wang
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American Sweetgum Sweetgum americano 北美枫香 Liquidambar styraciflua L.
Color Story Fall Come, Color Come By comparing three American sweetgum trees living in different urban environments in Providence, this project focuses on the difference of their fall foliage color, comparing the natural and human factors causing this result.
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AGE
SUNLIGHT
Color Story Fall come, Color come. Why our leaves change color?
Let’s see American Sweetgum...
WIND
TEMPER
RATURE
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HUMIDITY
SOIL PH
MOISTURE
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Distribution of Three Sweetgum Trees They are at different ages and live in different microhabitats.
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Condition Record 1 From Sept 30 - Oct 19
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Condition Record 2 From Sep 30 - Oct 19
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Condition Record 3 From Sep 30 - Oct 19
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What Affect us? From Sept 30 - Oct 19
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LEAVES COLOR - THE HEALTH INDICATOR The leaf color changes of fall color tree species are closely related to the fluctuations of the content of various pigments and enzymes inside, which are strongly affected by environmental factors, such as temperature, sunlight, moisture, pH and so on. Each tree has different preferences for environmental factors, and this sensitivity to the environment can be reflected in the changes of their leaves color. What’s more, even the same tree species, once under different microhabitats, their leaves color will be different. That’s why our autumn colors are so diverse and charming. Therefore, the change of leaf color is just like a health indicator of trees, which to some extent indicates the adaptation status of trees to the surrounding environment and their preferences for growth conditions.
Above the Shade Urban Tree Guide
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Symbolism
London Plane, Platanus × acerifolia - The memory of a London Plane tree yuxi liu
Every culture on Earth has some type of symbolism attached to a tree. Trees symbolize life, wisdom, resilience, perseverance, and immortality. It’s not hard to imagine why. Their enormous sizes and lengthy lifespans embody the status of living relics. Methuselah, a bristlecone pine in California’s White Mountains, has started its life more than 2000 years before Christ had walked the earth and is turning 4,851 years old this year. Trees are symbols of status, prosperity and wealth. A city full of trees is a symbol of a healthy and economically sound city. Houses sited next to large mature trees tend to sell for more money. Some species of trees became emblems of the cities they were planted in because of their resilience and adaptability to city conditions. Some had suffered dramatic fates as a result of overuse and still some of those remaining are being unremittingly cared for and protected. We exalt trees because they are living witnesses to eras gone by. We want to protect them because their health and wellbeing particularly in cities, is an indication to us of our treatment of the natural world. After all, many streets throughout the U.S. and other countries bear the names of the most celebrated of trees.
Chapter Three Symbolism
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Weeping Willow Geruihan Xu
London Plane Yuxi Liu
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American Sweetgum Xin Wen
Thornless Honeylocust Xiaodong Yang
89 European Linden Ilya Iskhakov
European Beech Siqi Rao
Thornless Honeylocust Yiling Wang
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Northern Red Oak Xueying Chen
Chinese Elm Ruochen Wang
London Plane Guoxi Zhou
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London Plane tree Árbol de Londres 英桐/二球悬铃木 Platanus × acerifolia
The memory of a London Plane Tree
Listen with all your heart, the old London Plane tree is telling his story of the past.
Trees are memories of the long past history, They are the witness of the dark and the starry, The shape of their crowns and the texture from their trunks, Are the lyrics they write for their lifetime song. They sing with the wind and talk to the ground, The shimmering leaves and the shadows and the dance, That’s the way they sing their song, If you listen with all of your heart, you’ll hear the story of their glorious past.
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�My family is loved by people for many, many years. We are handsome, we can survive in compacted soils and adapt ourselves into small planting spaces. And more importantly, we can absorb pollution with our tree barks! We are just the perfect urban tree.“
we are tall and handsome
we are able to survive in compacted soil
we can adapt to small planting spaces
and absorb pollution with tree barks
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“I live in the back yard of Plantation Apartment. Close to both South Main Street and Benefit Street. I’m too old to remember the exact date when I settled here. But probably sometime around 1950’s. I was planted here originally as a street tree for the Pioneer Lane, which now becomes the stair entrance of the Apartment. Back then, streets around here all looked worn and gray, and many houses were abandoned. My neighbor trees told me it was all because of a huge war, old residents had died, and young people had built new homes beyond the hills. “ “All my tree neighbors were very friendly. My closest friend is the honey locust right next to me. I also loved to chat with the very old elms on Benefit Street. There weren’t many trees of mine species, only several on South Main Street. They were as young as I am. We talked through our roots underground for the latest news. Life was quiet and peaceful as I grew bigger and bigger.”
“Hi, I’m the Honey Locust living next to LonLon, my best friend!”
“Hello, I’m the old Elm on Benefit Street.”
“We are the young London Plane on South Main Street. We just moved here!”
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1950’s and Today
49 Benefit St.
Intersection of Transit and South Main St.
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“Suddenly, one day in 1956, a lot people gathered on the hill. The old elms told me people were protesting because the government decided to tear down many old houses of College Hill. The protest continued day after day. I crossed my twigs to pray for them, wishing them luck. ”
”Finally, the government changed their mind. This was the turning point of College Hill.“
”Look at all those drawings the designer created! They had such a beautiful vision of my home.”
The College Hill Study of Historic Area Renewal, 2nd. Ed, 1967
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“College Hill was designated as the Historic District in 1960 and also as the National Historic Landmark District in 1970. Over the next several years, the government worked closely with institutions and design companies to come up with the Improvements Program for College Hill. There was even a plan called The Greening of Benefit Street that especially made for us.”
“1978 was a year full of excitement. The Improvements project was finally finished. We welcomed 142 new streetlamps, new brick and stone sidewalk, and more importantly, 100 new London Plane trees! They were so young and shy back then. But now, they are all tall and handsome. They are the symbol of Benefit!
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“As time goes by, we all grow bigger and bigger. And our own character also became more and more obvious. Different textures of tree barks, irregular shapes of our trunks, and also our crowns. So that we can suit perfectly into our environment. “
“While at the same time, some of my friends also disappeared. They were drugged away by huge trucks because of the construction of the city. We mourn for their departure, but also celebrate the arrival of new fellows. They will one day be as tall as I am, keeping the city’s countless memories and passing them on forever.”
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To be continued...
Above the Shade Urban Tree Guide
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Chapter Four Elemental
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Elemental London Plane, Platanus × acerifolia - Peeling as Protecting guoxi zhou
European Beech, Fagus sylvatica - Feeling under the Tree siqi rao
Most cultures’ sciences were first based in elements that could be readily experienced with the naked human senses. Earth, Air, Water and Fire, were the four original elements. Although the Chinese Wuxing philosophy includes wood as an element, most cultures do not. Despite that, the tree has a potent and powerful connection to the elements. The tree is the sum total of the elements. Fire (sun) and air (carbon dioxide) are absorbed for its metabolic processes. Straddling the soil beneath, the tree is anchored in the earth where it holds and mines parts of that element. From within earth the tree takes up water. As it completes its metabolic process it exhales air (oxygen). When the tree becomes fuel, it gives back the fire, water (as vapor) and air (CO2) elements. The remaining ash that remains (carbon), returns to earth.
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European Beech Siqi Rao
American Sweetgum Xin Wen
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Thornless Honeylocust Yiling Wang
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Weeping Willow Geruihan Xu
European Linden Ilya Iskhakov
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Northern Red Oak Xueying Chen
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Chinese Elm Ruochen Wang
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Thornless Honeylocust Xiaodong Yang
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London Plane Yuxi Liu
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London Plane Guoxi Zhou
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London Plane tree Arbol de Plátano de Londres 英桐/二球悬铃木 Platanus × acerifolia
Peeling as Protecting
My bark is peeling, but I am not crying London Plane trees not only effectively sequester carbon, contributing to healthier carbon circulation globally, They are also air purifying machines. The bark traps toxic particulates and simultaneously gets rid of them by exfoliating its bark. Culturally, the khaki camouflage-pattern on the bark acts as a highly recognizable and historically changeable symbol for humans over many centuries.
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Introduction Platanus Ă— acerifolia in Shanghai
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Introduction Platanus Ă— acerifolia in Providence
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Self-Portrait People usually call me French Plane tree in Shanghai since it is the French who brought this tree to Shanghai, but actually I am a London Plane.
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Self-Logo I am a young London Plane tree in my 30s in Providence, Rhode Island.
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Overwhelming Underneath my bark, my body is filled with all kinds of pollutants, like greenhouse gases, PM10 particles, chemicals and so on.
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The Cove History Where I stand was next to the Cove, even though it has been completely filled, it still influence until today.
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Where is Carbon? Carbon is everywhere, except for in the big factories, from thousands of vehicles, everyday objects are also contain carbon just before your eyes.
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Global Carbon Cycle Carbon lives in cycles, nationally and globally.
Soil and Forest Carbon Cycle
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Ocean and Industry Carbon Cycle Ocean is a huge and usually unnoticeable place compared with industries which draw a lot of attention and amendments.
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Rhode Island Forest Resource There is totally 0.2 billion trees in the forests of Rhode Island.
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Meat Carbon Release People eating meat means releasing carbons, which is another kind of carbon footprint.
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Instagram QR Code of FrenchPlaneTree Love me? Follow me.
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Instagram QR Code of PVDSycamore Know more about me on Instagram.
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140 siqi rao chloe
European Beech Haya europea 欧洲山毛榉 Fagus sylvatica
Feeling Under the Tree
Sit down and feel the cooling tree Urban heat island effect is a big issue, but we may not all understand how it effects our daily lives. In this research, instruments were used to measure and compare the temperature and wind speed in the shadow of a European beech tree vs. in full sun. Feeling Under The Tree asks others to recognize the feeling of ambient heat to further understand the importance of urban tree canopy as climate change changes the way we live in cities.
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Impervious Surface and Building 2011 Providence
Tree Canopy 2011 Providence
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Land Surface Temperature 2011 Providence
Urban Heat Island Effect Occurs in highly developed areas with impervious surface and buildings, which tend to have less tree canopy and higher temperatures.
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Providence Temperature Rise Providence average temperature has risen 1.5 degree from 1950 to 2015.
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Dense Canopy
Impervious Surface
Low Branch
Little Understory
Huge Shade
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Kestrel This is a measuring instrument that can tell you the accurate wind speed and temperature.
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Temperature Measurement How do you feel under the tree? Now, walk out into the sun. How do you feel?
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Temperature Map The Burnside park is planted with many different trees that very specifically create a lot of shade and reduce the temperature.
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Wind Map Also, strategically planted creating a lot of wind that can filter the heat in summer.
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We Need More Trees In total, Providence’s street trees provide $2,932,731 worth of benefits annually in the form of energy savings, CO2 removal, air quality improvement, stormwater uptake, and aesthetic value.
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Chapter Five Movement
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Movement Weeping Willow, Salix babylonica - Dancer by the River geruihan xu
Trees never stay still. Throughout its entire lifespan a tree will grow in girth, height and width. Always stretching its roots and limbs to maximize its potential of receiving adequate sunlight, water and air, a tree works hard to outcompete its rivals as well as a slew of things that live and feed off it and is therefore in constant flux responding to the stimuli in its environment. When a tree reaches its mature reproductive stage, the movement takes form in the aforementioned dispersal of pollen, fruit and seed. However, relying on the elements and animals to disperse its progeny isn’t the only way for trees to get around. Moving with underground stems, trees colonize entire habitats. Our relationship with trees has also added to the tree movement. The Million Tree Initiative is a global, ongoing environmental movement undertaken by individual cities around the world to plant a million trees in each of the respective cities. Elsewhere in the world, there are initiatives to install green belts to stave off desertification and prevent soil erosion. And whether that movement is naturalized or artificial, complete or ongoing matters little. What matters is that we recognize the importance of the movement of trees.
Chapter Five Movement
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London Plane Yuxi Liu
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Thornless Honeylocust Yiling Wang
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London Plane Guoxi Zhou
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European Beech Siqi Rao
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Northern Red Oak Xueying Chen
American Sweetgum Xin Wen
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Thornless Honeylocust Xiaodong Yang
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Chinese Elm Ruochen Wang
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European Linden Ilya Iskhakov
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Weeping Willow Geruihan Xu
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166 geruihan xu esther
Weeping Willow Sauce llorón 垂柳 Salix babylonica
Dancer by the River
She’s swaying in the breeze, dancing with the wind The willow by the river is swaying in the breeze. The movement is graceful and gentle, the shadow thereupon becomes soft and subtle. You wander, and wonder where to go, there you stop under her shades. That’s the space she creates, making people feel at ease. She’s there, dancing with the wind.
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The Willow by the River This is a willow, a weeping willow. Salix babylonica is her scientific name.
The Providence River The willow lives next to the Providence River near the new pedestrian bridge.
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The Graceful Branches Her branches are so soft and graceful because she has a shallow roots system
The Graceful Branches n order to survive with her shallow roots system, she adapted herself with this kind of graceful branches to reduce wind resistance.
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The Shades in a Breeze Her shadow casting softens the texture of concrete, creating subtle and gentle atmosphere
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The Shades in a Gust
The Movement The 30 seconds movement at 18:18, September 10th.
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The Movement at Noon The wind helped create the fluffy effects
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The Movement at Dusk
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Oxherds Returning in Wind and Rain A painting by Li Di from Song Dynasty. He represented the movement of a willow right before a storm. — https://www.pinshiwen.com/cidian/ mhxs/2019050519016.html
Ecological Functions She is not only friendly to human beings but also grateful to the land she’s standing on
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Above the Shade Urban Tree Guide
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Habitation Thornless Honeylocust, Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis – Invisible Friends yiling wang
Northern Red Oak, Quercus rubra – Little Acorn Fairy xueying chen
Chinese Elm, Ulmus parvifolia – Foraging From an Elm ruochen wang
“Why not go out on a limb? Isn’t that where all the fruit is?” Just as our ancestors climbed the trees for safety, they also climbed them to gather sustenance. The etymology for the Tree of Life is almost entirely based upon one family of plants that encompasses roughly 850 species of trees—the Ficus (fig) family. Most of the members of this family produce more than one crop per growing season, feeding an astounding array of birds, animals and people. Trees often provide habitation in form of food and shelter at the same time, thus themselves becoming microecosystems. They support other plants, fungi, a myriad of insects, microbes, as well as birds and animals. Lignin, the carbon-based, complex organic polymer that gives the trees strength and rigidity, is what makes up the most common natural building material on earth—wood—the same material that has greatly expanded our human habitation. While our first use of wood might have been to fuel fire, we quickly learned to use it to build our dwellings and then we used it to explore and traverse the seas to colonize the rest of the world.
Chapter Six Habitation
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American Sweetgum Xin Wen
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European Beech Siqi Rao
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Thornless Honeylocust Xiaodong Yang
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Chinese Elm Ruochen Wang
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Thornless Honeylocust Yiling Wang
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Northern Red Oak Xueying Chen
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Weeping Willow Geruihan Xu
London Plane Yuxi Liu
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London Plane Guoxi Zhou
Ilya Iskhakov
European Linden
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Thornless Honeylocust Langosta de miel sin espinas 无刺美国皂荚 Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis
Invisible Friends
Hey! Come and meet my invisible friends Microbiomes attached to the trees are of great importance. They not only support the growth of the tree, but also enhance human immunity and mental health by being absorbed into our bodies.
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THORNLESS HONEY LOCUST AND ITS INVISIBLE FRIENDS
Introduction Basic information about thornless Honey Locust
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HOW CAN MICROBIOMES BENEFIT US BY GETTING INTO OUR BODIES?
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WHERE DO MICROBIOMES COME FROM? The environment is an important source of microbiome input that is required by human’s immune system. There was abundance microbiomes when the nature was more vibrant. Honeylocust is an old and widespread species in America. It is an important part of the cycle.
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Real microbiomes Microbiomes on the crops under microscope
Agriculture However, as the population grew, more and more forests were turned into farmlands. At this point, the microbiome diversity began to decrease in suburban areas for the farmlands were highly organized and controlled.
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Honeylocust One of the most commonly planted trees in such areas due to the advantages of easy cultivation and providing shade. Therefore, they assumed the responsibility of maintaining microbial diversity.
Real microbiomes Microbiomes on the tree under microscope
Real microbiomes Microbiomes on the lawn under microscope
Real microbiomes Microbiomes in the soil under microscope
During Urbanization In order to provide enough housing, large suburban housing developments were created. Those houses were laid out neatly with perfect lawns. This kind of environment with high hygiene standards further intensified the reduction of microbial diversity around people.
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Industry As industrial elements keep being developed and people’s living habits are changing, dust becomes overwhelming in the micro world.
Microbiomes and dust
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Microbiomes on Honeylocust
Micro world of the street
In the city of Providence Honeylocust is widely planted in Providence. They provide shade for us, relief our pressure by providing a lot of green, and what’s more important, they are the “home” for microbiomes.
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Modern living environment There is evidence that suggests that the increasing rate of population suffering from asthma, inflammation and mental disorders, is partially related to the disconnection between humans and microbiomes in the nature. IT’S TIME TO BE CLOSER TO NATURE. NOW!
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Real microbiomes Microbiomes on the tree are highlymicroscope beneficial for human’s under microbiome community.
Negative air ions that are produced by honeylocust can relieve asthma and tension.
The shade of honeylocust can lower people’s skin temperature by 1° Celsius.
203 Real microbiomes It is also important that the under microscope restoration of natural vegetation can do much more than a single type of tree on providing a diverse microbiome community. Real microbiomes And, GO OUT AND HAVE ACTIVITIES under microscope WITH THE NATURE! Check out activities you can have.
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touch a tree
lean on a tree
plant a tree
smell a tree
hug a tree
Activities you can have with a tree
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Northern Red Oak Roble rojo del norte 北美红栎 Quercus rubra L.
Little Acorn Fairy
Watch out! An acorn fairy just hit your head Northern red oak is a common tree in the New England area. It is a effective street tree with a fast growing rate. The leaves turn red in Fall, and the fruit is a great food source for many urban dwelling animals like birds. It is more than its appearance as its is also a critical habitat for many species and helps to clean the air!
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Scene 1: Meet the Acorn Fairy. One day, I’m walking under an oak tree, and get hit by a fallen acorn. I pick up the acorn, and suddenly, there is a flash of white light. The acorn transforms into a little fairy.
Acorn: Hello, I’m the acorn fairy. You are in this sacred land guard by me. Me: What is sacred about it? It is just a tree. Acorn: Just a tree? You should show some respect! This is a northern red oak who is about 50 years old. How old are you tiny man? It’s common in the New England area. The leaves will turn red in fall, and the fruit is a good food source for animals. This is a humble street tree that serve its duty with effort. Me: It’s a tree, what important duty does it need to complete? Acorn: Let me show you!
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Scene 2: Benefit for Urban Space. Acorn: Look over there, it is an energy factory that produce a lot of air pollution. Trees are working as air purifiers to help people get clean air. The leaves can go through the photosynthesis process that transform carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose.
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Acorn: It is a water filter. The roots can help the infiltration of surface water. Therefore, there won’t be too many puddles on the ground.
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Acorn: It is a scene creator. Cars are passing by, the river is flowing and the wind is blowing. A tree helps to create a mood of environment for you to enjoy a moment of quietness.
Me: Wow! What else?
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Scene 3: Homes for Animals. Acorn: The structures of the oak create a lot of opportunities for different animals to build home.
Birds build nest on the branch.
Beetles rest on the tree.
Squirrels live in the cavities in the bark.
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Ants look for food on the tree, and build nests by the roots.
Rabbits and moles also dig holes near the oak for good food resources.
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Me: I didn’t notice we had this many neighbors before.
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Let’s go out and explore now!
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Chinese Elm Olmo chino 榔榆 Ulmus parvifolia
Foraging an Elm
Do you wanna cook a meal with me? The origin of foraging can be traced back to prehistory, and it has always accompanied our historical development in different roles. In contemporary cities, the urban canopy is not only a connection between people and nature, but also a connection with different cultures. Foraging An Elm starts by looking at the productivity and material contributions of an elm tree, and illustrates how urban canopy influences our daily lives through foraging.
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The Chinese Elm Tree Hi, everyone, I am a Chinese elm tree, and I live with my three friends at 22 Washington Pl in Providence, Rhode Island.
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Introduced Species I was introduced to the United States in 1794 and have proven to be popular in recent years as a replacement for American elm killed by Dutch elm disease.
Bark texture The easiest way to recognize me is through my mottled pattern bark, often with shades of brown, gray, green and orange. This pattern is very similar to lace textile, which is why I am also called lacebark elm.
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Tree facts I usually grow up to 30 to 60 feet tall. Sunlight and well-drained soil can help me grow better. If you get closer to me, you can see the serrate margin on my dark green leaves.
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Fruits The seed samara is lime green in color and then turns brown in August. Delicious and containing a lot of crude protein and fiber. Also, my young leaves and even the inner bark are all edible.
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Urban foraging Besides hunting, foraging is how our ancestors harvested food before agriculture and farming took over. For our society today, this is still very important. Because it is not only a connection between urban residents and nature, but also a cultural connection. People living in the new environment can establish a connection with their home and surrounding contexts by foraging for plants they are familiar with.
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Urban foraging with culture Chinese immigrants gather Ginkgo fruits. They are usually toasted prior to eating and used in desserts, soups and with meat. Koreans gather flowers and leaves of White Wood Aster to make tea blends or to eat fresh in salads.
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American Indians gather Evergreen Huckleberries. This is a positive way to share cultural connections, our stories, and create new relationships.
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In addition, urban foraging is also considered to be related to food safety. Its potential lies in whether it can change the foraging structure of human beings to deal with the concerns of food sovereignty by strategically planting specific types of edible and nutritional trees.
Not only edibility, some of us also have medicinal and practical value. The leaves of the London Plane can reduce eye inflammation. Or like my hard timber can be used for furniture, flooring or even long bow construction.
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Cook a meal Now you can explore the city with your little basket! Lets make the elm salad! We need a bowl, some corns, 3crab sticks and of course our samaras! Boil the corns for 5 min and 3 min for the crab stick! Chop the corn and the crab stick. Mix them with any sauce you want. Now, start to enjoy it!
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above the shade urban tree guide
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The PVD Above the Shade, Urban Tree Guide, was a collaboration among Landscape Architecture students and faculty at the Rhode Island School of Design, The Providence Neighborhood Planting Project (PNPP) and their generous work with the Providence Tree Plan. We would first like to acknowledge our esteemed faculty, Assistant Professor JosĂŠ Menendez and Department Head of Landscape Architecture Johanna Barthmaier-Payne, who first conceived of this unique collaboration. We would like to thank the following collaborators who had lectured and contributed incisive information about the Providence urban forest, as well as the social, political and economic associations with it: Cassie Tharinger, the Executive Director of the Providence Neighborhood Planting Project, Sheila Dormody, Director of the Climate and Cities Programs at The Nature Conservancy, Leah Bamberger, Director of Sustainability for the City of Providence,
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Candace Powning, Program Coordinator at the Rhode Island Trust Council and PNPP, Society of Arborists and Doug Still, Providence Forester, Climate + Health Fellow for the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Molly Henry and Climate Change. Program Manager for the Rhode Island Department Of Health, Rachel Calabro. A big thank you to our critic Erik Kramer, former Associate Professor at the Rhode Island School of Design and Principal at Reed Hilderbrand, for his lecture on Boston’s Urban Tree Canopy Initiative and for the dedication to education and the improvement of the field of Landscape Architecture. Student Collaborators: Yuxi Liu, Gerihan Xu, Xueying Chen, Ilya Iskhakov, Xiaodong Yang, Ruochen Wang, Yiling Wang, Siqi Rao, Guoxi Zhou, Xin Wen.
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