Friday, July 23, 2010

An idea of what is to come...

Fall 2010 Calendar of Events:

Saturday September 11th 9am-3pm: ERA Key Realty Garage Sale Fundraising Event (Tree Planting Demonstrations, Pruning Demonstrations, along with ways to contribute to our efforts)

Tuesday September 14th 5pm-7pm: Rain Date Tree Give Away

Thursday September 16th 5pm-7pm: Tree Give Away

Sunday September 19th 3pm-5pm: Train the Trainers (please register by emailing Ruth at ruth@treeworcester.org)

September 20th-24th: School Planting Week

Saturday September 25th 10am-5pm: Main South Celebrates (Crystal Park)

Saturday October 2nd 10am-12pm: Tree Give Away

Saturday October 16th 10am-12pm: Peace Park Planting

Wednesday October 20th 4pm-6pm: Tree Give Away

Saturday October 23rd 10am-12pm: Quinsigamond Community College Planting with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.


Ruth's Letter to the Telegram Editor

Sunday, July 11, 2010

WTI in the News

Worcester Tree Initiative in the Boston Globe

Worcester Tree Initiative in the Telegram

After six trees were found to be infested, with the Asian Longhorned Beetle, in Boston last week, people wanted to know more about the efforts to battle the beetle going on in Worcester. Mary Knittle, quoted in the article, is our steering committee co-chair and a long time Worcester resident. The Worcester Tree Initiative, along with the Worcester Forestry department and Department of Conservation and Recreation, are working together to replant and replace the 27,000 trees that have already been cut down. Our efforts are not just in response to the Asain Longhorned Beetle infestation, but also the 2008 ice storm damage. Worcester was in need of trees before any of this happened. We are focused on planting a variety of different trees, which will help to possible prevent this type of situation in the future. Once the trees are planted residents need to do there part to water and take care of the trees that are being planted. If planted properly and taken care correctly the trees being planted now will hopefully live for 80 years. We have only just begun to complete the task of replanting.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Check in Day...

Today Ruth and I went around to all of the schools where we have planted trees and checked in to see how everything is going. Are the trees being watered? Do they need mulch? Stakes?

Doherty- Great Job!
Holden Mayo- Being taken care of.
South High- We watered all of the trees, but there are signs of them having been watered. Need Mulch. Linden has been cut off in the middle.
Clark St.- Watered pears, need to contact school to discuss a watering plan. The dogwoods look good. One tree needs to be staked.
City View--In need of water. Trees along side were never planted.
Woodland Academy- Arborvitaes look slightly brown, but other three look great.
Nelson Place- signs being watered, Tupelo slightly distressed
Rice Square- Four good, the rest are in critical condition, one is dead. Need Stakes.
Goddard Elementary- One bent over needs stake. Slight need of water, but no clear signs of distress
Queen/King- Look Great!
May St.- Dead Cherry, rest look good.
Belmont- One need stake, Need Mulch, slight distress
Worcester State- They staked all the trees, look great!
Bancroft-Need Stakes, look good.
Thorndyke- Look Good
Worcester Volc Tech- Alive, but feel as if they are in the middle of a random place, not being taken care of.
Francis McGrath- The Plum was dead, blown over. Good water. Active Principal.
QCC- Need to work with them about watering, have Gators but empty.
Mass Audubon- Look good.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Love That Dirty Water...

The Asian Longhorned Beetle has moved East and officially been found in Boston. Six infested trees were cut down yesterday at the Faulkner Hospital. Unlike in Worcester, where the removal of 25,000 trees has occured in the past 2 years. This threat does not seem to have spread out of this specific area, which is close to the arboretum.


Boston Beetle Infestation

Boston Globe Beetle Video

Friday, July 2, 2010

Last Give Away Event of the Spring

After a rainy, thuderstormy day on the original day we postponded to the following week and had our final give away event. We held it at Worcester State College from 10-12 on Saturday, June 19th. We were able to give away 66 trees. We planted 4 Red Oak trees along the tennis courts. This was our best give away event of the spring. Almost everyone got a tree that they were happy with, all of the forms were filled out properly and the trainings were very informative and people asked tons of really great questions.











Please remember to water your tree (5 gallons, 3 times a week).