April 29, 2008
D.C. Plants New, Tries to Save Existing Trees
With springtime comes anticipation of blooming gardens and leafy green trees. The federal government doesn't have quite the same excitement, we would guess, based on their recent slashing of the U.S. National Arboretum's budget, as the Washington Post reported this weekend. The $2 million eliminated from next year's budget could drastically cut public programming, research on rare and new species of plants, and permanently stall much needed expansion projects.
Even worse:
Supporters of the arboretum say the cuts threaten more than the park: The arboretum is an essential part of plans to revitalize the District's east end and clean up the Anacostia River. The 446-acre botanical park occupies a vast and strategic tract, bounded by the Anacostia and the major arteries of New York Avenue and Bladensburg Road. Along with the Langston Golf Course, the Anacostia River Park and the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, it is part of an 850-acre green space, half the size of Rock Creek Park.This isn't the first year the Arboretum has had their funding cut. Perhaps not the most glamorous of Washington, D.C.'s institutions, some folks note that if it had the funding of the U.S. Botanic Garden, they could finish a renovation similar to the one the Garden completed in 2001, which attracts a third more visitors now.
On the flip side, our local efforts to thicken up D.C.'s green canopy have been expanding. The organization Casey Trees offers many opportunities for interested folks to learn about tree planting and volunteer around the city, and even offers up goodies such as free trees and rebates.
Last Saturday, Casey Trees launched a pilot program, giving out free trees to Ward 5 residents. Volunteer Jessica Hanff said the response was intense -- they left to restock their inventory twice after running out, and gave away over 100 trees for local folks to plant in their yards. They hope to track the success of the planted trees, and expand the program to other wards in the future.
If you don't live in Ward 5 or missed the giveaway, but still want to plant a tree in your yard this year, Casey Trees offers a $50 rebate on tree purchases until May 31. Hanff reminded us that you should plant your trees as soon as possible, and really no later than May, when the summer months start to get too hot. (If you miss the window, autumn is the best time to plant trees anyway.) Casey Trees also has opportunities for neighborhoods to get together and green up their streets, through their Community Tree Planting Program, which gives out trees, tools, and other assistance to folks who will plant a minimum of ten trees.
Of course, many new trees have already been planted for the season -- 4,000 by the U.S. D.C. Dept. of Transportation's Urban Forestry Administration -- and will need attention from the community through the grueling summer. You can adopt one of these baby trees and get the hilariously named "Ooze Tube," a watering bag that needs refilling every two weeks or so.
Get more information about Casey Trees events and volunteer opportunities here, or support the National Arboretum in Northeast by visiting (directions) or contributing. The Arboretum grounds are open every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., free.
Photo by AmericnJewl
|
i'm all for trees. and Ooze Tubes.
it's sad that they want to cut funding for the arboretum. it's a great place to visit that seems to be very neglected. maybe they should turn it into a golf course.
There's already a golf course next to the arboretum. They should turn that into a go-cart track with a topless skeet shooting range.
Casey Trees also has opportunities for neighborhoods to get together and green up their streets, through their Community Tree Planting Program, which gives out trees, tools, and other assistance to folks who will plant a minimum of ten trees.
This is a fantastic program for anyone who is interested. We planted a dozen plus trees at the Rat's Nest last Fall and I can't say enough about how wonderful Casey Trees was!!!
I saw that a few days ago. I noticed that they were talking about cutting hours on the weekends, despite the fact that weekends are their most popular hours. Am I the only one that gets suspicious that organizations that have funding problems adopt a strategy of threatening to cut services in a way most painful to their patrons so that they'll be more likely to argue for more funding (or pitch in money themselves)?
I've seen other organizations do this. Like Metro. I love the Arboretum, and I hope it gets its funding restored. But if that's not going to happen, I hope they find a way to stay open on the weekends, even if it's not the most strategic choice to make.
Some suggestions on fundraising for the Arboretum:
* Paintball competitions;
* Wabbit hunting;
* Trebuchet competitions;
* Wild Panda Reserve (unshaved & untamed);
* Costco;
* Starbucks Outlet.
"We planted a dozen plus trees at the Rat's Nest"
Damn. A dozen plus trees? What sort of a huge estate do you live on?
@Reid
I live in a condo building that has an unusually large yard.
Reid, it could have something to do with staffing, since the weekends and late night on weekdays are the hardest to get people to work without offering incentives like overtime pay. Or that the folks working those hours rack up the hours all week long to be in the time and a half zone. I have no idea how they pay, but just musing...
There are definitely certain areas of the city where this needs to be expanded. Some of the streets in Adams Morgan/Columbia Heights could use some thickening of trees.
just a head's up, heather, it's the urban forestry administration and it's a division of DDOT, not the federal DOT.
hillrat - I think I helped you plant those trees, since I've been to practically every Casey Trees community planting in the last 3 years :)
school shooting in NorthEast. The Excels school?
@flapjack
Really? Thanks a million!
I think WifeRat got a couple of pix while the young trees were in full bloom. If so, I'll try to post some in the next few days.
Speaking of the Arboretum, the Bonsai Festival is being held there this weekend. If you've never been there before for this event, it's definitely worth checking out. Plus, the word bonsai is just fun to say!
i love trees. really, i do. new baby trees make me happy. old, tall trees warm my heart. when i see newly cleared sections of land for [ugh] more mcmansions, i just want to find the developer and shake some sense into them. (and then laugh when all their soil gets washed away and their grass dies from lack of shade.)
but trees, can't you love me too? why do you have to go and give me allergies after 25 blissful allergy-free years?
/sigh
Anyone want the 70 foot female ginkgo that lives in front of my house? Free, but you'll have to come and pick it up...
I live in a large apartment building, where a dead tree was recently removed from one of the tree boxes along the street out front, and hasn't been replaced. Does anyone know if I'm allowed to plant a new one there?
Does anyone know if I'm allowed to plant a new one there?
Good question. The person that coordinated the tree planting in our neighborhood is an urban forestry ranger or something like that. I'll ask her about it the next time I see her and get back to you.
Thanks, hillrat.
HCE:
For street trees (which is what I assume you are describing), you should go through the Urban Forestry Admin. They are under DDOT, but they are foresters. On their site you can request a replacement tree or request a permit to plant your own tree. Tree boxes are funky public/private partnerships - the city puts in the tree and has the responsibility to prune/remove the tree, but it's up to the neighbors to keep it alive and healthy. Don't get me started on where Pepco fits into this (tree hacking is their forte) but UFA is earnest in trying to keep the street trees alive and well.
UFA: http://ufa.ddot.dc.gov
Thanks for the information, sophiagrrl. I'll try contacting the UFA.