West End Blogger

The City of Allentown Tree Grant planting beautified our neighborhood with 33 new trees.  The trees were free with home owners getting to choose the variety of tree.  The city dug the holes then neighbors helped to plant the tree.  A fun day in beautiful weather.  Thank you to the City of Allentown for allowing us to participate in the tree grant!

Want to participate in the next tree grant?  Contact Mary Douglass at 610.437.7110

Dear Neighbors,

Approximately 200 trees have been planted in our neighborhood since the first RGNA Tree Project initiative in the fall of 2012. It is wonderful to see so many young trees along our streets. Our efforts were featured in a Morning Call article in 2013 and more recently in a WFMZ Channel 69 story last May. We have been approached by several interested parties who would like to organize similar programs in other neighborhoods.

We are starting our fourth planting initiative for this fall. Orders are due by September 19th. The flyer is available at [WEBSITE LINK].  Additional information is available under the Parks and Garden web page and in the RGNA Blog.

How to Get Involved

We will follow the established plan that has worked in the past. There are three ways to get your name on the list and be a part of the initiative. Individuals may:

1.            Contact David Walker directly at (570) 657-6302.

 2.           Complete the RGNA Tree Initiative form available on the RGNA website or call Becky Bowen at (610) 434-4396 to have their name placed on a list to be contacted by David Walker, who will then call home owners to take an order or to schedule an appointment to visit the property and discuss options with neighbors.  

3.            The third way individuals may become involved is through Rick Howells, Tree Inspector for the City of Allentown, who may contact some neighbors directly regarding the need to replace trees along a city street.

Act now to replant the missing trees along our streets! We have enjoyed the majestic trees in our neighborhood for many years. They are the result of the action taken by others 80 to 100 years ago. Take action to help restore the beauty of our neighborhood!

Park and Garden Committee Members

Thomas Jefferson and Trees

I received an interesting note from RGNA neighbor Gregory Shamp last Fall shortly after we finished planting the first 48 trees as part of the first RGNA Tree Project initiative. It was a link to a fascinating excerpt from the Monticello web page about the trees of Monticello, many of which were planted by Thomas Jefferson, "the father of American forestry."

 I have admired Thomas Jefferson for many years and have always loved to visit the gardens at Monticello. I was thrilled to know that the project we have been working on is something that he would have endorsed wholeheartedly and that we are following in the footsteps of such a great leader. I have copied it below to share with you. Perhaps it will inspire more neighbors to replant trees in the RGNA neighborhood.

It is time to get involved in the RGNA Tree Project. We are gearing up for the Spring planting and now is the time to sign up. Information about the RGNA Tree Project is available at the RGNA home page.

The Trees of Monticello

I never before knew the full value of trees. My house is entirely embossomed in high plane-trees, with good grass below; and under them I breakfast, dine, write, read, and receive my company. What would I not give that the trees planted nearest round the house at Monticello were full grown.
--Jefferson to Martha Randolph (from Philadelphia), 1793

Jefferson undoubtedly ranked trees at the top of his hierarchical chart of favorite garden plants. Visitors to Monticello were often given tours of the grounds, which included a rambling survey of what one guest described as Jefferson's "pet trees." The image of lofty shade trees crowning the summit was constantly reiterated by visitors to Monticello. Even in his most functional plantings, Jefferson exploited the ornamental qualities of 160 species of trees. He planted groves of native and exotic trees; "clumps" of ornamentals adjacent to the house; "allées" of mulberry and honey locust along his road network of Roundabouts; plantations of sugar maple and pecan; and living peach tree fences to border his fields.

While serving as Minister to France between 1784 and 1789 Jefferson proudly distributed seeds of choice North American trees to friends in Europe, continuing a tradition begun with the earliest European explorers in the New World. He has been described as "the father of American forestry" for an 1804 planting of white pine and hemlock. His commitment to tree preservation was strongly suggested by a statement he allegedly made during a dinner conversation at the President's House: "I wish I was a despot that I might save the noble, beautiful trees that are daily falling sacrifice to the cupidity of their owners, or the necessity of the poor. . . .The unnecessary felling of a tree, perhaps the growth of centuries, seems to me a crime little short of murder." Thomas Jefferson's enthusiasm for the arboreal world was unrelenting. Two months before his death, at the age of eighty-three, he designed an arboretum for the University of Virginia. Such an epilogue to years of planting at Monticello was perhaps inspired by Jefferson's own adage: "Too old to plant trees for my own gratification I shall do it for posterity."

Native trees were often selected for functional purposes, while exotic trees fell into the "pet tree" category. Several specimens, original trees, survived the inhospitable environment of mountaintop experience into the 1990s. These include a red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), a species which, surprisingly, Jefferson said was introduced into his Albemarle County; a sugar maple (Acer saccharum), the lone survivor of his efforts to create sugar plantations in central Virginia; a European larch (Larix decidua); and one of the two impressive tulip poplars (Liriodendron tulipifera) adjacent to the house. Until 2001 when it fell victim to disease, a purple or copper beech (Fagus sylvatica 'atropunicea'), grew in "an angle" at the southwest corner of the house as a replacement for a Jefferson-era tree blown down in the 1950s; another copper beech stands in the northwest angle of the terrace that extends from the northern side of the house.

Source: http://www.monticello.org/site/house-and-gardens/trees-monticello

The RGNA Tree Project was in full swing on October 29th when Sandy struck our area. After three days of planting 14 trees, we were forced to take a break until the hurricane passed. Several homeowners scrambled to stake the new trees to protect them from the storm. One week later, while the sound of chainsaws marked the death knell for too many more of our beautiful old trees, David Walker, of  Walker's Tree Farm, resumed planting the rest of the trees ordered for our project. We planted a total of 48 new trees that now line many of our streets.

Partnering to Preserve our Green Canopy

The first planting is the result of a partnership among the Rose Garden Neighborhood Association (RGNA), the Allentown Parks and Recreation Department, and Walker's Tree Farm. City arborists Rick Howells and Rick Holtzman helped us understand the requirements for planting trees on the verge (grassy area between the sidewalk and curb), made recommendations about what species to plant, visited the Walker Tree Farm to assess the overall quality and health of the trees, issued a group permit, and coordinated the PA1 calls for each property involved in the effort. They also worked with many neighbors to assess the health of trees and to recommend appropriate steps to remove hazardous trees. The Walker Tree Farm provided installed trees at an incredible price. We estimate that neighbors saved up to 50% of the regular cost for an installed tree.  A 2" - 2.5" caliper Autumn Sunset Maple will cost less than $200. David Walker met with neighbors to determine home owners' needs and preferences and to help place trees along the verge or in the yard. Later he would return to plant the trees.

It was another storm one year ago that prompted the Park and Garden Committee to initiate the RGNA Tree Project. After counting 33 felled trees by early March, we decided to take action. The RGNA Steering Committee endorsed the project wholeheartedly, and on March 22nd, at the general meeting, we started discussing the Tree Project. By the end of the summer we had negotiated a great price for trees to be supplied by the Walker Tree Farm, a 100 year old tree farm located in Lehighton. We had to wait until the first frost, when the trees go dormant and it is safe to transplant them. The first Tree Project planting started on October 24. The result: many excited and happy neighbors marked the beginning of our reforestation effort.  

Overall, nineteen households participated in the project. Several varieties of trees were planted in the verges, including maples (Legacy Sugar Maples, October Glories, Autumn Radiance, Red Sunset, and Sun Valley); oaks (Pin Oaks and Red Oaks). Several other varieties, including Dogwoods and a Norway Fir, were planted in yards. Most trees were 2 - 2.5" caliper, although several owners selected larger trees for greater impact.

Other RGNA neighbors have planted trees independent of our project over the course of the planting season and we want to thank them for their efforts to reforest our neighborhood.  We encourage you to consider planting trees and to pursue an option that works well for you.

One more group deserves recognition - the volunteers (our neighbors) who worked to make this happen. For every cluster of new trees you see, there is a neighbor who coordinated the effort. Another group of volunteers worked on the tree survey conducted this summer. And a third group coordinated the overall project. If you believe this is an important objective for our neighborhood and have some time to help talk to neighbors and spread the word, contact Becky Bowen via e-mail at: jbbowen@enter.net or by phone at:  (610) 434-4396.

RGNA Tree Project 2013

Given the success of this first initiative, we will continue to promote the RGNA Tree Project as long as there is enough interest in planting trees and volunteers to help make it happen. We already have requests for the Spring 2013 planting. If there are 10 - 12 trees to plant, David Walker is willing to make the trip to Allentown.  We will begin to distribute information in the next few weeks asking homeowners to consider replanting trees along the streets or in their yards.  If you have been thinking of replanting, this is an opportunity to take action. We have tried to make the process as simple as possible and have obtained great prices on healthy trees. All you have to do is sign up by February 1, 2013. Your name and contact information will be given to David Walker, who will contact you to arrange a consultation at your house and help you decide what to plant and where to plant it. You may place an order with David or you can take a trip up to the farm to select and tag your own trees. (The Walker Tree Farm is about 20 minutes north of Allentown.) Planting will begin as early as the soil is workable at the end of March or beginning of April.

You may sign up at the RGNA General Meeting  on November 13th or by returning a Tree Project Spring Sign-up flyer to one of several volunteers working on this project. Additional information may be obtained on the RGNA website at: www.rosegarden-na.org. You may read prior blogs or look for links under the Park and Garden web page. Walker's Tree Farm contact information is: (610) 379-5658 or (570) 657-6302.

Take Steps Now to Preserve the Beauty of our Neighborhood

As I walked down Chew Street on a recent morning I watched as an old Norway Maple on Main Street was being taken down. Along the verge, three new Legacy Sugar Maples had already been planted. This is a good example of how we can manage the trees in our neighborhood. Where there are 80 to 100 year-old trees,  we need to think about renewal. At what point do we start planting new trees to take their place? Health assessments by an arborist can help owners make a decision about the best time to replant. We need to manage our forest.  We have lost too much of our green canopy and we need to take action now to prevent it from getting worse. We need to act to preserve the beauty of our neighborhood.

Fall Planting Project

Fall is a great time to plant trees and we are ready to move forward with the RGNA reforestation effort. We have made an arrangement with Walker's Tree Farm, located near Lehighton, to provide the service. If you are interested in planting a tree this fall or next spring, all you have to do is contact David Walker at (570) 657-6302 by the end of August to make the arrangements. We were impressed with the quality, quantity and size of their stock. Some of the larger trees were spectacular and would create an instant impact anywhere.  

Purpose of the Tree Project

One of the most beautiful features of the West End is the canopy of trees that still line some of our streets. Many neighbors have agreed that it is one of the most important features that attracted them to the neighborhood in the first place and are willing to take action to preserve it. Unfortunately, time has taken its toll and recent storms have accelerated the decline of our trees. The goals of the fall planting project are to: replace the many trees lost over the years; maintain the green canopy; increase the diversity of trees; and include some native species in support of the Audubon Bird Town initiative. We hope to promote several group plantings in the course of the next several years.

Summer Activities

The summer months were busy as we researched and learned more about planting trees in urban areas. We were disappointed with the news that we did not receive a TreeVitalize grant this year. In order to move forward, we identified a tree nursery that is working with us to help us achieve our goals by providing a volume discount on trees. In addition, we had twelve volunteers work with us to do an inventory of the trees in the neighborhood that will provide guidance about what to plant along the streets. We measured the width of the verge and the diameter of the trees at breast height, noted utility lines that restrict planting options, and identified existing trees. The process confirmed that some areas are desperately in need of reforestation.

Fall Planting Project Underway

The individuals who expressed interest in planting trees earlier this spring were invited to a meeting in late July to be introduced to David Walker and to discuss the process. Many have already signed up for a landscape consultation.

The Walker's Tree Farm of Lehighton, PA, is a family run business established in 1925 with over 100 acres of trees. If you are not sure what to plant and would like some guidance, contact David Walker: (570) 657-6302. David has already set aside two days to be available in our area for consultations with home owners or home owners may visit the farm to select and tag a tree. Trees should be selected by the middle of September for fall planting or by February for a spring planting. Walker's may be able to assist homeowners in finding trees not currently available through Walker's Tree Farm.

We have worked with the city to obtain recommendations about what to plant. The City has agreed to grant a group permit and waive the standard permit fee for each homeowner participating in this project. The City will also take care of the PA One-Call requirements to check for underground utilities prior to digging.

The trees will be delivered and planted by David Walker and his crew as scheduled with the home owner beginning after the first frost. Aftercare for a newly planted tree is critical. The homeowner may opt to purchase a Gator Bag to assist with watering.

Q&As:

• What should I consider when planting a tree?
  Look down. What is the size of the verge? Look up. Are there electric power lines along your side of the street? What are the existing trees and what can I do to achieve our goals? Discuss options with David Walker
• Can I cut my sidewalk to allow more room for the tree?
  Yes. However, we recommend that you work with a professional. The American with Disabilities Act (ADA)  requires that the remaining sidewalk be at least 36" wide.
• What can I do to minimize the root damage to the sidewalks?
  Plant a tree that is appropriate to the size of the verge.
• Where can I find the City's guidelines for planting trees?
  The City's guidelines can be found on the RGNA website under Park and Garden.  (LINK)
• What is the required distance between a utility pole and the site to plant a new tree?
  The National Arbor Day website and PPL recommend that homeowners plant a tree 20 feet from a utility pole for safety. (See RGNA Link)
• What kind of trees should we consider planting under electric power lines?
  The National Arbor Day website and PPL recommend that homeowners plant trees that will grow no taller than 30 feet.  Some recommended species include: Amur Maples, several varieties of cherry trees, Hackberries, Serviceberries, and others.
• Where can I find a source to learn about trees and help me decide what I want to plant?
  We are fortunate to live in this corner of the Lehigh Valley because there are three locations within walking distance where we can go look at trees. Muhlenberg College recently labeled all of the trees on their campus. Take a stroll and observe where they planted Sugar Maples, Red Maples, Honey Locusts, Sycamores and Elms. Cedar Crest College offers the William F. Curtis Arboretum, where you will find 36 magnificent labeled specimens, as well as other labeled trees that are not part of the arboretum collection. You can also observe and study their placement and use in the landscape. Stop at one of the main buildings to ask for a brochure to guide you. (I got mine in the library.) For more information see: http://www.cedarcrest.edu/ca/arboretum/index.shtm. The third option is West Park, on Linden Street between 16th and 17th streets, the place where children, for years, have gone to collect leaves for school projects.

Some helpful websites include:

• TreeVitalize - http://www.treevitalize.net
• National Arbor Day Foundation - http://www.arborday.org 
• PPL    -     http://www.treepeople.org/choose-right-place
• Audubon   PA   -     http://www.pabirdplants.org
• DCNR PA - http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/commontr/index.aspx

Contributed by Becky Bowen of the Park & Garden Committee

Approximately 30 RGNA neighbors attended a meeting at the Masonic Temple on March 22nd to learn more about what we can do to revitalize the 100 year old trees that have graced our West End streets and added so much beauty to our lives. The October snow storm took quite a toll on the neighborhood and it is sad to hear the chain saws and watch the trees being taken down as a result. This meeting at the Masonic Temple was the result of a discussion started at a Park and Garden Committee meeting to understand what, if anything, could be done--potentially in partnership with the city--to support an effort to replace the many trees that have come down recently.

The RGNA Steering Committee agreed that this should be a top priority for RGNA this year.

We are pleased to report that many meeting attendees expressed interest in helping to revitalize the tree canopy that initially attracted so many of us to this neighborhood. And now the work begins!

What is the RGNA Tree Project?

This is a new initiative and is in the formative stages. It is being developed by neighbors who have volunteered to work with the Department of Parks and Recreation to identify actions we can take to revitalize the trees in the neighborhood. There is one option available to us now and two other options currently under exploration with the city to present to RGNA neighbors.

Option 1 (Currently available): Work individually with the city in choosing a street tree for your property: Choose a tree from the City's approved City Street Tree List  (also available from the City's Shade Tree Commission at the Parks & Recreation office building). You'll need to get the City's approval for your tree selection and planting site before the City will issue you a planting permit, which you need to have signed by the City before you can plant your tree. Purchase the tree from a nursery and either plant it or pay someone to plant it on your property.

Option 2 (In the information gathering stage): The city has offered us the option of working together with their assistance to plant between 30 – 40 trees along city streets. If the city purchases the trees, we benefit from a volume discount on the trees and the materials needed to plant a tree. RGNA needs to solicit interest, select the trees and be available to work with the city employees on the day of the planting. The city will purchase the trees that are selected by neighbors; will dig the holes for planting along the streets; and will supply mulch and staking materials as needed. Several days before a targeted date, the city employees will dig the holes. On the selected date the city will deliver the trees to the planting site. This is when RGNA neighbors get involved - we need to be present and take on the responsibility of finishing the planting and then maintain proper care for the tree. We also need 8 - 10 volunteers to work with the city employees the day of planting to assist with the distribution and delivery of trees and materials. The trees provided will be 2.5 - 3 inch caliper (10 to 12 feet). With a volume purchase and assistance from the city we estimate the cost to the homeowner will be approximately $250 per planted tree (depending on the tree selected by the home owner).

We (RGNA) need to define a process to collect information and place an order with the city and a process to collect the payments for the trees. When we have sufficient interest, we will select a planting date.

Option 3 (Also in the information gathering stage): There are grants available for obtaining trees for neighborhoods that would not require a cash outlay on our part. The city would obtain the trees, and deliver and plant them at no cost to individual homeowners. However, we do need to participate in the solicitation process and, more importantly, to be eligible for these types of grants, RGNA would need to show in the grant that we have recruited 8 - 10 volunteers to become "tree tenders," who would agree to participate in a training program about planting and caring for trees. Grants are subject to the approval of other organizations and there is no guarantee that we will receive one. However, RGNA will continue to explore that option.

Complete a Results of Interest Survey:
To act as a group and benefit from options 2 and/or 3 we need to organize a tree project and for that we need cooperation and the assistance of neighbors. At the end of the meeting on March 22nd some participants completed a brief survey. Here are the results:

• Information sheets returned: 10
• Number of trees needed: 15
• Volunteers to organize the project: 6
• Interested in Training: 5
• Group Purchase: 6
• Volunteers on day of Purchase: 6

This is just the beginning. We need a small core group of organizers and we need to identify areas of focus for a pilot project to plant between 30 to 40 trees in the near future. I expect that we will hear from other neighbors who didn't return the form immediately after the meeting.

From the addresses of the first ten (10) respondents, the initial areas could include: Gordon, 31st, Arch and Chew Streets. The project, however, is not limited to these areas.

Next Steps

• Contact people who expressed interest in planting trees
• Form a core organizational group
• Meet with city arborist
• Determine how to do a tree inventory and design plan (i.e. guidance on selecting trees that complement the neighborhood, hearty, resistant to some of the more common diseases)
• Select pilot areas based on total West End participants and their areas of residence
• Determine a planting date for Fall 2012
• Solicit additional interest from other neighbors in those smaller areas
• When we have interest in planting a minimum of 30 trees, plan the event

What can you do?
If you have not signed up, please consider doing so now by calling Becky Bowen at 610.434.4396 or e-mailing: jbbowen@enter.net. We have demonstrated to the City that we can generate a group interested in planting at least 40 - 50 trees and are now working on establishing a planting date for early Fall. We can still use volunteers to define and shape the program and to make it a reality. The RGNA Steering and Park and Garden Committees feel strongly that this is truly a universal benefit to the West End. As this is our neighborhood, we strongly urge you to work together with us, neighborhood-wise, to achieve this goal.

Please stay tuned for more information as well, to be posted on the RGNA Park and Garden page, including Tree Lists, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), contact information for the Park and Garden Committee and updates on the progress.