Coordinator’s Corner — July

Washington state’s Urban and Community Forestry Program provides technical, educational, and financial assistance to local governments, citizen groups and volunteers to help them plant and sustain healthy trees and vegetation in communities throughout our state. We are able to provide these services thanks to funding from the USDA Forest Service. In recent weeks, we’ve learned …

Cultivating Resilient Communities, a Seminar for Planners, Administrators and Others

This is the third year of our Community Trees seminar program. In 2015, "Asset Management for Community Trees" was most relevant to public works managers, and last year's "Quality Trees, Quality Cities" spoke primarily to those doing tree work in the field. Nonetheless, an often overheard comment during these seminars was "we should have had our …

A Tree to Try–Thornless Honeylocust

Thornless Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis) If you work with trees a lot, you’re probably thinking, “Honeylocust? Ugh… really? You’re recommending that tree?” The groan is understandable. Honeylocust was heavily planted in the late 80s and early 90s; we would say today that the honeylocust was overplanted. The tree is so hardy and tough, though, …

DNR Launches Rural Communities Partnership Initiative

Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz and DNR’s Community Development Director Josh Wilund launched The Rural Communities Partnership Initiative (RCPI) a few weeks ago on June 6, 2017. This initiative is an ongoing in which where the Department of Natural Resources will partner with communities to pair agency assets and expertise with sustainable development opportunities …

Defend Your Home from Wildfire! Cisco Morris shows you how

Do you know how to defend your home from fire? No, not standing on the roof with a garden hose but keeping the landscaping around your house healthy and fire resistant – especially important if you live in a rural area. Ciscoe Morris, master gardener and certified arborist, narrates four shows made for TV that …

Coordinator’s Corner — June

At this year’s Oregon Community Trees conference titled, “Diversifying our Urban Forests: People, Partnerships, and Trees," keynote speaker Dr. William Sullivan from the University of Illinois told us about new policies at the American Public Health Association (APHA) that seek to improve health and wellness through access to nature. I wanted to shout “Trees Are …

A Tree to Try–Japanese Tree Lilac

Japanese Tree Lilac, Syringa reticulata Lilac season is always too short; did you know there’s a way to prolong it? Yup, and not only that, but this cousin of our more common lilac bush is a sturdy tree that performs well here in the Pacific Northwest no matter which side of the mountains you’re on. …