There are 21 plantings remaining, through April 10. (FOT file)

In its 20 year history, Friends of Trees has planted over 382,000 trees and shrubs in the Portland-metro area.

During our current planting season, which runs through April, this tally is going up every weekend.

It’s an impressive mechanism to watch: teams of volunteers lending each other a hand; and a dedicated staff working as long as it takes to ensure every tree at every planting gets put in the ground properly.

There are 21 plantings remaining between the Neighborhood Trees (NT) and Green Space Initiative (GSI) programs. Among them are this weekend’s Valentine’s Day planting—which is hosted at the Friends of Trees office on NE ML King Jr. Blvd.—and future bike plantings and a March 28 Gift Trees planting.

Here are some highlights so far from this season:

• The first of two Gift Trees plantings this season at Collins Sanctuary in Forest Park
• The I-205 Multi-Use Path is getting trees, and community members are excited
• GSI already planted in Tigard, along the Willamette River, and at the Audubon Society this season
• Oh, and before we forget, for those who haven’t signed up for trees yet, a special discount for blog readers is available.

Thanks again—and let’s get to planting trees!

–Toshio Suzuki

Staffer Melissa mulches amidst the snow at last year's gift tree planting in Wilsonville, Dec. 14. (Chijo Takeda)

-Dec. 5, Sat. 10 a.m., is a Tree Planting with Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge

-Rail Trail parking lot along Wintel Road-

-Dec. 5, Sat. 9 a.m. -1 p.m., is Neighborhood Trees (NT) Planting with Friends of Trees

-St. Paul Lutheran Church, 3880 SE Brooklyn St., Portland-

NT planting for the Buckman, Hosford-Abernathy and Richmond neighborhoods begins at 9 a.m. with Starbucks Coffee and Voodoo Doughnuts. Remember to dress appropriately and come out for the community planting! Walk-in volunteers are welcome.

-Dec. 12, Sat. 9 a.m. -1 p.m., is Green Space Initiative (GSI) Planting with Friends of Trees

-Durham City Park, Tigard-

Six plantings in and the GSI program has already planted over 3,300 native trees and shrubs. See what all the hype is about and don’t forget to show up early for the coffee, snacks and chit-chat. Remember to dress appropriately; and walk-in volunteers are always welcome.

-Dec. 12, Sat. 9 a.m. -1 p.m., is NT Planting with Friends of Trees

-Beaverton, meeting site TBD-

The NT crew takes its show on the road to Beaverton, adding to its running tally of street and yard trees planted on the season.

-Dec. 12, Sat. 9 a.m. -1 p.m., is NT Planting with Friends of Trees

-Brentwood-Darlington Community Center, 7211 SE 62nd Ave, Portland-

NT planting for the Brentwood-Darlington, Mt. Scott Arleta and Woodstock neighborhoods begins at 9 a.m. with Starbucks Coffee and Voodoo Doughnuts. Remember to dress appropriately and come out for the community planting! Walk-in volunteers are welcome.

-Dec. 17, Thu. 10-11 a.m., is Canopy Campaigns and Public Tree Goals with Alliance for Community Trees

Online webinar will share insights from national specialists on tree canopy estimates and the keys to balancing public relations with the implementation of achievable initiatives.

--For more information on any Friends of Trees events, please contact Andy Meeks at 503-282-8846 ext. 24 or andym@FriendsofTrees.org. For even more information, please contact Greg Tudor at 503-282-8846 ext. 12, or GregT@FriendsofTrees.org–-

—To submit an event listing, contact Toshio Suzuki at ext. 16, or ToshioS@FriendsofTrees.org—

Thanksgiving, Nov. 26, marks the two-month mark for this year’s planting season. In two months and only seven full plantings, Friends of Trees planted 3,631 trees and shrubs.

Not bad Green Space Initiative program (GSI)—not bad Neighborhood Trees program (NT):

Sept. 26, GSI planting/training, Browns Ferry Park, Tualatin = 120 trees & shrubs

Oct. 10, GSI planting, Mary Woodward, Tigard = 1800 trees & shrubs —complete coverage

Oct. 17, GSI planting, S. Portland River Bank = 700 trees & shrubs —complete coverage

Nov. 7, NT planting/training, Vancouver = 140 trees

Nov. 8, GSI planting along I-205 = 30 trees —complete coverage

Nov. 14, GSI planting/training, Audubon Society = 400 trees & shrubs —complete coverage

Nov. 21, GSI planting, King City Park = 320 trees & shrubs

Nov. 21, NT planting/training, Brooklyn & Sellwood = 121 trees —complete coverage

–Toshio Suzuki

Dave Pell, left, and Randy Lawrence of the Sunshine Crew manage the GSI planting in Tigard last Saturday. (FOT file)

Green Space Initiative kicked off its planting season this past Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Mary Woodward Wetlands in Tigard.

About 100 volunteers came out to help plant over 1,500 native trees and shrubs in the beautiful, sunny weather.

GSI staffers, Logan Lauvray and Betsy Lattig, begin a big season for their growing program. (FOT file)

The City of Tigard and Clean Water Services partnered with Friends of Trees to plant Red Alder, Big Leaf Maple, Doug Fir and Oregon Ash, among other species.

GSI has 25 scheduled plantings for this season and is forecasting to grow upon the 13,000 trees and shrubs planted last year.

“After a fantastic kick-off to our twenty-first planting season, I am brimming over with excitement for our 09-10 plantings!” said GSI Specialist Betsy Lattig.

Our planting season continues this Saturday at the South Portland Riverbank and with our Crew Leader trainings in November.

Follow these links for more information:

-Planting Schedules-

-Crew Leader Info-

-Volunteer Opportunities-

–Logan Lauvray

Volunteers at the 2008 south riverbank planting; Friends of Trees returns this year on Oct. 17. (FOT file)

Sept. 29 to Oct. 17 is Tree Steward training with Portland Public Parks & Recreation

Seven session course covers general and advanced arbor care, tree biology, identification, planting and preservation. Once trained, neighborhood tree stewards work with PP&R staff on tree projects. Class is for ages 14 and up and costs $25.

Oct. 3, Sat. 9 a.m. -2 p.m., is Old Apple Tree Festival with Vancouver Urban Forestry

Old Apple Tree Park, 112 Columbia Way, Vancouver, Wash.

Free event celebrates the Northwests’ most famous Apple Tree—aged 182 years—with live music, baking contest, and apple and tree cutting giveaways. Local arborists will also be available for questions.

Oct. 7 is Go Green 2009

Gerding Theater, NW 11th & Davis St., Pearl District

Governor Kulongoski, Mayor Adams and others speak on sustainable business practices. Here are the Top 10 reasons for going. Event runs all day and costs $175.

Oct. 10, Sat. 9 a.m. -1 p.m., is Green Space Initiative (GSI) Planting

Oct. 11-14 is Land Trust Alliance Rally in Portland

National conservation conference is anchored at the Convention Center and features field trips, like one led by the Nature Conservancy that will educate participants about the vanishing oak woodlands in the Willamette Valley. Pre-registration is closed, but walk-ins are available.

Oct. 15, Thu. 10-11 a.m., is the Value of Shade with Geoffrey Donovan

This webcast, sponsored by the Alliance for Community Trees (ACT), features Donovan of the Portland Forestry Sciences Laboratory, who will discuss new findings regarding energy and climate impacts and the use of urban shade trees.

Oct. 16, Fri. 12:15-1:15 p.m., is Urban Ecology with City Club of Portland

The Governor Hotel, 614 SW 11th Ave., downtown

Kathleen L. Wolf, research social scientist in the College of Forest Resources at the University of Washington, will discuss the social, economic and environmental benefits of trees in cities. Lunch is $20, coffee and tea seats, $5. Make a reservation at 503-228-7231.

Oct. 17, Sat. 9 a.m. -1 p.m., is Green Space Initiative Planting

Powers Marine Park, SW Macadam Ave., South Portland Riverbank

Friends of Trees’ GSI program returns to the Willamette River with this planting sponsored by the Bureau of Environmental Services and Portland Parks and Recreation. Planting season runs through April, with many future volunteer opportunities for natural area restoration.

Oct. 21, Wed. 1-4 p.m., is The Benefits of Urban Trees with Washington Dept. of Natural Resources

Pierce County Environmental Services, 9850 64th Street W., Tacoma, Wash.

This free persuasion workshop, featuring Brighton West of Friends of Trees, Donovan (listed above) and Courtney Dillard, strategic communication professor at the University of Oregon, will outline several recent tree studies that can influence public policy and the average homeowner in favor of urban forestry.

Oct. 27, 6-9 p.m., is Portland Eco-districts: A Natural Future

Center for Architecture, 403 NW 11th Ave., Pearl District

Panel discussion on Portland’s eco-districts will include architects, landscape architects and urban designers. Accompanying the panel will be a University of Oregon student exhibition. Free event is part of the Portland Architecture and Design Festival.

October is NeighborWoods Month 2009 with ACT

Join Friends of Trees and dozens of other organizations nationwide as we cultivate diversity in our local communities, one planting at a time.

--For more information on any Friends of Trees events, please contact Andy Meeks at 503-282-8846 ext. 24 or andym@FriendsofTrees.org. For even more information, please contact Greg Tudor at 503-282-8846 ext. 12, or GregT@FriendsofTrees.org–-

—To submit an event listing, contact Toshio Suzuki at ext. 16, or ToshioS@FriendsofTrees.org—