Garry is shaking with anticipation for Earth Month

Dear Diary,

Have you smelled the petrichor lately? I can’t get enough of that delicious smell after a spring rain. My tree friends are budding, my flower friends are popping, the days are getting longer, and I am trembling with anticipation—so much that you might think I’m a Quaking Aspen instead of an Oregon White Oak—because Earth Month is almost here!

Yes, we need a whole month! One Arbor Day and one Earth Day is just not enough. Think how big the Earth is and everything there is to celebrate: the lands and waters, plants and wildlife. All the ways that nature takes care of us and what we give back in return.

Speaking of taking care—in April we host stewardship events at our natural area plantings. If you’ve never been to one, you’re missing out. Maybe it’s not as glamorous as planting, but it is oh so satisfying to be a part of an epic bucket brigade and see a huge pile of mulch dwindle to nothing as we spread it around my native plant friends, newly planted and in need of some protection from the summer heat. Stewardship events are always buzzing with activity as people shuttle wheelbarrows and buckets from pile to plant. With warmer weather, almost everyone is in short sleeves and sunglasses!

To me, stewardship means real care over time. We don’t just plant and walk away. We do what we can to make sure trees and native plants get established so that they do more than just survive. They thrive! To me there’s no better way to celebrate Earth Month and the end of the planting season than by taking care of these new plants.

Another way to celebrate: Help Friends of Trees meet our Earth Month goal! Your support is how we meet our planting goals for the year AND provide all the establishment care trees and plants need. Thank you!

Sometimes on Earth Day I like to take to the streets to see how people celebrate. A few years ago, I went to Pioneer Square, and it was so fun to see people’s faces light up when they saw an oak tree waving at them in downtown Portland! All the kids were especially psyched, and I just LOVE that.

Maybe they’re just excited about my winning smile, but I always say that once you love one tree, you love them all. And if you love trees, you love nature. Earth Month is really about making sure that the Earth is well taken care of for future generations. And getting those future generations involved is super duper important. That’s why we have education programs and workforce training and planting events that are all ages!

Last year, Earth Month was extra special because we planted our Millionth Tree! I’m still treasuring that day, when so many supporters showed up at the Friends of Trees office to celebrate our history and everything we’ve accomplished together. And now I have a new best bud, Silvie, the silverleaf oak that we planted as our millionth tree.

Silvie is one heck of a tree. They’re tough enough to deal with the traffic and the heat. They keep their leaves all year round so they never take a break from cleaning the air. (I personally prefer to drop my leaves, but hey, we’re all unique.) Despite their toughness, Silvie is a generous tree at heart, eager to provide shade on folks walking down the sidewalk.

When I think of Earth Month, and when I think of that silverleaf oak, I think of resilience. The Earth is resilient, and will outlast even the oldest oaks, but for now we’re striving to live in harmony with it. It’s all about taking care of each other.

Take care,

Garry

P.S. Read my whole diary here!