Three successful plantings last weekend: more fun tomorrow

All three of last weekend’s plantings were bustling and successful. A total of 234 volunteers added 2,272 trees and native plants to the Portland-Vancouver metro area. Since October, Friends of Trees has planted 15,251 trees and native plants!

Portland City Commissioner Amanda Fritz planted trees with us at our Piedmont and Woodlawn neighborhood planting. We applaud her goal to plant in every neighborhood in Portland.

“It was a great day, and the crew leaders and neighborhood coordinators did such a an amazing job, especially organizing delicious spaghetti for lunch,” said Friends of Trees Neighborhood Trees Specialist Jesse Batty.

A group of neighborhood planters from gDiapers launched a hearty competition on Friends of Trees’ Facebook Fan page after the planting to win the heart of Friends of Trees’ mascot Garry Oak. The winner will receive a free Gift Tree and a valentine delivered personally by Garry. Friends of Trees celebrates Garry’s first birthday at this weekend’s Boise, Eliot, Humboldt and King neighborhood planting. Garry made his debut at last year’s Valentine’s Day planting in the same neighborhoods. Read more about tomorrow’s planting in The Oregonian.

Tigard Mayor Craig Dirksen joined our February 5 Green Space Initiative planting at Summerlake Park, where he thanked the 56 volunteers for all their time and energy.

And Friends of Trees Green Space Manager Logan Lauvray was impressed by the nearly 50 volunteers at Schiffler Memorial Park in Beaverton.

“I was really inspired to see so many local Beaverton residents come out and participate,” he said. “We had several nearby homeowners who joined us. They were glad to hear that some of the shrubs we were planting, Black Twinberry in particular, attract hummingbirds. Hummingbirds visit their backyards, and they were glad we would be adding to their habitat.”

Many thanks to the volunteers and community partners who made last weekend’s plantings successful, including Clean Water Services, the cities of Beaverton and Tigard, and Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services.

Tomorrow’s plantings will be just as exciting as last weekend’s. We’ll plant near SE Powell along the I-205 Multi-Use Path, at King City Park, and in the Boise, Eliot, Humboldt and King neighborhoods. At the neighborhood planting, two bicycling crews will haul their tools, stakes and trees by bike. We’re also hosting our first Neighborhood Greenway planting tomorrow.

–TR