Mother Trees are the oldest, biggest trees in a forest. These ancient trees share their excess nutrients with younger seedlings, provide homes and food to biodiversity, and enhance the resilience of forests in the face of challenges like climate change. Coined by forest ecologist Suzane Simard, the concept of Mother Trees demonstrates how people and trees are often more similar than different. Like Mother Trees, mothers can make families and communities more resilient through their care, wisdom, and strength. | This Mother’s Day, show your appreciation and love for the mothers in your life with a tree gift! Your tree gift will not only serve as a symbol of your love but will steward Mother Earth by supporting our efforts to grow and care for our urban forests. After making your tree gift online or by mail, Canopy will send a customized Mother’s Day e-card to your recipient and use your gift to grow our local urban forests. | |
Happy AANHPI Heritage Month! | |
Celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month with us! Join us this month as we recognize and honor the profound impact that our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander environmental activists have had on the environment. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram where we will post AANHPI community events and resources throughout the month. Let's amplify AANHPI voices and contributions as we work towards a more sustainable and equitable future for all. | |
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Looking for another way to enjoy the trees in your community? Join one of these Canopy events!
Sat. 5/11: Arborist-led tree walk in Palo Alto | RSVP
Fri. 5/31: In partnership with the Lewis and Joan Platt East Palo Alto Family YMCA, Canopy is hosting a FREE movie night on Friday, May 31 at 6:30 p.m. to celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month. Bring your family and friends to the YMCA to watch Disney’s Moana (2016). Snacks and drinks will be provided.
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Our Canopy is still growing! We’re seeking a dynamic Community Organizer to help build a movement toward environmental equity in Midpeninsula communities in the Bay Area, with a special emphasis on East Palo Alto. This position will lead an ambitious outreach and engagement program that addresses climate change issues in historically under-resourced communities. This is a full-time, hybrid position that starts July 1, 2024. Please share this opportunity with your network! | Farewell, Laura, Bria and Maya! | |
This month the Canopy team is sadly bidding farewell to Laura Groneck, Bria Blitch, and Maya Briones. | | |
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Laura joined the Canopy Team in September 2020 first as our Office Administrator and then dug in with her great talents as our Communications Manager. Laura’s impressive skills helped shape how we share the impact of our work with our Midpeninsula communities and beyond. We’ve loved having Laura on our team and wish her and her newly expanded family the very best! | | |
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Bria joined Canopy in August 2022 as the Tree Programs Manager. As the manager of Canopy’s Tree Program, Bria has done a tremendous job leading the community-based tree planting and tree care efforts. Bria is relocating to Seattle to be closer to family, and we look forward to her counsel as she joins our Tree Technical Advisory Committee! | | |
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Maya joined Canopy in May 2019 as the Community Forestry Coordinator for our Branching Out program. When she returned to school for her Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies she moved into the role of Advocacy Associate. Maya has been a critical Canopy partner engaging with our community members and local governments to advocate for urban forestry. We eagerly await updates from the newly minted Wildlife Biologist as she moves on to her new job as a Bird Nest Surveyor with Powerland Equipment! | |
Congratulations, Aubrey and Gabby! | |
And with these changes, we are delighted to share Canopy’s Aubrey Knier has taken on new responsibilities as our Interim Tree Programs Manager and ISA Certified Arborist Gabby Trudeau is now our full-time Tree Care Coordinator. Please join us in virtually congratulating Aubrey and Gabby or in person at a Canopy event! | |
Thank you to everyone who joined us on April 14th to celebrate the Power of Trees. Filling Mitchell Community Center with tree groves and enthusiastic tree stewards filled our hearts. With the support of our community, sponsors, and donors, we were successful in our $200,000 fundraising goal! The support means Canopy can continue to combine people and tree power to grow our urban forests and transform our Midpeninsula communities. If you were unable to join us, you did not miss your chance to make the work possible. The work of expanding our urban forests is only possible with the support of our community. Please give today. | |
Jack Owiki of Pro Bono Photo captured the event in wonderful photographs. The photos are shared on our Canopy Flickr page. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do! And if you couldn’t make it, feel free to take a look! | We thank everyone for sharing in our celebration and look forward to continuing the collaboration with all of you! | |
Earth and Arbor Day Events | |
Menlo Park | April 9, 2024 - To celebrate Arbor Day, Canopy and the City of Menlo Park planted 4 trees at the Belle Haven Child Development Center. Each classroom at the Center had the opportunity to learn about tree benefits and assist with planting the trees, including the red maple that Mayor Cecilia Taylor planted. | |
Mountain View | April 20, 2024 - Canopy and the City of Mountain View planted a coast live oak at Rengstorff Park to celebrate Earth and Arbor Day. To kick off the celebration, Mayor Pat Showalter proclaimed April 20th as the official Earth and Arbor Day in Mountain View. Laughs and connections were made as community members, City staff, and Canopy assisted Mayor Pat Showalter with the tree planting. | |
North Fair Oaks | April 20, 2024 - To celebrate Earth Day, volunteers from the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program, YMSL (Alpine Chapter), and community members from Palo Alto planted 6 trees at Garfield Community School in North Fair Oaks. The volunteers followed the tree planting with a trash clean up. | | East Palo Alto | April 26, 2024 - To celebrate the first official Arbor Day in East Palo Alto, Canopy and City staff planted a silver linden at the David Lewis Reentry Center. In the Arbor Day Proclamation, Mayor Antonio López shared how planting and caring for trees will improve the wellbeing of our East Palo Alto community. Canopy celebrates this incredible journey to becoming a Tree City USA, one of the goals of EPA's 2022 Urban Forest Master Plan. This could not happen without a coalition of people who care about the health and wellbeing of trees and communities. | |
Palo Alto | April 27, 2024 - Thanks to the help of our Teen Urban Foresters and volunteers from the community of Palo Alto, we planted 20 trees in south Palo Alto to celebrate Arbor Day! | | |
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Executive Director JP Renaud and Community Forestry Coordinator Arlene Nuñez GarcÃa spoke with Manuel Ortiz of Por la libre about bringing Midpeninsula communities together through tree plantings. JP and Arlene highlight how tree plantings not only improve the health of communities like North Fair Oaks but also connect people who are passionate about the wellbeing of people and trees. | | |
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Embarcadero Media, our local non-profit news source, shared an interview with Executive Director JP Renaud. Read about our work to bring communities together to foster a greener, more equitable Midpeninsula here. | | |
 
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Written by Assemblymembers Diane Papan and Damon Connolly, this op-ed argues for the passage of the climate resilience bond being considered for the November 2024 ballot by our state legislature. Papan and Connolly highlight how San Mateo and Marin Counties are already experiencing the impacts of climate change and how the passage of the bond will help protect and prepare our Bay Area communities. Canopy is proud to be part of a nearly 200-member state coalition advocating for a climate bond measure. | | |
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Check out this Canopy blog to learn how you can ensure your tree thrives in the warm and dry summer months.
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Tree Gifts and Dedications: | |
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Stephanie and IB Chang
in honor of Kammy Lo
Susan Rosenberg
in memory of Urban Cummings
Jenna and Robert Watchel Pronovost
in honor of Elizabeth May
John and Marcia Goldman
in honor of Catherine Martineau
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Bosch Community Foundation | |
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Canopy's mission is to grow the urban forest in Midpeninsula communities for the benefit of all.

Our vision is a day when every resident of the Midpeninsula can step outside to walk, play, and thrive under the shade of healthy trees.
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