Join us in celebrating Oak-tober this month by
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Tree Planting Basics Workshop
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Tree Planting Basics
Saturday, November 3
10:00 am - 1:30 pm
Location TBA
Session 1: Trees to Plant Now
10:00-12:30 pm
Ever struggled to decide what tree is right for your yard? You're not alone! Canopy has been helping local residents plant the right tree in the right place for over 20 years. This hands-on training will prepare you to plant a tree at your own home, or during Canopy planting events at local schools, parks, and neighborhoods.
After the planting, Michael Hawkins, certified arborist and Canopy's Program Director, will share
the best tree species for our area
, where to plant them, along with tips for how to select a good specimen and how to keep it alive.
Session 2: Planting Leader Training
12:30-1:30 pm
Canopy Planting Leaders provide guidance and instruction to groups of community volunteers by passing on their knowledge at tree planting and tree care events. In this session, learn the basics of engaging volunteers and what to expect at a Canopy planting.
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Other upcoming workshops:
Celebration for Community Foresters | December 8
Spring Dates Coming Soon
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Tree Planting Season is Here!
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We look forward to digging in with volunteers and residents to plant trees this season!
Check out upcoming plantings and sign up to volunteer by
Or sign up for
Volunteer Wire
to receive updates on
upcoming volunteer events straight to your inbox.
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South Palo Alto Tree Initiative
Let’s work together to increase the tree canopy cover in south Palo Alto!
If you are a resident of a south Palo Alto neighborhood, we are currently taking requests for free trees. Check out the
South Palo Alto Tree Initiative page
for complete details and to sign up.
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Crescent Park Tree Walk
Saturday, November 10, 2018
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Lincoln Ave, Palo Alto, CA
Spend a fall morning ambling through the Crescent Park neighborhood with expert arborist,
Herb Fong
. We'll touch on the great height of the tulip tree, the prehistoric ginkgo, the saucer magnolia, queen palm, dawn redwood, chinese tallow, and many more.
The Crescent Park Tree Walk begins on Lincoln Avenue between University Avenue and Hamilton Avenue.
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In this month's series, we're featuring
Sally O'Neil, Canopy's Board Chair and long-time volunteer, and Kammy Lo, Canopy's Vice Chair who joined the board in 2016.
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Canopy: What inspires you most about Canopy’s work?
Sally O'Neil:
Canopy provides a unifying center for our families, schools and communities. Canopy brings us together for the good of all, young and old. And Canopy provides terrific training in tree planting and care
—
for free! I've never found programs this extensive anywhere else.
C: Why do you care about trees?
SO:
I can't even list all the reasons! Trees relax and inspire us. They educate us. They show us about our environment and they provide homes for birds and other animals. There is nothing like the shade of a big tree when I am hot and tired from hiking.
C: What is your favorite tree?
SO:
My favorite tree is a gigantic Japanese maple that was in my parents' front yard in Virginia; it was beautiful all year long, then it turned a brilliant scarlet in the fall. My parents enjoyed seeing that tree every day for the decades they lived in that home.
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Canopy: What inspires you most about Canopy’s work?
Kammy Lo:
Every day I am inspired by the big vision held by this small nonprofit:
“a day when every resident of the Midpeninsula can step outside to walk, play, and thrive under the shade of healthy trees”
. This beautiful vision not only drives Canopy’s multi-year strategic plan and mission, informs its annual budget and resource allocation, but also guides its staff and volunteers on a daily basis how to prioritize their time and where to focus their effort. I hope you also believe in this vision, and together we will realize this ambitious dream
—
one tree at a time!
C: Why do you care about trees?
KL:
I developed a love for trees while growing up in the subtropical urban forest on the campus of Zhongshan University in Guangzhou, China. I used to spend hours chasing grasshoppers under the shade of many tall and handsome trees, and then dozed off at night with a lovely lullaby sung by hundreds of frogs and crickets that were so abundant in the small forest behind my childhood home. The loud yet endearing songs of cicadas on a hot summer day and the mysterious light from darting fireflies on a moonless night have been permanently imprinted in my childhood memory. Thinking back, none of these wonderful memories could have existed if not for the trees, because they provided a healthy habitat for all the critters... and my family and me!
C: What is your favorite tree?
KL:
I love all trees, but must confess my favorite is banyans. I love their massive, lush crown and aerial roots that seem to hang down from the sky. Banyans can grow very large because the roots they drop from their branches can merge into stout pillars. These false trunks provide extra support, enabling banyan branches to grow longer and send down even more roots. As a child I fell in love with these gentle giants that shade many old streets of my hometown, Guangzhou. Their presence makes me feel happy and protected. When visiting southern India to see my husband’s family or vacationing in Hawaii, I feel right at home in part thanks to the banyans easily found in these tropical areas. Incidentally, both the Indian and Hawaiian cultures seem to revere banyan trees.
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Soforenko Award Nominations Open
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The Soforenko Award recognizes outstanding development projects
Every year Canopy recognizes an individual or team for their significant contribution to our local urban forest. Now is your chance to nominate a project for this prestigious award!
We're looking for residential or commercial development projects that demonstrate a thoughtful approach to protecting and prioritizing trees in the urban environment.
The award will be presented at our Annual Awards Ceremony and Mayor's Tree Planting held January 24, 2019, in Palo Alto.
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2018 Soforenko Awardees: The 1400 Page Mill Rd Project Team with Canopy Executive Director Catherine Martineau
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Tree Spotlight: Coast Live Oak
In honor of Oak-tober, we are celebrating the coast live oak (
Quercus agrifolia
) in our monthly Tree Spotlight series. Check out the post to learn more about this historically important oak to the California cultural landscape.
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How to Care for your Native Oak
Ever wondered how to care for your California native oak? They are adapted to our climate of hot dry summers and cool wet winters, yet the average residential yard often does not match these conditions. We can keep oaks thriving longer if we follow a few critical tree care principles.
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More Trees, Happier People
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As cities grow, city trees usually fall. The city of Nashville knows that only too well as their population has grown 45% since 2000. To remedy the loss of trees, they launched an ambitious initiative, Root Nashville, to plant 500,000 trees across the city by 2050. The Nashville Tree Foundation is an important part of the initiative, bringing trees to areas where there is an intersection of low canopy and low income by hosting free tree giveaways.
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Special thanks to CAL Fire
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We're incredibly grateful to CAL Fire for
California Climate Investments Urban Forestry Grant
funding. Since 2008, CAL Fire funding has allowed Canopy to plant over 2,000 trees in under-served communities. These current funds are integral to supporting our
Branching Out program
in East Palo Alto and our soon to be launched school tree planting initiative in Redwood City. Thank you to the CAL Fire team!
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Review Canopy on GreatNonprofits!
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With your help, we can be a 2018 Top-Rated Nonprofit!
Last year, thanks to our friends and supporters, Canopy earned a Top-Rated Nonprofit award from
GreatNonprofits
, a platform for donors, volunteers, and others to share stories and reviews about nonprofits across the country.
This year, we're going for Top-Rated status again! If you've enjoyed volunteering, learning from, or partnering with Canopy,
please take a minute to share your story
. We still need 5 new reviews by October 31st to hit the target.
Thanks to all of you who make our work possible!
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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.
Canopy is proud to be affiliated with:
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