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9/11 Survivor Tree

2021-09-07T16:18:50+00:00

The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance (9/11 Day), is a chance to help others in tribute to those killed and injured on September 11, 2001, first responders, and the countless others who serve to defend the nation’s freedom at home and around the globe.

Tree lovers may be interested to know that a special tree exists that survived at ground zero, a Callery pear tree became known as the “Survivor Tree” after enduring the September 11, 2001 terror attacks at the World Trade Center. In October 2001, planted in the 1970's, a severely damaged tree was discovered at Ground Zero, with snapped roots and burned and broken branches. The tree was removed from the rubble and placed in the care of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. After its 9 year recovery and rehabilitation, the tree was returned to the Memorial in 2010. New, smooth limbs extended from the gnarled stumps, creating a visible demarcation between the tree’s past and present. Today, the tree stands as a living reminder of resilience, survival, and rebirth. The Callery pear tree is planted with 225 other swamp white oak trees. The Survivor Tree is a natural symbol of resilience, rebirth, and survival.

The Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) produces thousands of five-petal white flowers in early spring before leafing out for the summer. Callery pears are known to be incredibly resistant to disease and blight.

September 11, 2021, is the 20th Anniversary of that tragic day. Join in, step forward to serve in a remarkable spirit of unity, honor, and compassion. Remember, even a small act of service is a giant act of patriotism. Share your service story and photos, and use #911Day on social media.

Volunteer: 9/11 Utah Day of Service Saturday, September 25th - Plant Trees with TreeUtah and Donate Food to the Olympus Food Pantry

A Brief History of the American Wetland Forests

2022-08-23T08:00:33+00:00

In 1764, 25 years before he would become the first President of the United States, George Washington and five partners formed a company called Adventurers for Draining the Dismal Swamp. A surveyor by trade, Washington had thoroughly explored the perimeter of a million-acre wetland forest on what is now land bordering the states of Virginia and North Carolina. He called this area the Great Dismal Swamp and described it as a “glorious paradise” full of creatures to be hunted. A paradise rich with natural resources. Still, the Adventurers for Draining the Dismal Swamp, empowered by the General Assembly of Virginia, who granted them financing and permission to cut canals through even private lands, undertook a massive venture to clear cut vast stretches, selling the lumber and the promise of soon-to-be dry, arable land.

George Washington and his company were, of course, not the only ones harvesting the lumber from American wetlands. In the last 300 years, the majority of wetlands in the contiguous United States have been lost to logging or converted to land for agriculture or urban development. When European colonizers first arrived in the 1600s, the land was covered in approximately 221 million acres of wetlands - by the 1980s, only 103 million acres remained. Twenty-two states have lost 50% or more of their wetland forests and six states have lost more than 85%.

Through the 1700s especially, wetlands and swamps in particular were considered blights on what could be prosperous land. They “bred disease”, restricted travel, and took up rich soil where crops could be instead - far from favorable for frontier folk. The choice to clear the wetlands seemed natural, because these new settlers were oblivious to the resources that prospered in them and the protection they provided.

In the mid-1800s, the US government passed the Swamp Land Acts of 1849, 1850, and 1860 – each turning federal land containing swamps over to states that promised to drain them. During this time, the US was going through a period of rapid expansion. The population was growing quickly, both through domestic childbirth and immigration. While the country was also expanding westward, the need for farmable land nearby was high. So, again, the choice to clear more wetlands seemed natural.

Over the centuries, the American wetlands - refashioned to suit its new settlers - have changed drastically. While clearing the wetlands made sense at the time, we’ve come to learn that wetlands are invaluable resources and the long-term effects of this habitat loss has become clear.

Wetlands are an essential part of regional ecosystems – in which we’re included. We need wetlands to sustain our water supply, both because they work to filter pollutants and because they’re a source of water. They also work to protect our communities from severe weather, like hurricanes and flooding, by dampening the force with which they hit the land and by preventing land corrosion. Additionally, wetlands sequester approximately 20-30% of global carbon emissions - peatlands on their own store twice as much carbon as the world’s forests despite covering only 3% of the planet’s surface. These areas are also home to unique wildlife and fascinating plants; one-third of the currently-listed endangered species rely on wetlands to survive.

As the second driest state in the country, it’s no surprise that wetlands account for only 1% of Utah’s total land coverage. Because they’re so rare within our state, that makes them even more valuable. In an arid landscape, we need all the water we can get and our wetlands provide a hefty portion of our water supply. They’re also essential tools in preventing flooding, the costliest and most prevalent hazard in Utah. Although Utah’s wetlands are still in danger, we thankfully have many individuals in our community working to preserve and restore these valuable features of our state. Nonprofit communities (like the Sageland Collaborative and TreeUtah) along with governmental organizations (like the Utah Geological Survey) and numerous individuals throughout the state are working hard to maintain our wetlands.

To get involved with TreeUtah’s habitat restoration projects, check our events page or sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on our latest projects.

Alternative Ideas this Valentine's Day

2022-02-12T16:00:19+00:00

For a while, Valentine’s Day in the United States has had symbols such as the heart shaped box of chocolates, a bouquet of roses, and romantic dinners to show your love for those you care about. Not everyone may have access to displaying their love for loved ones through these cultural symbols on Valentine’s Day however. Rather, this special day can be used to explore other forms of showing love built more on experience rather than the many disposable symbols of our Valentine's Day culture.

Donate

A non-consumptive gift idea that a loved one will appreciate this Valentine’s Day is donation through TreeUtah. Your donation to us allows you the option to select a tree for them, which is a great way to show your love through a physical symbol to that special person. We can send a personalized message through card or email to let them know about the tribute at your request too. Donating through our memorial tree program at Sugar House Park is another option.

With our mission to make Utah a better place to live, we will use these donations for the trees we will plant at our planting events in the spring. Know that each and every donation we receive will in turn help us plant more trees that will grow, bloom, and strengthen year after year just as your bond with a loved one will grow stronger year after year. We have many exciting volunteer opportunities like our upcoming tree planting events. You can register as a volunteer this spring. Follow for our updates about these events through our events page, our Facebook, or through Now Playing Utah.

Get Outside

Next, an inexpensive thing to do on Valentine’s Day is an outdoor activity. We do live in the beautiful state of Utah, so take advantage of it. An outdoor activity can be in the form of going on a hike or even gathering up a picnic dinner and eating it under the night sky. Order takeout by supporting local or make a simple meal from home and bring it with you. Leave your worries behind, bundle up, and enjoy the great outdoors and being in the moment with loved ones through this simple idea.

The Impact of Buying Flowers

The options are truly endless on how to spend your Valentine’s Day not in the form of heart shaped boxes of chocolate, roses, or expensive romantic dinners. While we are not saying that these are still not great ways to show you care for your loved ones, the floriculture industry for those bouquets of flowers bought in the United States and globally for days like Valentine’s Day isn’t without its problems.

In 2015, floriculture constituted 17% of imports into the United States and as of 2018, Columbia is one of the largest exporters of flowers like roses. The process of getting non domestic flowers from place to place is a relatively short process hopping from one country to the next because of the priority to maintain the utmost freshness of the flowers. Though the typical time frame flowers take to transport can vary based on the location they ship from.

In the beginning of their long journey from field or greenhouse to store to the ultimate goal of vases in our homes, flowers are refrigerated at around 50 degrees Fahrenheit while on a plane. The energy costs of constant refrigeration along with the greenhouse gas emissions of an airplane, freight trucks, and cars to get flowers to their final destinations begins to add up at a heavy cost. Carbon dioxide emissions from a plane ride alone constitutes a ratio of three kilograms of carbon dioxide per 1 kilogram of fuel.

While this very briefly covers some of the far-reaching environmental impacts associated with non-domestic rose production, supporting locally grown roses, opting for outdoor activities, or donating this Valentine’s Day are the more sustainable choices. What will you choose to do for Valentine’s Day?

Be Water-aware Tree Care!

2021-06-18T04:02:42+00:00

TreeUtah encourages you to be water-aware. Since summers in Utah are hot and dry, it is important to make sure your trees are getting enough water. Due to differing elevations, microclimates, and tree species, it is not possible to recommend an exact amount of water that any given tree needs, but follow the guidelines below to be sure your trees have the water they need.

Infrequent, deep watering is more beneficial than frequent, shallow watering. Unestablished trees should be watered 1-2 times per week to a depth of 2-4.” Deep watering ensures that the tree roots grow deeper in the soil, which allows them to be more drought-tolerant later in the tree’s life.

How to Check if Trees Need Water

Over-watering a tree can be just as harmful as under-watering, so be sure to check before watering. Use a garden trowel or even your hand to create a small, narrow trench near the trunk of the tree. The trench should be 2-4″ deep. If the soil is moist to the touch, the tree doesn’t need water. If the soil is dry, give the tree water.

Watering Newly Planted and Non-Established Trees

The first 2 years of a tree’s life is critical for survival. The tree is establishing its root system in the soil and is sensitive to stressors like heat and drought. Water a newly planted tree immediately after planting and routinely check the soil moisture often to be sure the tree has enough water for the next 2 growing seasons. After the tree is established, it will have an easier time adjusting to heat and drought conditions.

Gator Bags

Another easy way to be sure your unestablished tree has enough water is to use a gator bag. This is a zip-up bag that goes around the trunk of the young tree. Fill the bag with water and it will slowly drip out of the bag to water the tree. The bag will need to be filled about once every 5-7 days.

Look here for drought-tolerant trees: https://treeutah.org/tree-guide#climate-adapted-for-a-hotter-and-drier-future and here: https://cwel.usu.edu/water-wise-plants

Due to the severe drought right now, we recommend watering 2 times per week in Northern Utah and 3 times a week in Southern Utah to help extend the water supply. The goal during extreme drought conditions isn’t lush landscapes but rather “survival watering” to keep high-value plants alive like trees and shrubs. Grass is resilient and can survive with as little as 1″ of water a month. It won’t be green and will enter dormancy during times of drought and high temperatures but will recover when conditions improve. Thank you for doing your part to #SlowTheFlow! Find more drought info at: Drought.utah.gov Find drought tips at: SlowTheFlow.org

Cedar Breaks: What's in a Name?

2022-09-01T09:30:00+00:00

Cedar Breaks National Monument - located just south of Parowan in Iron County - is a natural amphitheater that stretches across 3 miles and has a depth of over 2,000 feet. The rock formations found here are similar to those in Bryce Canyon National Park but are more eroded. The meadowed rim of the amphitheater blooms each spring with Colorado columbine, scarlet paintbrush, orange sneezeweed, prairie smoke, yellow evening primrose, plantainleaf buttercup, and two species of penstemon among many other wildflowers. Visitors will frequently spot mule deer and porcupines, but will even more frequently see marmots, golden-mantled ground squirrels, pocket gophers, violet-green swallows, and ravens. The monument is home to several tree species, like bristlecone pine, subalpine firs, aspen, and limber pine among others, but one tree species is unexpectedly absent – cedars.

Originally called un-cap-i-un-ump or “circle of painted cliffs” by the native Paiutes, the monument lies within the traditional homeland of the Southern Paiutes, an area that spans across southern Utah, Nevada, and northern Arizona. Within the monument itself, archeologists have documented sites of ancestral natives dating back more than 10,000 years. It wasn’t until 1919, when the first automobile reached Cedar Breaks, that settlers of European heritage found substantial interest in the area. Shortly after the first machine-made venture into the area, a road was constructed that connected Cedar Breaks to the east side of Zion National Park, making it more accessible and therefore more popular. In the 1930s, visitation increased dramatically after advertisements were made showcasing the soon-to-be national monument – one of which read, “…countless grotesque and magnificent geological forms, caused by water erosion, anointed with all colors of the spectrum…”

Then, on August 22, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt officialized the area’s status as a US National Monument, christened with its longstanding misnomer, Cedar Breaks National Monument. While the monument certainly is a break, the word early pioneers used to describe what we now refer to as badlands, there were no cedars in Utah until they were introduced by new settlers. What the early pioneers mistook for cedars were actually Utah junipers, or juniperus osteosperma, of the cypress family. Utah junipers are found throughout most of Utah and are very drought, cold, and heat resistant. They’re hardy and they can tolerate a variety of soil conditions, even doing well in dry, rocky locations. They can be recognized by their small scale-shaped leaves and their gray bark. Although the Utah juniper does well in most growing conditions throughout the state, they haven’t become very popular for home landscaping. However, their hardiness makes them the perfect candidate for xeriscaping and water-wise gardening on properties with plenty of sun.

While its name might technically be a bit dishonest, don’t let that deter you from visiting Cedar Breaks National Monument. In the summer heat, its high elevation and its trees (although not cedar) provide a cool getaway. Besides, as Shakespeare put it, “what’s in a name?”

To learn more about trees in Utah, click here.

Close-up of a Utah juniper's branches

Climate Action! An Evening with the Park City Climate Fund Grant Recipients

2020-05-07T18:49:37+00:00

Monday, May 11, 2020, 5:00pm – 6:00pm MST

Join TreeUtah and other grantees for the Park City Community Foundation discussion with recipients of the Park City Climate Fund to learn about the ongoing work in greater Park City and discuss changes we can all make to reduce carbon emissions and contribute to the sustainability of our community.

Co-hosted with Park City Library, and featuring TreeUtah, Utah Clean Energy, Recycle Utah, and Park City High School Earth Club.

Please join us for this virtual webinar and get ready to take action!

Register/Join!

Creating Tiny Forests Using the Miyawaki Method

2022-08-16T09:15:00+00:00

The World Needs Forests

Forests are important. They are home to 80% of the globe’s wildlife population, they reduce soil erosion, lessen the impact of floods, and they remove incredible amounts of carbon-dioxide from our atmosphere, ensuring we have breathable air. The tropical forests alone store around 250 billion tons of carbon. Without forests cleaning our air, life on Earth couldn’t continue – at least not for us – but we continue to lose our forests at a concerning rate. Between 1990 and 2015, we lost 129 million hectares of forest (nearly 500,000 square miles). While deforestation has slowed, we are far from reaching a balanced, sustainable relationship with our forests. Our forests – and us in turn – will only survive if we deploy all available means to reduce deforestation and support new growth.

Afforestation – planting forests upon land previously unforested – can be a massive undertaking, but it’s one of the few things communities can do to soften the blow of global deforestation. Thanks to the late Akira Miyawaki, Japanese botanist and specialist in natural vegetation restoration, a method for afforestation has been developed that allows for small-scale, rapid forestation. This method is now commonly known as the Miyawaki Method.

The Miyawaki Method

The Miyawaki Method was developed to support the rapid growth of diverse native plant species in relatively small spaces with minimal maintenance. The method only requires a minimum space of 1000 square feet, grows ten times faster than naturally-growing forests, and the planted forest can survive nearly maintenance-free after only three years of growth. The rapid growth of Miyawaki forests is attributed to the densely-packed planting and the use of native plant species. Native species are, of course, going to be the best candidates to thrive in the selected planting location, because they’ve evolved over the course of centuries to do just that. A biodiverse selection of plants also lends itself to the long-term stability of the forest – diversity creates a layered canopy and ecological resilience. Then, being packed closely together, they’re forced into a highly competitive race to soak up the sunlight, resulting in rapid growth. After 20-30 years, the surviving plants and trees will reach heights that would have taken 150-200 years to reach in a natural process.

The resulting tiny forest is also densely-packed with benefits. In addition to supporting local biodiversity and the benefits that always come with new trees, Miyawaki forests are also 30 times better at dust and noise reduction and absorb up to 30 times more carbon-dioxide than monoculture planting projects.

Because the Miyawaki method can be applied in areas with limited land and resources while still resulting in a flourishing forest, it’s perfect for urban settings. A small parcel of land, whether it’s an empty lot or a small portion of a public park, can easily be turned into an urban forest. Urban forests are essential in mitigating the effects of climate change – both locally and globally. Our efforts on the local-scale to rehabilitate and create new forests is an important contribution to the global concerted effort to ensure a livable planet for future generations. With critical deadlines for meaningful climate action approaching quickly, we need to act quickly. Thanks to Akira Miyawaki, we have one more tool at our disposal to make swift, meaningful change.

Does Utah Have Native Fir Trees?

2020-07-08T19:16:38+00:00

On a recent rafting trip the guide said a good river trip is one full of interesting facts he can relate to guests, so his interest was peaked with a TreeUtah staff member on board. While TreeUtah does have a knowledgeable arborist on staff, that days staff member was not it, but luckily still had few great tree facts that would interest any river explorer. The question was posed as to what alpine trees were dotting the canyon we were gliding through between rapids, this is where a little Utah tree knowledge came into play!

You may be surprised to learn that Utah is home to only two true native firs, Subalpine and White Firs. Subalpine fir is native in high elevations and likes cool, moist sites. The blue green needles have distinct balsam scent. Try rubbing the needles between your fingers and take that fragrant scent in! Look for narrow cones, crowns in dark purple. This species is under threat from a tiny insect that is killing them off in a short period in as little as two years. Research is being done on this on why and how to protect firs.

White firs are sometimes confused with Blue Spruce due to the blue-green color and is also known as Concolor Fir (all one color). White fir live up to 300 years. These trees are also popular Christmas Trees and can be found in many mountain ranges including California, Oregon, Wyoming and of course Utah. White fir have a special trait to maintain lower limbs which are good for climbing and make a good escape route for all sorts of wildlife.

Spruce-fir is the fourth most common coniferous forest type in Utah. The majority of spruce found in Utah is Engelmann spruce and Blue spruce, valued as good timber.

The next time you are out Utah's canyons take some time observe the trees around you. Are they native? What role or function does the tree play? Do the trees look healthy and natural? What animals might use the tree and how? How many varieties are there?

The more we stop to look around, learn about and become aware of our surrounding nature the more we can do to protect what we see and teach others to do the same.

Fire Season and Restoration

2021-08-18T16:02:01+00:00

As climate change intensifies, so do natural disasters such as wildfires. Recent fires like those surrounding Utah have burned longer and hotter than usual. The recent Parleys Canyon Fire here in Utah hit closer to home than the national fires we have been surrounded by, Park City Fire District crews and other fire personnel were deployed to neighborhood to protect structures in Summit Park over the canyon crestline. One of the things that draws people to live in Summit Park is its mountainous seclusion of forested hillside, this vegitation close to motorized highways create an unfortunate threat.

While a real threat to structures, wildfire season in recent years have destroyed millions of trees. Many areas have been burned so severely that natural regeneration is not possible, making replanting necessary. Restoration is a long-term process, from assessing damage to growing seedlings to planting them over the course of many years,

TreeUtah is committed to restoring and preserving healthy ecosystems along Utah’s urbanized Wasatch Front. Native trees are important habitat for the wildlife and will ensure these animals can continue to thrive here. Planting young native trees will also limit the impact invasive species can have on this critical habitat area. The canyons of the Wasatch Mountains are the main source of water and recreation for hundreds of thousands of people in Salt Lake County. They are also a critical habitat on the edge of the Great Salt Lake Desert for many species of wildlife. The ecosystems of this vital mountain range are under pressure from the expanding population of the Wasatch Front. In addition to continued support of state and federal forest restoration efforts, TreeUtah pledges commitment to restoring critical community landscapes and natural forestlands devastated by wildfire.

You can help protect your home and stop the spread of wildland fires by following theseeight steps. “Remember – Only you can prevent forest fires,” is a critical message. While some wildfires start from lightning strikes and other natural causes, a majority are due to human activity such as the Parleys Canyon fire with a cars faulty catalytic converter.

Golden Larch Magic

2020-10-20T01:45:15+00:00

As you take your fall season drive looking for the brilliant changing colors in Utah's mountains the sight of the western larch (Larix occidentalis) and subalpine larch (Larix lyallii) are some of the most unique and bright trees you'll encounter and they have no leaves! Larch trees are conifers that are deciduous. That means that they have needles like an evergreen tree, but those needles turn bright gold and drop every fall just like a deciduous tree.

Mid-October in Utah is the best time of year to see the larches in their full color. The bright glow of the golden larch is the season’s last light as fall color fades to snowy white and the long lull of winter envelops the park. The larch is a secret magician, quietly blending in with the evergreens. But wait a few months into fall and the larch commands the landscape stage, its golden glow blazing then needles drop and leaving branches twig bare. Very desirable tree with beautiful bark and spectacular color changes in fall.

A little history research produced a fascinating find on the Western Larch in Utah, an excerpt from the U.S. Forest Service Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest:

"In 1907, The Salt Lake Herald reported that seeds of Western Larch were sown at the Wasatch Nursery. In 1912, the Herald reported that the Wasatch National Forest received a 2-ounce package of “high toned and aristocratic” Siberian larch seeds from the estate of Count Max von Sivers of Roemershof, Russia to be planted at the nursery. In 1913, the Herald reported that Count von Siver’s European larch seeds had sprouted, were to be planted that summer, and were the first larch trees in Utah. The Forest Service has not verified which larch species have taken root in Big Cottonwood Canyon as the agency was also collecting western larch seeds during this period.

In addition to the two small stands planted at Spruces Campground, a few more larch trees planted by the nursery workers have been spotted in Big Cottonwood Canyon. When the golden aspen leaves have fallen in Big Cottonwood Canyon, two stands of yellow/orange larch trees become prominent in late October on the north-facing slope adjacent to Spruces Campground. Spruces Campground was the former site of the Wasatch Nursery, which operated from 1906-1920 to grow seedlings to be planted on the newly created Salt Lake Forest Reserve in an effort to reforest the city watershed which had been impacted by logging, grazing, and mining. The nursery was charged with conducting “urgent forestry experiments” to determine which tree species could grow in the canyons. These larch stands are a remnant of the Wasatch Nursery, having survived over 100 years. Larch are one of the few conifer species that shed their needles in late autumn. These are the only known larch on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest."

To review; several species of larch are native to the northern U.S. but others were introduced from Europe. Larches are large and tall trees that reach 50-80 feet. This evergreen has deciduous needles that are up to 1 1/4 inch long. Larch needles are light green in color most of the year which then turn yellow in autumn before shedding. Cones are up to 1 1/2 inches long, egg-shaped and stalkless. Fun historical fact, Native Americans once tied the slender roots of Larch trees together to use as strips of bark for their canoes. More information on Utah conifers can be found here.

We hope you enjoy this fall season driving, hiking and wandering adventures, and don't forget to look for the bright colors of the conifers too!