Chadwick Stogner writes in…

We finished up the tree planting initiative this weekend, which was very successful for a first year effort with only several weeks of planning.

Due to some conflicts that arose with participants and the Decatur Garden Tour, we scaled back the events over this past weekend and focused on getting root balls in the ground. We are starting to prepare for next years event by tweaking the event schedule and starting earlier. We found most people who bought trees had been planning to plant already, and took advantage of the great selection and pricing that was offered.

We were able, however, to squeeze in several fun tree related events to close out this years festival:

• Lori Nichols, who drew the tree for our logo, read her new book Maple (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqHXHjPPcK0) at Little Shop of Stories and Claremont Elementary School to kick off the week.
• Remember the Black Walnut Tree From Decatur Presbyterian ( http://www.decaturmetro.com/2012/06/08/god-furniture-and-guts-the-treecycling-story-of-the-old-black-walnut-at-decatur-presbyterian-church/) ? Well the wood cured out nicely, and my good friend Charles Gamble made a simple cross from some of the wood for Dr. Todd Speed and his congregation that was presented during their Sunday Morning service.
• Another round of tree recycling was attempted on the infamous White Oak from Melrose Place.  Using a 6 foot chainsaw and a portable band saw the wood was quartered and put onto the mill. This old oak was intended to be recycled into rafter boards to restore an historic Decatur house. The wood proved to be almost completely unsuitable for structural or woodworking uses – highlighting the downside of processing urban wood – due to a dry rot and staining from lots and lots of metal imbedded in the trunk over the years.

All and all, we really think a strong foundation has been laid for a quality event that will grow each year, and benefit the Decatur community and our Tree Canopy.

We would like to especially thank our Curators: Deanna Pope-Ozio, Ryan Gainey, Cooper Sanchez, and Cheryl Melton as well as our sponsors: Intown Wholesale Nursery, Heirloom Tree and Garden , Keller Knapp Realty, Elegant Earth, and Fred Boykin – City Commissioner ( District 1 ) – for making this 1st years festival such a success!

See you Next Year.

Chadwick sends along a picture of the mayor accepting the donation of a 30’+ Willow Oak from an donor Michael Jackson of Heirloom Tree and Garden as part of the kick off for the Decatur Arbor Festival tree display going on next to the Marlay starting today.  From the event flyer…

Samples of trees and experts who can help you select will be at The Gate Called Beautiful next to The Marlay Feb 21st, 22nd, and 23rd to kick off the ordering period which lasts through March 2nd. After the 23rd, order forms can be dropped off at participating local sponsors.

You can view the order form and tree selection list HERE.

Chadwick writes in…

I am pleased to announce that Mayor Baskett has agreed to accept on behalf of the City of Decatur a 9.5” Caliper Hightower Willow Oak donated by Heirloom Tree and Garden, a participant and sponsor of the Decatur Arbor Day Festival. This will probably be the largest tree ever planted within the city, and is a fitting way to commemorate the Arbor Day declaration by the City Commission, the 1st Annual Decatur Arbor Day Festival, and the mayors personal commitment to preserving the city’s tree canopy. The tree will be delivered to the grass lot next to The Marlay tomorrow as it awaits it’s permanent home – possibly in the Decatur Cemetery. Michael and his team at Heirloom are highly talented in large tree rescue and planting: here they are shown moving a large caliper Red Oak. The combination of being masters in plant science and having the largest equipment in the industry allows them to do things with trees that most think is impossible.

Interested in planting a new tree on your property this Spring?  Chadwick sends along the Arbor Day “Tree Menu” (view the PDF HERE) for your perusal “sourced for the highest quality local growers” at “fantastic prices”.

As the menu states, the it was curated by local gardeners and landscapers Ryan Gainey, Deanna Pope Ozio, Cheryl Melton and Cooper Sanchez.

Chadwick writes in…

Tree Canopy Goal? There’s a Festival for that!

Ever since the new tree ordinance was proposed, I have been talking with my friends in the design and horticulture community about the issue. Many understood why Mayor Baskett took the tough step of proposing a new ordinance; however, they were pained that a few individuals had created a situation where the community as a whole could face punitive measures for an environment they did not help to create.

At the commission meeting on the 21st, Commissioner Drake’s comment about trusting the citizens of Decatur and the commission’s discussion about an incentive based solution to the problem really resonated with my peers. Just like The Brick Store is with beer, or Farm Burger is with hamburgers, or The Kimball House is with oysters, etc. etc.  – we have talented people  in our community that are at the pinnacle of horticulture, and want to share that with their fellow citizens. It is in this spirit that we have marshaled our talents and resources to launch this initiative.

However, it is up to the community to make this a success. Our goal is to plant 366 trees, which is 10% of the commission’s goal for the city to reach by 2039. If we are able to get close to this goal in 2.5 months what the city proposes should take 2.5 years, we hope that it may shift the landscape in the deliberations about the best way forward. And we hope to plant a lot of awesome trees at great value to the community and have fun in the process!

TO DO THIS WE NEED HELP! We need volunteers with backs, volunteers with trucks, people to volunteer to work booths, people in the horticulture community that can offer consultations, and sponsors – my email is listed in the flyer attached.