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1. Catherine
   Member

   Spatny, I thought I would make this a separate discussion. Like you, I have noticed a LOT of old trees with the white X on them for removal, but not so many new plantings. On the large corner of Longcommon and Addison, there are now no trees at all. Then there was that microburst we had.

   As you say also, not only has the gypsy moth devastated 31st and LaGrange, but it is reported to be in Riverside on the other side of 1st Ave as of last week. My sister works for the Forest Preserve District. When it comes through once, it exfoliates. More than that it can kill. Oaks and other species.

   Does the government plan any plantings this season? What are all the options for private citizens to donate? Maybe another letter or article in the Landmark would help raise funds.

   I was interested to learn from a neighbor that many Swan Pond plantings were WPA. Anyway, this town without its trees is not this town.

   Posted Wednesday Jul 9, 2008 14:32 #

2. spatny
   Member

   Catherine - I set up the RBHS Riverside Treebank to accept donations for trees so that people, companies and organizations could take the donation as a tax-decuctible write-off. The school collects the money in a dedicated account and then in the fall, when the forester is ordering the trees for the parkway program he can order as many as there are funds for, and the Ecology Club kids show up and help with the tree plantings, putting in what the forester orders under his direction, where he decides they should go. Checks should be made payable to RBHS Treebank and sent to to the high school c/o David Monti, the Eco Club advisor. Maybe you could write a letter for the Landmark and Suburban Life so it isn't always me doing it. I was hoping each Reunion class would contribute as my class did, but last year they didn't and although I made a pitch to the Class of '58 Reunion Committee I haven't gotten any response yet. It's a nice way for an RBHS alum to give something back that will be here for a long time to come, and should be an "automatic" but it seems once people move away they forget about the village.

   Posted Wednesday Jul 9, 2008 17:29 #

3. JohnM
   Member

   My son's pre-school class at St. Paul's Building Blocks did a tree planting project this year. They were encouraged to do chores around the house for a small payment from mom and dad, and brought the money to school to purchase trees. With the money they earned (supplemented, I am sure, out of the teacher's pockets) they planted 4 trees--2 on Church grounds and 2 in the town. The village forester took them out and they got to help do the planting--my son's tree is the Hackberry in the little triangle bordered by Longcommon and Herrick. It was a neat experience for the kids, and I think a great way to give them an appreciation for the trees and other greenery that surrounds us.

   Posted Thursday Jul 10, 2008 12:35 #

4. spatny
   Member

   John - that's just great. Back in the fifties the kids from St. Mary's used to also go out on Friday afternoon and pick up trash in Longcommon and even in the CBD. Kids that did that were less likely to throw stuff around and even encouraged their friends not to do it. Those are all such valuable lessons for later life - caring for the environment in lots of different ways in the formative years should be a priority. Good for you and your son, and the school. I know the Forester has been working with girl scouts to take care of the triangle in front of Central School - all the projects like that are so very worthwhile. Over the last few days I've seen 8-10 big trees coming down all over town - Dutch Elm I think. When those old ones go they leave such gaping holes in our tree scape that too often are not filled with new ones. I hope we will start to allocate more funding and manpower resources to planting their replacements, or kids like your son won't know what the Village in the Forest once was.

   Posted Thursday Jul 10, 2008 14:24 #

5. Catherine
   Member

   Yes, I saw a Dutch Elm being treated yesterday with a preventive liquid injection(private property, private company.) Apparently conditions have been ripest for the disease's advancement this year.

   Other opportunities for tree planting are the village cooperative program and the Village also does have a special account reserved for tree donations. One just writes tree donation in the memo section of the check.

   Posted Friday Jul 11, 2008 09:50 #

6. spatny
   Member

   I tried to eat my lunch in the Forest Preserve today at 47th and Harlem and it was full of moths chomping away at the oak leaves. That's pretty close. The FP cop told me the County has no money for spraying. Too bad. They'll be here soon.

   Posted Friday Jul 11, 2008 14:59 #

7. Catherine
   Member

   Apparently the village was able to spray in 2006 with a grant from the Illinois Department of Agriculture for prevention of spread. Last year not many were in our traps so no budgeting for it this year. And the IDA considers it a containment, not an eradication, measure and we are now in the red zone of infestation, so no money from them.

   A relative of mine has them on her property in Bartlett. Her town told her she could spray privately. Maybe folks here can spray their own trees if they want to; don't know how much it would help.

   Well, at least the Asian longhorn beetle is dead and gone.

   With more plantings, we can plan to avoid the known present pestilences.

   Posted Friday Jul 11, 2008 17:31 #

8. spatny
   Member

   I would like to comment about how good the parks and triangles look these days - especially the Swan Pond - which they let grow up after th flooding so it could revive the grasses. Last night with perfect weather and a half moon it was wonderful there. The Forester and Public Works had a lot of branches and debris to clear, the 4th of July festivities to clean up after, etc., but they have managed to get it all in good shape despite the storms. They really do a great job and deserve our support - especially financial. Hats off to the two Mikes and their crew.

   Posted Saturday Jul 12, 2008 11:31 #

9. Catherine
   Member

   Boy, there sure is a nice selection this year in the Cooperative Planting Program:

   Ohio Buckeye* 2.0" $115.00
   Hackberry* 2.0'' $117.50
   Shingle Oak* 2.0" $117.50
   Bur Oak* 2.0" $117.50
   Chinquapin Oak* 2.0" $117.50
   Northern Catalpa* 2.0" $110.00
   Kentucky Coffee Tree** 2.0'' $160.50
   Black Maple 'Green column' * 2.0'' $160.50
   American Linden 'Redmond' * 2.0'' $140.00
   Ginkgo 'Magyar' ** 2.0'' $181.00

   These prices are for your parkway. Twice that (full price) for public place planting. I couldn't settle on any of the choices last year, but now I think I will go for a catalpa. It would be good screening for my building.

   What are these cultivar designations? Resistant hybrids? What is a Gingko Magyar?!

   Posted Friday Jul 18, 2008 16:07 #

10. spatny
    Member

    Hungarian Ginko. Nice tree - some on Harlem. Kentucky Coffee is nice, I will give one to go in front of Hauser where they took out the large elm last week. I gave a Catalpa two years ago that is planted in Longcommon right at the point -almost across from 78 Nuttall - where my RBHS girlfriend lived. It started slow but is doing nicely now. Check it out - also look at th wonderful old hackberry near the drive to 78. That tree was huge when is was in high school - parked under it many evenings. Those are great trees and get those interesting nodes on them - several old timers in the Swan Pond that look fantastic in the winter when you can see all the "bumps" on them.

    Posted Saturday Jul 19, 2008 11:45 #

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