Talking Trees

Have you ever heard of tree physiology?

The 5th Taking Root Annual Great Tree Summit was held at the Countryside YMCA in Lebanon at the end of February. The summit focused on local tree information and included a keynote by Tom Kimmerer, a tree physiologist, PhD, scientist, author and photographer at Venerable Trees, Inc. Throughout the presentations we learned a lot about new tools available for communities looking to manage their neighborhood  trees and ways to implement forestry practices to help control stormwater in urban landscapes. We also learned about how trees respond to changes in the environment and communicate with one another. There is much we still don't know about the complexities of trees, but Tom provided an excellent overview about some of the new findings. Check out his website here or read his book: Venerable Trees - History, Biology, and Conservation in the Bluegrass.

Trees and Stormwater:
​If you looking to implement trees into your stormwater management plan or want to learn more about how trees increase infiltration and help store water in the soil, visit treesandstormwater.org - a brand new website tool created by the OKI Regional Council of Governments. This tool is universal and provides a variety of resources including a document builder to help you build your case to inform local decision makers of options and best practices for including trees in stormwater facility design regulations and policies.

i-Tree:
Another great tool that can be used to conduct a benefit analysis for trees in your area is a USDA Forest Service system called i-Tree. All of the tools on i-Tree are freely available and provide information on specific tree benefits, inventories, maps, and the ability to explore the importance of the trees that are near you.

Local Information:
The City of Lebanon also provided information and updates on their street tree plans. The city recognizes the benefits and importance of trees in the community and maintains a well planned system.

Our Annual Tree Seedling Sale is open until March 14, 2018! Visit our catalog to take a look at the seedlings we have to offer and make your purchases before the deadline!

Looking for a volunteer opportunity that has to do with trees? Taking Root is a volunteer-run organization that is looking for new recruits! Check out their website for updated events and opportunities or contact them directly to become a volunteer.

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