New Arbor Garden dedicated Saturday

By Staff Reports    
Monday, 29 October 2007
Mayor Kathy Taylor and several local families officially opened the new Arbor Garden planting Season on Saturday, Oct. 27, by planting trees at the City’s new primary arbor garden at the J.D. Metcalfe Recreational Site at 12th Street and Mingo Road in Tulsa.

“Tulsans want to help make Tulsa more beautiful and healthier, and this is a great way to do it, bringing trees – and all of their benefits – to all of Tulsa,” Taylor said.  “These new Arbor Gardens will give people in every part of the city a chance to have an impact in their own neighborhood.”

Taylor and program sponsor Up With Trees – a non-profit organization dedicated to planting trees and promoting the urban forest – want to encourage Tulsans to help green-up the city by sponsoring tree plantings in any of six new public Tulsa-area Arbor Garden sites.  The mayor said she hopes to see hundreds of Tulsans planting trees in honor of milestones like graduations or anniversaries.  “What a great way to share your pride or joy with the community – and leave a legacy for future generations.”

“People can sponsor an individual tree and be part of Tulsa’s Citizen Forest,” explained Anna America, Up With Trees Executive Director.  “People plant trees to celebrate important life events like graduations or birth of a child, or to remember a loved one who has died, and businesses can honor outstanding employees or a new company headquarters.  Some individuals and organizations simply donate trees for the betterment of the community.”

In its 30-plus years, Up With Trees has planted more than 18,000 trees, and now maintains more than 400 tree sites in the greater Tulsa area, most along roadways or in parks and other public spaces.  The organization planted hundreds of trees at its original Arbor Garden in RiverParks – and that site is now full.

Each commemorative tree – available for a donation of $300 each – is marked with a small plaque at the base which bears the name of the honoree and the tree species.  Trees in the urban forest are planted along jogging/walking trails, near benches or in other easily accessible areas.

Since Up With Trees is a 501(c)(3), all contributions are tax deductible.  The organization is responsible for planting, watering and maintaining the commemorative trees and plaques.  Sponsors are notified of the planting date, and are encouraged to participate if they so desire.

“Planting a tree is one of the simplest, yet most effective things we can do to improve Tulsa’s environment,” America said.  “Trees help offset carbon emissions, remove air pollution, help filter water, provide cooling shade and wildlife habitat.  Just 40 trees will remove 80 pounds of air pollutants annually; just three trees around a building can cut cooling costs by 30 percent.”

For more information about the Arbor Gardens or other tree-planting programs, call Up With Trees at 610-TREE, or email trees@upwithtrees.org.

Last Updated ( Monday, 29 October 2007 )