April 2014 Issue

Memphis hosts state Arbor Day March 7

Governor Bill Haslam proclaimed March 7 as Arbor Day in Tennessee to recognize the importance of trees to our state. This year’s state celebration was held in Memphis, which is also celebrating its first year designated as a Tree City USA community.

“Arbor Day is important for reminding us how every community, regardless of size, benefits environmentally and economically from trees,” Agriculture Commissioner Julius Johnson said. “We’re committed to improving and protecting our forest resources, both in rural and urban areas, and are proud to join the city of Memphis and their tree board to recognize Arbor Day.”

The Arbor Day celebration, hosted by the City of Memphis Tree Board and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, took place March 7 at 10 a.m. CST at the Memphis Botanic Garden. Proclamations were presented by state and local officials, along with a presentation of awards and honors and the reading of Shel Silverstein’s “Giving Tree” poem. The program was followed by a tree planting ceremony, seedling giveaway, and refreshments.

Nashville celebrates March 20

Nashville celebrated Arbor Day March 20 with a mayoral proclamation, Tree City, Tree Line, and Tree Campus USA presentations, and an honorary/ memorial tree planting.

Middle Tennessee chapter president Chris Armour presents the Alice Ann Barge Award for Urban Forest Excellence to Mayor Karl Dean for efforts during his two terms to make Nashville the greenest city in the southeast.

Elmwood Arboretum tour is April 12

The Atlas cedar at Elmwood Cemetery is a national champion.

Jim Dennis leads a tour of Elmwood’s majestic trees April 12 at 10:30 a.m. Elmwood’s Carlisle S. Page Arboretum contains one of the major stands of old forest growth trees left in Memphis and has two state champion trees: an American fringe tree and an atlas cedar.

Tree board sponsors billboard

The Cookeville Tree Board continues the fight to protect urban trees with this anti-topping billboard.

West chapter meeting is April 17

The West Tennessee chapter meets April 17 from 1-3 p.m. at Memphis Botanic Garden. After the business meeting, Wes Hopper will conduct a seminar on bark, bud, and leaf identification.

Fruit trees suffered in freeze

Small fruit/tree fruit specialist David Lockwood says the extremely cold temperatures on March 25 may result in significant damages to fruit buds in many small fruit and tree fruit crops. More

TUFC West offers course for urban forestry advisors

The West Tennessee chapter offers its fifth urban forestry advisor training course September 3 through October 1.

The five-week course provides 20 hours of instruction by local experts. Classes are held Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Memphis Botanic Garden.

Lectures and field work will cover tree biology, ID and selection, risk management, diagnostics, site analysis, tree inventory, construction protection, and the role of government agencies.

Cost is $85; class is limited. Register