Saturday March 7th, 10:30am - 1:30pm

Mitchell Park Multi-Use Bowl, Palo Alto

Come celebrate trees and join the fun at this free, outdoor family festival, featuring:

• Live music with Andy Z, Bob Reid, Gunn High Schoool Jazz Band Combos.
• Roped tree climbing with the Tree Circus
• Tree crafts with the Palo Alto Art Center
• Friendly critters from the Junior Museum & Zoo
• Raffle prizes from local business and nurseries
• Food trucks and ice cream
• ...and much, much more!

View the full schedule here.  Join the Facebook event. 

Volunteer Opportunities

We're still looking for a few volunteers to help with set up, face painting, and other fun roles. If you would like to help out, please email [email protected] or sign up online. Free T-shirt included! 

California Arbor Week
Tree Walk at Gamble Garden

Saturday March 14th, 10am - 12pm 

Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden 

Continue the California Arbor Week celebration with a stroll through one of Palo Alto's most beloved public gardens.

Led by arborist and local treasure Kevin Raftery, you will meet a diverse range of species, like the Califonria Buckeye, Cucumber Tree, Cockspur Coral Tree, and many more.

Learn more or RSVP online.

Kids & Teens work together to plant new school trees  

On Thursday, February 26, 4th and 5th graders from the Willow Oaks after-school program planted 5 new trees with the guidance of Canopy Youth Staff members.

Before the planting, students learned about Strawberry Trees, Toyons, and native Oaks in class, so they were eager to plant these new tree friends. They promptly named each tree, including "Spike" (pictured above). 

The day was particularly special for Canopy youth staff member Jesus Lopez, who attended Willow Oaks Elementary and helped to design the Canopy planting of 93 trees at the school last April. Now in his senior year at Eastside Prep, Jesus was happy to give back to his former school. "It felt really good to give back to them," he said, adding that it's gratifying to know that younger generations of students will benefit from these trees.

Youth staff member Elizabeth Perez also enjoyed guiding and mentoring the younger students. "It was an amazing feeling being able to lead a group of students who have never planted a tree before!" Elizabeth expressed, "I was able to help one of the students understand because I was able to translate the instructions into Spanish. It was an overall great time time watching the students work together and laugh throughout the process."

Canopy Partners with Palo Alto Adult School 

Canopy is honored to be chosen as the Palo Alto Adult School's Spring 2015 Community Partner. Palo Alto Adult School (PAAS) shares Canopy's love of nature and commitment to care for our local environment. 

Currently celebrating its 94th anniversary, Palo Alto Adult School provides classes for job seekers, English learners, parents, travelers, and hobbyists. Students return each quarter to access the Adult School's Home and Environment offerings, including Spring Gardening, Ikebana Floral Design and Year-Round Fruit/Home Garden classes. Registration for Spring classes begins this Friday, March 6th. Classes begin March 23rd. 

Says the Adult School, "We value you as a community member, and thank you for your support!" Learn more.  

In 1964, a 5000-year-old Bristlecone Pine was chopped down in the name of science. Journalist Carolina Miranda writes about an artist obsessed with remembering Prometheus and resurrecting the tree through art. She also details how and why this historic specimen was cut down. 

Signs of spring appearing earlier in global woodland species

A woodland ecosystem at Morton Arboretum in Illinois

Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have tied earlier signs of spring in woodland ecosystems to rising global temperatures. They predict climate change will cause shifts in the timing of leafing and flowering for many tree species, changing the dynamics of woodland ecosystems throughout the world. Read more from BBC News.