Sign up today for the Palo Alto Young Tree Care Survey 

Saturday, July 11, 9am - 12pm

Wednesday, July 15, 5:30 - 8:30pm

Sign up to volunteer

The Young Tree Care Survey is a fun, flexible volunteer opportunity.

There are two scheduled training dates:

• Saturday, July 11, 9am - 12pm
• Wednesday, July 15, 5:30 - 8:30pm

Each session is located at a park in Palo Alto (RSVP for location), and includes a brief training, after which volunteers team up to complete survey routes. Once they've attended a training, volunteers can check out survey routes to complete on their own or with a friend.

Please bring a smartphone if possible; we're piloting a new survey app (more details in RSVP confirmation email)!

Hope you can join us:

Q: Should I fertilize my tree during the drought? 

A: No, not a good idea

Fertilizing a drought stressed tree is more likely to cause harm than good. Even in normal conditions, most trees do just fine without fertilizer. During drought, however, fertilizer can cause real damage and actually weaken the tree.

The surplus nutrients spur top growth and increase leaf area -- growth that the tree cannot sustain with limited water supply.

Additionally, without sufficient soil moisture, the salts in fertilizer can burn or damage the tree's roots. Young trees are especially vulnerable to this, and should always be protected from herbicides and fertilizers.

Learn five important steps to preserve trees and conserve water on Canopy's website, or download a printable brochure.

School and Neighborhood Trees improve kids' attention and memory

A recent study suggests that nature and greenery in and around schools can boost kids' memory and attention. Read more from the Atlantic.

This is one of many recent studies that confirm the profound physical and mental health benefits of tree-filled schools and communities.

Learn about Canopy's Healthy Trees, Healthy Kids! initiative to plant trees in the schools and parks where they are most needed. Stay tuned for more on phase two in the coming season!

Controversy over eucalyptus removals in East Bay Hills 

According to the East Bay Express, no one is happy about a recent proposal to reduce fire risk by thinning eucalyptus trees in the East Bay Hills.

Many local environment advocates say it doesn't go far enough; they want more of the non-native trees removed.

Neighborhood groups, on the other hand, feel the proposal goes too far, asserting that widespread removal of trees amounts to clear-cutting.

Read more...

Tough times for California's Joshua Trees  

Climate change and extended drought have become the biggest threats to California's iconic forests of desert-dwelling Joshua trees, as the LA Times reports.

The singular species, Yucca brevifolia (technically a succulent), is an important refuge for dessert wildlife as well as a recognizable cultural symbol, but young trees have a hard time establishing in drier, warming conditions.

Read more...

Trees of Stanford: A Walk Through Time

Saturday, October 10, 9am - 12:30pm

A tree talk followed by an outdoor exploration of the trees of Stanford

Join Canopy, the Stanford Historical Society, and a panel of renowned experts for a walk through time on the Stanford campus. 

Featured speakers and tree walk leaders include:

• Matt Ritter, Professor of Botany at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo;
• Herb Fong, expert arborist and former Stanford Grounds Supervisor;
• Dave Muffly, Head Arborist for Apple and passionate tree advocate

Canopy's new internship position advances youth urban forestry skills 

This season, Canopy is excited to launch a new position -- an Urban Forestry Intern.

The Urban Forestry Intern oversees the work of the Teen Urban Foresters (TUFs), and works closely with Canopy program staff to do independent tree care on the thousands of trees Canopy has planted. The position is funded through a generous grant from the Morgan Family Foundation.

This summer, we're thrilled to have Jorge Rodriguez joining us as the first Urban Forestry Intern. Jorge has been a friend of Canopy since 2012, when he started volunteering and joined our crew of Teen Urban Foresters (formerly called the Youth Staff).

Jorge is eager to apply the skills and knowledge he gained as a TUF member in a new capacity, and to help mentor the new team. "There's so much to learn about trees," Jorge says. "I'm excited to keep growing and teach the new TUF members."