SAVE OUR ELMS (SOE)

Fall Leaves 2

Quarterly Newsletter                      November 2010

  Hi Neighbor!
 
In This Issue
Bill Naito Trees Award
Street Leaf Cleaning
Tree Removal Know How
Christmas Tree Fun Facts

Elms Update

 American elm leaf
Q3, 2010 Activity
 
The stumps of removed, DED-infected trees have been ground to make way for new trees in the spring.  We're looking forward to filling the void!























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Bill NaitoSOE Receives Bill Naito Trees Award

 

Portland's Urban Forestry Commission presented the Bill Naito Community Trees award to Save Our Elms on October 23. The award is presented annually to individuals and organizations that carry on Bill Naito's dedication of preserving and expanding Portland's urban forest.  The annual award was established in 1997 in honor of Mr. Naito, who made numerous and significant contributions to develop Portland's urban forest, including founding the Urban Forestry Commission and chairing it until his death.  SOE shared this year's award honor with Bruce Nelson, a volunteer instructor for Portland Parks & Recreation and Friends of Trees.  You can read more about the Community Trees award here.

 

Reminder: Street Leaf Removal

The City will provide its first of two street leaf cleanings in Ladd's Addition beginning Sunday morning, November 7.  Don't forget to move your cars off the street.  And mark your calendars now for the second cleaning happening Sunday, November 27.

 

After delaying a decision last year, the City is charging for this service this year.  Residents will pay $30 (in two-time pickup districts like Ladd's Addition) and property managers will pay $65.  The City wasn't prepared to drop the service due to the safety issue created by slippery street leaves and the costs that come with clogged sewers.

 

Don't want to pay the new fee?  You have options.  The City provides an opt-out application if you can prove you cleaned the street in front of your property.  Of course, this means not raking your leaves into the street and disposing of them on your own.  Options for removal include composting the leaves on your property, adding the leaves to your green composting bin, hauling the leaves to a park depot, or hiring someone to haul them for you.  The opt-out application provides additional details.

 

 

Tree Removal Know How 

Ladd's Addition was platted over 100 years ago, and along with the homes came the street trees.  Many of the trees planted at that time are reaching the end of their lives now.  Due to their size and location next to sidewalks and roads, dead and dying trees can be dangerous.  Before removing a street tree of any size, be sure to consult with the City to avoid removal fines.  You can find additional information in this pamphlet provided by Portland Parks & Rec.

 

Save Our Elms assists residents who have lost trees in front of their homes.  Each spring, SOE volunteers plant replacement street trees for Ladd's neighbors.   The beautiful trees, donated by Friends of Trees, are planted at no charge to the homeowner.   Contact Save Our Elms ([email protected]) if you'd like to be included on the spring 2011 tree recipient list.

 

 


Christmas Tree Fun Facts 

If you celebrate Christmas, you're likely to have an Oregon Christmas tree in your home next month.  In fact, most Americans are likely to have an Oregon tree.  Oregon is the top producer of Christmas trees by far, according to the USDA.  Some other notable facts:

 

  • The first written record of a decorated Christmas tree comes from Riga, Latvia in 1510. Men of the local merchants' guild decorated a tree with artificial roses, danced around it in the marketplace and then set fire to it.
  • In 1901, Theodore Roosevelt attempted to stop the practice of cutting Christmas trees due to the destruction it was having on forests. His two sons didn't agree and enlisted the help of conservationist Gifford Pinchot to persuade the president that, done properly, the practice was not harmful to the forests.
  • On average, it takes 7 years to grow a Christmas tree of typical height (6 - 7 feet).
  • For every Christmas tree harvested, 1 to 3 seedlings are planted in its place.
 We'd Like To Hear From You

If you have topic ideas for future SOE newsletters, let us know.  Please send a message to [email protected]. We'll do our best to include proposed topics in upcoming issues.