Richmond Tree Stewards classes will be offered again this fall. Classes begin Oct.7; find out more and sign up! In other tree-related news, the deadline to participate in the Adopt-A-Tree Program for this year is Oct.1, with trees adopted this year to be planted late November through the end of February. Visit the city’s Urban Forrestry site to learn more or download the application (.doc) to get your block a nice tree!

Read more >

I’m a bona fide bird geek but you don’t have to be like me to enjoy the thrilling spectacle of swirls and swaths of Purple Martin tornadoes swooping into the city to roost. Take a moment out of your evening to head down to the 17th Street Farmer’s Market just before sunset and take it in. At 17th and Franklin you’ll probably notice a skygazing crowd and you’ll know you are in the right place. Prepare to be regaled and while you might be astounded by the lovely visage, do try and keep your mouth closed. Next month the Purple Martins are migrating to South America so don’t delay.

Tricycle Gardens are presenting the first of a series of workshops on organic gardening: Introduction to Organic Gardening (7/24), Getting Started with Organic Gardening (8/7), and Fall Gardening and Winter Preparations (9/11). Each workshop will cost $15 and take place at 211 West 7th Street in Old Manchester. Please contact allison@tricyclegardens.org if you have questions.

Read more >

Attend Tricycle Gardens’ rain barrel work shop and build your own rain barrel! This Sunday, May 18, 2008, from 12-2:30ish @ Neighborhood Resource Center. Take home your own rain barrel for $40 OR $10 to attend and learn only.

Read more >

Did you ever want to learn how to identify trees? Or how to properly prune a young tree to insure good development? Interested in taking care of the trees in our community? Tree Steward Classes will be held on Mondays from 6:30-8:30PM at the Byrd Park Roundhouse on Feb.4, 11, 18, & 25 and March 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31. Contact Norm Brown at (804) 646-6785 for more information.

Read more >

Flood Maps gives a indication about which areas (like Fulton Bottom) could be inundated if the oceans were to rise for any reason.

And wtvr seems to have noticed, too.

Leading with a quote by Fulton artist Paul DiPasquale, today’s RTD has a look at the city’s “complaint-driven tree-maintenance policy [which] threatens the urban forest“. City crews are cutting down 1,500 to 2,000 trees a year (often in response to neighbor complaints), while planting only 300 new trees.

Photo by shimmer.glimpse (9/29/07).