1. Elms are now crowned in soft green seed clusters. They are among the earliest flowering trees. Look up at the fountain shaped trees and you will see the soft fuzzy looking tops. Look up and then jot down the address: We are trying to identify all the Elm trees in Cambridge so that we can watch out for early signs of Dutch Elm disease. Send in the addresses to us by replying. This is part of the Tree Scavenger Hunt.  Those who find ten elm trees in Cambridge will get special mention. You will be surprised how many elms we have in Cambridge! This week in bloom are the Callery Pears, as well as cherries along the river.

2. Recent NASA research proves what a difference lack of tree canopy can mean. Atlanta currently has a 32% tree cover area is loosing 55 acres of tree cover a day. Massachusetts is loosing 2500 acres of open space a week. Boston has 21.2 percent tree cover. American Forests, a conservation group, says urban areas need 40 percent tree cover to maintain healthy air, normal temperatures and clean water. Have you ever compared the temperature in the summer in tree lined areas such as West Cambridge, with the streets of Area 4, 3 and East Cambridge? And the resultant need for air conditioners and the electricity to run them? Just stand in front of City Hall some hot day and then compare it with the nearby section of Bishop Allen Drive. A recent article in the Boston Globe said: “The “heat island effect”, a dome of heat that builds over denuded urban areas of sunlight absorbing asphalt and roofs, has pushed Atlanta temperatures between 8 and 10 degrees higher than in the surrounding countryside, said a NASA scientist, Dale Quattrochi.” [Wed. April 7, p. A 3 or
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/097/nation/Atlanta_tries_to_preserve_a_shady_side+.shtml

3. [ From: Frank Duehay:
“A very important bill, the Community Preservation Act, is being heard at the
State House on Wednesday.  The Council voted 8-0-1 to endorse the bill last
week upon my motion.  You can get further info by calling M. Drury or Lisa
Yanakakis.  Briefly it would authorize upon acceptance by local referendum any
community to establish a 1% real estate transfer tax or 3% surcharge on the
property tax or combination, the proceeds to be used for open space acquisition,
affordable housing and historic preservation.  This bill is important because
it would be a source of dedicated funds for those purposes.  Similar
legislation regarding Cape Cod was signed into law last year.”  Frank Duehay

4. Open space/ historic preservation funding. Representative Jarrett Barrios, and Robb Johnson of Cambridge Tree Project went to testify at Fanueil Hall on Monday- the turnout was terrific. Written testimony was submitted. Call and write Congressman Capuano: he spent most of the testimony time talking about how western folks just want to use the open space for mining and to make money.

5. Poetry Contest and Tree Scavenger Hunt and Arbor Days were announced at Council and in the latest Chronicle. Your chance to write that poem on trees you’ve been wishing to write. Summerbridge students have been collecting tree facts and tree care information.

6. WATER ALERT!. Although rain keeps being predicted, only twice has it rained lately. Drought has caused brush fires in Massachusetts; remember to water your trees. Trees need 30 gallons of water a week for the first six years [one hour of trickle from a hose a week]. With the drought this spring, large trees need water. Identify elms in your neighborhood and make sure they are watered well. This will help strenghten them against problems such as Dutch Elm disease. To check if there is enough water, make a little hole down two inches and feel for damp: if it is dry, water!

7. Paula Duggin writes: “I am volunteering time to Cambridge Tree Project to assist in a variety of tasks. For starters I am organizing the many names of people who have attended events into a workable database. With this tool in hand reaching people and notifying you of important project issues will be easier. I am delighted to be part of this effort and hope to meet you some time as I become more active.”

8. Tree walks held March 21 in Mid Cambridge and April 17 in Agassiz/Harvard were successful. Larry captivated his audience with facts and information. Upcoming Tree walks: May 1 Inman Sq/ Area 3 &4; May 8 North Cambridge, May 15, Fresh Pond May 22.

9. Elms: identify & water. Community Preservation & Backyard ordinance

Cambridge Tree Project Calendar

Fri. April 23, May 7, 21 7-7:45 a.m. Early Risers Horticultural Club with Dennis Collins, Curator of Plant collections. Mount Auburn Cemetery
Sat. April 24 Magazine Beach Clean up. Begins 9:30 a.m.
Sat. April 24 10-12 noon. Planting and Transplanting: Demonstrated techniques for Trees and Shrubs. $22.  617-524-1718 ext. 162.

Wed. April 28, May 5, 12, 19 26 and June 2. 10:30-12:30 p.m. Identification of Temperate Woody Plants. $115. Arnold Arboretum. 617-524-1718 ext. 162.

April 28 Growing a Tree Business, Wayland. Contact Mass. Arborists Assoc. 508-653-3320

April 29 Poetry Celebration at Central Square Library Thursday, April 29, 1999, 6:30-7:30 p.m. 46 Pearl Street. Refreshments will be served. Co-sponsored by, Central Square Library, Little Women’s Club, & C. Tree Project. call 349-4012.

May 1, Tree Walk Inman Square, Area 3&4. Meet at corner of Cambridge & Hampshire St. 9-10 a.m. demo, 10-12 walk and next steps.

May 1. Old-Growth Forest at Mt. Wachusett. Reg. With L. Frank Shea 978-343-4836 or kbler@tiac.net. Storm cancels trip. Boston Chapter of Appalachian Mountain Club.

Sunday May 2. Arbor Day and Bird Migration Celebration at Mount Auburn Cemetery. 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Walking tours of Mount Auburn’s Magnificent Trees. 2:30 tree planting.

Monday May 3 ARBOR DAYS: Tobin .197 Vassal Lane grades 3 &4. 12noon-12:45; Agassiz 1:30-2:15. 28 Sacramento

Tuesday May 4 ARBOR DAYS: Fitzgerald 70 Rindge Ave. grades 3-5 from 9-9:45am

Wed. May 5 ARBOR DAYS: Harrington am 8:45- 9:30 a.m. at 850 Cambridge St. -Graham & Parks 10-10:45 a.m. at 15 Upton St. 3rd, 4th & 5th grade

Sat. May 8 North Cambridge Tree Walk. Massachusetts Ave. at Clarendon Street. 9-12

Tuesday May 11 ARBOR DAYS: Kennedy 158 Spring St. grades 3-4  at 8-8:45 a.m.. Fletcher grades 3-6 at 9:15-10 a.m. 89 Elm St

Wednesday May 12 ARBOR DAYS: King 12-12:45 p.m. 100 Putnam Avenue.  Longfellow  1:15- 2:00 p.m. 359 Broadway5th grade  45 min }

Thursday  May 13 ARBOR DAYS: Haggerty .8:15-9 a.m. at 110 Cushing St. ; Peabody 9:30-10:15 a.m. 44 Linnaean 3rd grade

Sat. May 15 East and Kendall Square Tree Walk. Meet at Broadway & Main. 9-12 noon.

Sun. May 16 Lilac Sunday at Arnold Arboretum. 125 Arborway Jamaica Plain.

Thurs. May 20, 27 and June 3. 7-9 p.m. and Sat June 5 and Thurs. June 10 6-8 p.m. Framework Trees of the N. E. Landscape $110. Arnold Arboretum. 524-1718 ext. 162.

Sat. May 22 Fresh Pond & Highlands Tree Walk. Meet at Concord Ave. & Griswold

Thurs. May 27 A Cambridge Garden. 10-noon $18 includes copper beech, dogwood, katsura, lilac, Hinoki false cypress. Call Arnold Arboretum 524-1718 ext. 162.

June 1, 2, and 3. Pruning Trees/Ornamentals. Waltham. Contact Umass Extension. 413-545-0895
Sat. June 12  Cambridge Common and Area 9 Tree Walk. Mass Ave. & WaterhouseSt.
Sat. Sept. 18  Riverside and Central Square Tree Walk. Meet at City Hall
Sat. Sept.  25  Brattle Street and Harvard Square Tree Walk. Mass. Ave. & Garden St.
Sat. Oct. 2  Cambridgeport: Meet at Mass. Ave. & Main St.
 
 
 

Return to Cambridge Tree Project Bulletin
Return to Home Page for Cambridge Tree Project 1. This is the week to identify elms.
Look down, before you look up, to identify the elms this week. If you see nickel-sized beige disks, chances are you have a
Slippery Elm nearby. If you see pea-sized beige disks with a notch on one end, look up for an American Elm. And please
jot down the address to send us for the database of elms. You might see little branches with leaves and seed disks on the
ground. There are/were 188 street trees which were elms. Both elms have an asymmetrical base to the leaf, the American
has an asymmetrical line in its whole and all the parts. The upper side of the Slippery Elm feels rough in all directions and
has smaller teeth than the American Elm. We will put a list of the elms on our web site.
2. Please let us know if you see sudden wilting and yellowing of an upper branch please let us know as soon as possible.
That is a sign of Dutch elm disease. The large branch on the American Elm that fell on Lee Street did have Dutch elm
disease. The workers of Urban Forestry were able to prune it off and painted the cut to try to contain the disease. If a
small branch needs pruning, please sterilize your knife in bleach before making another cut. Most of the pruning will
undoubtedly need to be done by a professional.
3. ALEWIFE RESERVATION: nature and bird walks will occur next week, Thursday May 27 meet 7:30 - 8 we will
walk at 8 from parking lot at Jerry's Pond on Rindge Ave across from Joyce Chen restaurant. Come see the wonderful
wildlife and spots here- we saw an oriole, an elm and raspberry bushes 20 feet from route 2 and it was QUIET because it
was down a hill. Ralph Yoder will lead this walk. An Alewife Ecology Guide by Stew Sanders is available for $6. You will
see excellent examples of quiet nature in small spaces which can be part of plans for new developments in Cambridge. You
will see wonderful areas which belong the to the Alewife reservation which MDC owns, and areas where the natural area
protection might be expanded.
4. Want to identify the elms in your neighborhood this week? Reply to this email, and someone will try to join you. Please
let others know about these informal tree walks. Our goal will be to identify elms and significant trees. Bring tree
identification books or check them out from your local library. We hope to have other informal walks in May and June this
spring to identify trees. To schedule one for your neighborhood, call 547-1413.
5. Come to City Hall Monday May 24, 1999 at 5:30 Many of us have been advocating for increased open space for
trees, soccer fields, and quiet spots all over Cambridge. This is part of a citywide strategy and movement. Support the
amended Toomey/Born petition for 1/2 of open space on the old Com/Energy site. Without it we will have the equivalent
of a Prudential Tower or 5 Rindge Towers AND a parking lot the size of Alewife on that site (people complain that it takes
45 min. to get out of that parking lot at rush hour.) We need more trees, soccer fields, and quiet spots all over Cambridge.
6.  ADOPT A TREE give us your name, email/ &/or phone, the address of the tree and agree to protect, water and weed
the tree. We will try to keep you informed about tree health and hints. Summerbridge students designed this program,
made bookmarks to educate you about tree care and value, and developed certificates of adoption.
7. Tree walks held March 21 in Mid Cambridge, April 17 in Agassiz/Harvard and May 1 Inman Sq/ Area 3 &4, North
Cambridge on May 8, May 15 in East Cambridge, and May 22 in Highlands were successful. Larry captivated his
audience with facts and information. Ranger Jean Rogers joined us on this past Saturday. Upcoming Tree walks June 5
Riverside meet at the corner of Putnam and Kinnard and June 12, Cambridge Common and Area 9 at the corner of
Massachusetts and Waterhouse.
8. Howard Dinin writes: " as a Cambridge home-owner and condo association manager I would find it at least as helpful as
our periodic notices regarding tree walks, judicial and administrative hearings, conferences, meetings etc., to have a
database of professional contractors, like arborists, landscapers, etc. who others among us know to be reliable, caring,
cost-effective etc. I'd suggest company names, contact name within the company, specialties, address, phone number, and
salient notes. I'd even be willing to maintain and post a table of the contents of such a database on my company web site."
Terrific!!!!! We can forward the information to Howard unless Howard would like to receive the information directly.
9. A number of people are interested in joint purchasing of tree maintenance, pruning, and removal. Do you have a tree
needing special attention?
10. Keren Scholmy and Karen Carmean have been reviewing tree ordinances including the DeKalb County ordinance in
Georgia. There are many excellent ideas. We would like your opinion and review.
11. Tree questions: If you have a question about a tree, ask here and frequently asked questions will be answered.. Have
you noticed stickiness from maple trees? You may know that aphids sucking the leaves cause it. But, did you know that
ants actual farm the aphids and keep their enemies away? Watch for a line of ants climbing your tree, and you can put
Tanglefoot around the trunk of the tree to keep the ants from climbing. Larry also recommends buying ladybugs from a
nursery if the aphids get very bad. Water the ground well first so they will stay and release them early in the morning when
it is cool. They eat about 500 aphids a day. Thanks, Larry. Surely, others may have different suggestions or different
information; what are they?

Cambridge Tree Project Calendar
Thursday May 27 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. Alewife Walk with Ralph Yoder. Meet at Jerry's Pond on Rindge Ave across from
Joyce Chen restaurant across from the T parking lot.
Thurs. May 27 A Cambridge Garden. 10-noon $18 includes copper beech, dogwood, katsura, lilac, Hinoki false cypress.
Call Arnold Arboretum 524-1718 ext. 162.
June 1, 2, and 3. Pruning Trees/Ornamentals. Waltham. Contact Umass Extension. 413-545-0895
Sat. June 5 Riverside Tree Walk meet at corner of Putnam & Kinnard St.
Tuesday June 8,  7-9 Greenspace Alliance at Sheila Cook's house 34 Follen St. off Garden St. a short walk from Harvard
Square.
Thurs. June 10 6-8 p.m. Edible Wild course with Russell Cohen in Cambridge -includes some trees to forage at this
season. For Appalachian Mountain Club. Contact http://www.ultranet.com/~mulberry/sched.htm
Sat. June 12  Cambridge Common and Area 9 Tree Walk. Mass Ave. & WaterhouseSt.
Thurs. June 17 6-8 p.m. Edible Wild course with Russell Cohen in Cambridge -includes some trees to forage at this
season. Sign up for course code WPLA at Cambridge Center for Adult Education. 547-6789  See
http://www.ultranet.com/~mulberry/sched.htm
Sat. Sept. 18  Central Square Tree Walk. Meet at City Hall
Sat. Sept.  25  Brattle Street and Harvard Square Tree Walk. Mass. Ave. & Garden St.
Sat. Oct. 2  Cambridgeport: Meet at Mass. Ave. & Main St.Cambridge Tree Project Bulletin May 18, 1999
 

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