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URBAN LEAVES
Newsletter of the West Lafayette Tree Friends
Summer Issue 2022
Vol. 9 No. 3
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Together we are making West Lafayette Greener! |
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REMEMBERING LYNN LAYDEN
West Lafayette Tree Friends are sad to lose Lynn Layden, our long time Tree Friend and community activist. After Helen Lillich’s death, Lynn’s devotion to trees and energetic leadership enabled West Lafayette Tree Friends to continue our mission of planting and caring for West Lafayette street trees. Her contributions as a resident and volunteer will long be remembered. She will be greatly missed. Lynn died on June 17, 2022. To view her obituary, visit: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/lynn-layden-obituary?id=35287919
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ARBOR DAY AND ANDI HIPSHER
On Friday, April 29, the West Lafayette Tree Friends were joined by West Lafayette Mayor Dennis and 49 West Lafayette High School students to celebrate our urban forest. Tags listing the TREEmendous benefits trees provide were placed at the West Lafayette High School to educate the community on the importance of protecting mature trees. The participating students were taking the Environmental Science course at WLHS taught by Andi Hipsher.
Here’s a little background. Andi Hipsher, a teacher at West Lafayette High School (WLHS), was approached by students two years ago to develop a course on Environmental Science. Ms. Hipsher, a Purdue graduate from New Palestine, Indiana, developed and continues to teach this AP course. Topics include land pollution and climate change. Specific projects included calculating air quality and performing a home energy audit. Ms. Hipsher has applied for a grant to the Arbor Day Foundation for creating a WLHS “Tree Campus.”
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The West Lafayette Tree Friends want to thank Reliable Insurance and The Russell Company for inviting us to participate in their Earth Day recycling event. People coming to the event generously gave over $1,300, enabling the Tree Friends to help the City plant and care for more street trees.
You don’t have to wait for the next Recycle Event or our annual fund drive to donate. To help us keep our urban tree canopy growing and healthy, click on the donate button below!
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MUNICIPAL NURSERY UPDATE
The West Lafayette Municipal Nursery is coming along! Construction documents are being finalized, with the goal to submit for building permits in August. Components of the Municipal Nursery will include a tree nursery to supply tree planting initiatives like Operation Releaf, a greenhouse to support growing trees from seed, native forbs for restoration projects, and perennials for City beautification projects. We are also excited to announce that the WLTF have reached their goal of $50,000.00 to support the City’s Nursery efforts. Thank you for all your support – you make this initiative a reality!
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TREE WATERING TIME!
The City and the West Lafayette Tree Friends need your help! With the season getting warmer and dryer it is amazing how quickly the soil dries out. Newly planted trees need regular watering within their first three years to properly establish. Here are some quick tips for watering during the months of May-September:
- Water trees immediately after properly planting your tree, regardless of whether rain is in the forecast.
- For the first year, water weekly. Year two, water twice a month. Third year, once a month.
- Typical rule of thumb—for every inch of caliper, five gallons of water.
- Water deeply around the trunk of the tree, but not on the trunk.
- Lawn sprinklers, tree watering bags, or even a 5-gallon bucket with drilled holes at the base are useful to slowly saturate the soil and root zone.
- Adding mulch around the base of the tree helps retain soil moisture. Make sure mulch does not touch the trunk! Think donuts not volcanos.
- Get to know your trees. They show signs of stress with their leaves and branches. HEALTHY TREES ARE HAPPY TREES!
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FEATURED TREE - JEFFERSON ELM
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Clyde Robert Bulla, Illustrated by Stacey Shuett, Harper/Collins (2016)
We may not realize it, but trees are the biggest plants in the world. This beautifully illustrated book begins with a short introduction to how a tree grows, from seed to sprout, to a tree, and how a tree changes through the seasons. All the parts of the tree from its root system to the trunk, leaves, flowers, and seeds are pictured and explained in lush full-page color. The charming illustrations in the 36 pages emphasize a group of children enjoying the shade of a tree, playing in it, and picking its fruit. At the back of the book is a suggested activity to help children learn how water reaches the leaves of a tree and another activity that helps children figure out how old a tree is. Copies are available in the West Lafayette and Tippecanoe County libraries.
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MINDBOGLING EVENT
WL Tree Friends Dennis Schlott and Mickey Harris staffed a booth at the 10th annual MindBOGling Event at the Lilly Nature Center on May 21, 2022.
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West Lafayette Tree Friends Meetings
Everyone is welcome! Second Tuesday of every month at Margerum City Hall, in the Bean Room. Check out the City's public meeting calendar or Contact Bryce Patz, Community Forestry and Greenspace Manager for more information at bpatz@westlafayette.in.gov!
- Tuesday, August 9, 2022
- Tuesday, September 13, 2022
- Tuesday, October 11, 2022
West Lafayette Tree Friends Pruning Session
- Our Fall pruning schedule will be listed on our website soon! Visit our website here. To join the fun, contact the Community Forestry and Greenspace Manager!
Community Events
Saturday, September 17: Global Fest - Tapawingo Park - 3:00 - 10:00 pm
Saturday, September 25: Art on the Wabash - Tapawingo Park - 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Friday, October 14: Harvest Hustle 5K - West Lafayette Wellness Center - 6:00 pm
Friday, October 28: Fall Fest - West Lafayette Wellness Center - 5:00 - 8:00 pm
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IN CLOSING...
A tree is beautiful, but what's more, it has a right to life: like water, the sun and the stars, it is essential. Life on earth is inconceivable without trees.
Anton Chechov (1860-1904)
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Finally, a favor to ask. If you like this newsletter we send you, would you forward it to a few friends who perhaps don’t know about it? They can sign up to receive it themselves
right here. Thanks.
Find previous issues of Urban Leaves here.
Show your appreciation for someone with a Tribute Tree, and make a contribution to the health and beauty of West Lafayette. For more information
West Lafayette Tree Friends
222 N Chauncey Ave
West Lafayette, IN 47906
website / email us
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