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 Winter Issue 2025 Vol. 12, No. 1
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Growing Greener: West Lafayette Receives $25,000 Urban Forestry Grant
 In October 2024, the City of West Lafayette was awarded a $25,000 Community Urban Forestry Grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. This was made possible by an $11,000 match from West Lafayette Tree Friends. This funding will support the planting of an additional 25 new trees annually in both 2025 and 2026, expanding the city's urban canopy.
Training and Education: As part of this initiative, industry professional Lindsey Purcell will provide a 2-day training seminar in the spring of 2025 for Tree Friends, AmeriCorps, city staff, and local industry professionals focusing on tree pruning best practices. Additionally, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will conduct training in the spring of 2025, covering essential techniques for tree planting and maintenance.
Investments in Equipment and Education: The project will also include the purchase of essential tools and resources to support ongoing care and maintenance, including tree pruning safety signage, pruning equipment, educational materials, and tree watering bags.
This initiative marks an important step in enhancing the city's urban canopy and green infrastructure while promoting sustainable and effective tree care practices.
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We are excited to introduce the recently elected officers and chairs of the West Lafayette Tree Friends. (Photos left to right.)
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Treasurer: Dennis Schlott
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Secretary: Nanci Forney
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Member at Large: Sita Esaak
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Editor, Urban Leaves: Cliff Sadof
Thank you to these dedicated individuals for stepping into leadership roles to support our mission of preserving and enhancing West Lafayette's urban forest. Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to connect with them in the coming year!
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 To our dedicated donors, your commitment to the environment and the beautification of our community has not gone unnoticed. Your contributions have empowered us to plant more new trees, maintain existing ones, and engage in educational initiatives. Together, we are creating a legacy of greenery that will benefit generations to come. Help us promote a sustainable and vibrant, urban ecosystem in our community.
If you haven't yet donated, do your part this year, and click on the link below.
 West Lafayette Tree Friends purchased a new water tank for use on a utility vehicle that can maneuver our trail system and water recently planted trees. This tank has been named “Judy’s Watering Tank” in honor of Judy Pellissier’s longstanding contribution to WLTF and her commitment to caring for our trees.
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Hang With Your Trees, Don’t Harm Them!
Although we all love our trees for their shade, the wildlife they attract and the beauty they provide to our landscapes, some of us want just a little bit more. We can be tempted to enhance this experience by stringing a hammock between two sturdy trees, hanging a bird feeder on a limb, or a whimsical face on a tree trunk. Each of these activities can be done safely if you take precautions that allow tree trunks and branches to grow without burying hooks, screws and rope underneath the bark.
 When hooks and screws are left in the trunk, the tree can grow a callous around the hook and eventually swallow it. Trees are simply responding to the wounds caused by these hooks in the same way they heal themselves around a dead limb or pruned branch. Buried hooks and pieces of metal can create a hazard for tree workers who can encounter it with a chainsaw or wood chipper if the tree ever needs to be removed.
 Avoid burying hooks by inspecting your tree for hooks that are close to the bark surface and likely to be swallowed in the next year (Photo A). Simply unscrew the hook counterclockwise to leave a finger width between the hook and the bark (Photo B) to give the tree room to grow next year.
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You Wouldn’t Want to Live without Trees, written by Jim Pipe and illustrated by Mark Bergin (Scholastic Books, 2017) (For readers 8-12 years old.)
Why do we need trees? How do these magnificent plants start out as seeds and grow so high we can’t see their tops? What are the different parts of trees? What are some of the ways wood is used? How long have trees been around, and what are some of their shapes? Why are trees in danger, and what can we do to help “the lungs of the planet”? These and so many other aspects of trees, including legends about trees, a glossary of terms, interesting facts about extraordinary trees, and more are packed into the 40 pages of this book, along with lively cartoon-like illustrations. Copies are available in the West Lafayette and Tippecanoe County libraries.
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Upcoming Events
General Meetings of the West Lafayette Tree Friends.
These meetings are open to everyone! We gather at noon on the second Tuesday of each month in the Bean Room at the West Lafayette City Hall. Meetings are listed on the City of West Lafayette website (https://www.westlafayette.in.gov/) and can be accessed virtually. Please join us! Tuesday, February 11, Tuesday, March 11, Tuesday, April 8
Pruning
Spring pruning of young trees will commence on Friday mornings from 9:00 to 11:00 starting in May. There are many tasks involved including pruning, gathering debris, and placing door hangers
. Training is provided, along with all the necessary tools. For information about each week’s location contact greenspace@westlafayette.in.gov or call 765-775-5170.
Arbor Day Observance
Every year, West Lafayette Tree Friends join with the city of West Lafayette to observe National Arbor Day – a day to highlight the importance of trees in our community and to plant more trees. Arbor Day is on April 25 this year and will be celebrated again at Cumberland Park where 15 oak trees will be planted. These oaks will someday provide shade for residents and create an ecosystem for many native creatures.
Follow WLTF on Facebook and Instagram!
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Picture-Perfect Ice
When water vapor freezes on a surface that is already below freezing, the ice crystals that form are called hoarfrost. After the next cold front comes after a rain or fog, be on the lookout for these beautiful short-lived icy sculptures.
Finally, a favor to ask. If you like this newsletter, 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.
West Lafayette Tree Friends
222 N Chauncey Ave
West Lafayette, IN 47906
website / email us
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