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April 2019 Community ForestryForestryUrban & CommUnityApril 2019 arbor WEEK: april 7-13 Arbor Day is America’s National Tree Holiday, observed on the last Friday of April to celebrate the role of trees in our lives and to promote tree planting and care. In Oregon we celebrate an entire Arbor Week during the first full week in April. Learn more at www.arborday.org/arborday/oregon. The City Council has proclaimed April 7-13, 2019 as Lake Oswego Arbor Week. Arbor Week Activities At the LibrAry Check out a tree-themed book this week! The Lake Oswego Public Library, located at 706 4th Street, will have tree-themed books on display all week. Open daily: 1-6 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday- Saturday. Free the trees in iron MountAin PArk Sunday, April 7, 1-3 p.m. Kick off Arbor Week by helping Friends of Iron Mt. Park as they remove invasive species that crowd out the native plants. The native plants thank you for clearing the forest of invasive species that compete for the sun and soil. Allow extra time to wander the paths that wind through 50 acres of forest to the eagle’s eye viewing platform. Contact: Mike Buck, 503-914-8607 or m.bucks@comcast.net. Parking: Gravel trail head is off Brookside Rd./Twin Fir Rd., Lake Oswego. Trail head is behind the Oswego Hunt Club. GArden bAbies Tuesday, April 9, 10-10:45 a.m. at Luscher Farm, 125 Rosemont Road Parents, stroll the farm with your preschooler and enjoy sensory garden-based activities. Hear a story about trees, then take a look at our Heritage Trees. Parents must accompany children. Class is held rain or shine! Free drop-in program for ages 0-5. kids MAke thinGs: tree Art Thursday, April 11, 2:30-3:30 p.m. at Lake Oswego Public Library, 706 4th Street Using a variety of techniques, we will pay homage to the humble tree. Make life- like cherry blossoms with twigs and tissue paper, shadow paintings of trees using tape and paints, or outline your arm to form a trunk that supports all manner of leaves. Drop-in event recommended for kids age 5 and up. sPrinGbrook PArk PreschooL nAture WALk Friday, April 12, 10:30-11:30 a.m. We love our trees! Bring your preschoolers to learn how trees help us, birds, animals and even plants. Friends of Springbrook Park will lead us on a walk in the woods to discover trees that help others. Let’s find a special tree to thank with a great big hug! Exploration buckets are provided. We’ll explore rain or shine, so dress for the weather. Contact: Laura Tanz, 503-702-7937 or blmjt2205@gmail. com. Parking: Uplands Grade School, 2055 Wembley Park Rd., Lake Oswego. Park entrance is behind the playground. FoothiLLs PArk extrAordinAry tree PLAntinG Saturday, April 13, 3:30-4:30 p.m. at Foothills Park, 199 Foothills Road Bring your friends and neighbors to visit an extraordinary tree seedling to be planted at Foothills Park and celebrate Arbor Week and National Poetry Month. The tree was grown from a seed that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945 and was brought to Lake Oswego by the One Sunny Day Initiatives Program through the Green Legacy Hiroshima Project. We will unveil a commemorative plaque, hear from guest speakers including representatives from the Veterans Memorial Project and Oregon Poet Laureate Kim Stafford, present the City’s 30 Year Tree City USA Award and enjoy refreshments. Learn more by visiting glh.unitar.org and www.osdinitiatives.com. ivy PuLL in WoodMont PArk Saturday, April 13, 9-11 a.m. Join Friends of Woodmont Park to remove invasive species that threaten the native plants. This habitat restoration helps ensure that the native plants thrive. Native plants provide shelter and food for local birds, animals and pollinators as well as stabilize the soil. Mother Earth says Thank You! Contact: Heidi Schrimsher, 503-754-6640 or heidigarden@msn.com. Parking: Near the intersection of Atwater Rd. and Knaus Rd., Lake Oswego. Woodmont Park is down a graveled trail. CElEbrating 30 yEars tree city usA Lake Oswego is celebrating its benchmark 30th year as a Tree City USA (TCUSA), a certification provided by the National Arbor Day Foundation to recognize cities for demonstrating a strong commitment to managing and caring for trees. Over the last 30 years, Lake Oswego has met the four TCUSA standards by maintaining a tree board (the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Advisory Board), a tree ordinance, a minimum $2 per capita expenditure for tree planting and maintenance, and an annual celebration and proclamation of Arbor Day. There are currently 66 TCUSA cities across Oregon and Lake Oswego is one of only 13 to have achieved at least 30 years of TCUSA designation. In honor of this significant milestone, the National Arbor Day Foundation presented the City with a crystal award and new street signs! Visit www.arborday.org/programs/treecityusa to learn more. art ContEst ALL About douGLAs-Firs! In celebration of 30 years of Tree City USA status, Arbor Week and National Arbor Day, the City of Lake Oswego is hosting an art contest for K-8th grade Lake Oswego students. This year’s theme is all about Douglas-fir, Oregon’s state tree and an iconic symbol of Lake Oswego. Contestants are invited to create a work of art featuring Douglas-fir in any way imaginable - from needles and cones to individual trees and groves, as tiny seedlings or majestic giants, providing food and cover for animals, and so much more. Draw, color, paint or create a collage representing this splendid species. Rules to Enter • One entry per person. • Any medium on paper. • Not to exceed 15” x 15” in size and must be able to tape on a wall for display. • Art should represent Douglas-fir. • Drop-off your entry on or before National Arbor Day, Friday, April 26th, at either: the Lake Oswego Public Golf Course, 17525 SW Stafford Road; or the Lake Oswego Public Library, 706 4th Street. • Valid entries must include: • Name and grade on the front-side; and, • Telephone number, email address, and the name of your Lake Oswego school on the back-side of your art. Judging Criteria Entries will be on display at the Lake Oswego Public Golf Course at 17525 SW Stafford Road through early May. Art will be judged on creativity and overall design based on the theme. First, second and third prize winners will be selected in each of three divisions: K-2nd grade, 3rd-5th grade, and 6th-8th grade. The judges’ decision is final. Prizes Winners will be notified by phone on or before May 10th and prize packs will be awarded at the Lake Oswego Farmers’ Market on May 18. Learn More Contestants are encouraged to learn more about Douglas-fir trees by searching the internet, visiting the local library, talking with gardeners and exploring nature. Consider touring the City’s Heritage Trees, which include six individual Douglas-firs and two groves of Douglas-firs - for a brochure, visit www.lakeoswego.city/planning/heritage-tree- program. Have fun! For more information on Arbor Week or Urban and Community Forestry events, visit www.lakeoswego.city/planning/, email planning@lakeoswego.city, or call 503-635-0290. ForEstry at thE marKEt sAturdAy, MAy 18, 8:30 A.M. - 1:30 P.M. MiLLenniuM PLAzA PArk, 200 First street Join us to celebrate forestry at the Farmers’ Market on opening day! Activities include Urban & Community Forestry booths and activities for children and adults. Spin the prize wheel, do a craft, watch a tree pruning demonstration, receive a free tree seedling, answer tree trivia, win raffle prizes and learn about stewardship opportunities in your neighborhood. Arbor Day Art Contest winners will be announced and prizes will be awarded. Photo: 2018 contest winners. Photo: Rendering of Lake Oswego Veterans Memorial. Information: 503-635-0290 www.lakeoswego.city trEE CodE trEE protECtion plan EnhanCEmEnts The Planning Department is always looking for ways to improve our customer service experience and increase the likelihood City codes are followed. Recently, we added new conditions to Tree Protection Plans in a format that makes it clearer for the Builder to know when a certified arborist is required on a construction site and what information the arborist should report to the City. Examples of new Tree Protection Plan conditions include: 1. Arborist’s Supervision: The arborist shall stop construction activities under a protected tree’s dripline when the activities become detrimental to the health and long-term viability of the tree; a. Any tree roots damaged within the protection zone will be a violation of the Tree Code and fees of at least $595/ violation will be assessed; 2. Arborist Inspections and Status Reports required: a. Arborist Inspections: A certified arborist shall visit the site: i. On-call as indicated in the Arborist report; ii. When opening or adjusting tree protection fencing; and, iii. Twice monthly at a minimum to inspect tree protection measures during periods of development activity. The arborist may modify the frequency of inspections by documenting periods of inactivity near a protected tree. b. Status Reports: i. The arborist shall document each site visit in an inspection report and submit within 7 days of observation to the City, contractor, and owner which contains: 1. Description of the condition of the tree protection measures; 2. Photographs to document observations and findings; 3. Recommendations for remedial actions and if they were followed; 4. Periods of inactivity if the frequency of site inspections were reduced. For information about the Tree Code or to find a Tree Protection application form, please visit the City’s web site at www.ci.oswego.or.us/planning or stop by the Planning & Building Services Department on the 3rd floor of City Hall (380 A Avenue) to speak with staff: Monday -Tuesday 7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Wednesday 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. or Thursday - Friday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. WorKshop sEriEs For the 13th consecutive year, the City is pleased to offer a series of free Urban and Community Forestry Workshops for the public. Please call 503- 635-0290 or email planning@lakeoswego.city for free registration. This year’s lineup includes: tree PruninG Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Foothills Park Pavilion, 199 Foothills Road. Understand why, what, and how to prune to develop healthy, strong, and attractive trees and shrubs. Explore pruning types, proper cutting tools and techniques, and tree responses to pruning. Bring pruning tools, if you have them, and wear appropriate clothing for working outside in this hands-on workshop led by ISA Board Certified Master Arborist Damon Schrosk of Treecology, Inc. Refreshments will be provided. nAtive And invAsive tree identiFicAtion WALkinG tour Saturday, August 3, 10 – 11:30 a.m., meet at Forest Hills Elementary School, 1133 Andrews Road. Identify and discuss common native and invasive tree species with ISA Board Certified Master Arborist Todd Prager of Teragan & Associates on a neighborhood walking tour. Todd will explain common terms, concepts, and techniques used in tree identification, and help you become familiar with how to identify a tree by looking at leaves, fruit, bark, twigs, and form. Please wear sturdy shoes and bring your own water. other WorkshoPs to be scheduLed this yeAr: • Gardening for Pollinators • Understanding the Tree Code: Removal & Protection Permits • Creating Backyard Habitat • Right Tree in the Right Place: Selection, Planting and Care Visit www.lakeoswego.city/planning to learn more and look for workshop dates to be announced in monthly HelloLO newsletters. UpComing stEWardship WorK partiEs Over 600 acres of developed park property, natural parks and open spaces in the City contribute to important habitat for plants and animals, watershed and stormwater management and health, and are places for the community to connect with nature. To help keep our parks and open spaces healthy and beautiful, the City works with a number of fantastic volunteers and Friends Groups. Upcoming opportunities for you to help are listed below. Please wear sturdy shoes and bring gloves and water. Contact Babs Hamachek, Stewardship Coordinator, at bhamachek@ci.oswego.or.us to learn more about volunteer opportunities. • Iron Mountain Park Sunday, April 7, 1-3 p.m. Habitat restoration • Woodmont Park Saturday, April 13, 9-11 a.m. Habitat restoration • Freepons Park Sunday, April 14, 1-3 p.m. Habitat restoration • Springbrook Park Saturday, April 20, 9-11 a.m. Build a nature play area. Snacks provided! • Southwood Park Sunday, May 5, 1-3 p.m. Habitat restoration trEE CarE & maintEnanCE Visit www.lakeoswego.city/trees for seasonal tree care and maintenance tips. This webpage is updated quarterly by an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist. Explore the archives to learn about why topping trees is bad, why leaves change color in autumn, the invasive emerald ash borer, preparing trees for winter, English ivy removal, trees and turfgrasses, drought stress, new tree selection and planting, pruning young trees, recognizing tree risk and tree related storm damage. hEritagE trEEs neW story MAP, noW AvAiLAbLe onLine Visit www.ci.planning.us/planning to explore the new Heritage Trees of Lake Oswego: A Story Map. Scroll through the pages to learn about the City’s Heritage Tree Program, use the custom web map to search for Heritage Trees by common name or street address, click on trees in the map for photographs and additional information, or download a nomination form and learn about the designation criteria and process. The Story Map also includes a recommended bike route to explore the City’s 38 Heritage Trees on two wheels, as well as neighborhood walking tours. one heritAGe tree Lost, one GAined In the same week the City said goodbye to one living legacy, the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Advisory Board (PNAB) welcomed a new one. The 140-year-old iconic elm tree on First Street between B and C Avenues was removed near the end of February after the trunk split in two and one of its large branches failed onto the adjacent building. It will continue to be listed as a Heritage Tree and wood salvaged during the removal efforts may be used by a local artist to create memorabilia that can be displayed and promoted through the Heritage Tree Program. That same week, PNAB designated a 46-inch diameter Oregon white oak located at 1127 Cedar Street as a Heritage Tree. A plaque will be installed soon. bike ride PLAnned For sePteMber 14, 2019 The Heritage Tree Bike Ride is a great opportunity to enjoy some of the City’s oldest, grandest trees with neighbors, family and friends. During the ride, we’ll take a rest break and enjoy refreshments while we learn more about our Heritage Trees from the City’s contract arborist. All experience levels are welcome. Don’t miss the fun! The route map, event times and registration details will be available soon. Photo by Shyanne Bonwell, 2018 Photo Contest.