April is Arbor Month!

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. Here in Lake Oswego, we celebrate the entire month of April as Lake Oswego Arbor Month. Click here to read the City’s proclamation.

For 34 years, the City of Lake Oswego has earned Tree City USA (TCUSA) recognition from the National Arbor Day Foundation for demonstrating a strong commitment to managing and caring for trees. Cities earn TCUSA status by meeting four standards: maintaining a tree board (the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Advisory Board), having a tree ordinance, spending a minimum $2 per capita on urban forest management, and proclaiming and celebrating Arbor Day annually.

This year, the Arbor Day Foundation also presented Lake Oswego with a Tree City USA Growth Award, which recognizes innovative projects and higher levels of tree care by participating Tree City USA communities. The Growth Award was awarded to Lake Oswego for developing the 2022 State of the Urban Forest Report, an in-depth analysis of the City’s tree canopy.

Checkout the 2023 Urban & Community Forestry Newsletter and find fun ways to celebrate trees during Arbor Month and throughout the year below.

Checkout City’s Park Ranger, Ben Arbor Month 2023

Treemendous Ways to Celebrate:

TREE PLANTING PARTY
Saturday, April 1, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Iron Mountain Park, 2401 Iron Mountain Boulevard

Kick-off Lake Oswego Arbor Month with a tree planting party at Iron Mountain City Park! Join Parks & Recreation staff to learn about tree selection, planting and maintenance, and practice proper planting techniques by helping to install new trees in the park. Dress for weather and wear closed toe shoes. Bring gloves, and water to drink. Pre-registration is required and capacity is limited to 25 Lake Oswego residents. Parking is limited, carpool or ride your bike. Visit www.ci.oswego.or.us/planning/workshop-series or call 503-635-0290 for free registration. Please click here to register for free. 

TRILLIUM FESTIVAL
Saturday, April 1, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tryon Creek State Natural Area, 11321 S. Terwilliger Boulevard

Join Friends of Tryon Creek to celebrate the return of the Trillium, an early season perennial native to our local forests, at the 43rd Annual Trillium Festival at Tyron Creek State Natural Area. In addition to the native plant sale, this family friendly event offers a suite of educational stations around the Nature Center and trails. More event details are available at www.tryonfriends.org/calendar.

NATURE CRAFT WORKSHOP
Friday, April 14, 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Luscher Farm Bunkhouse Classroom, 125 Rosemont Road

Children ages 8 to 12 can mix up plant-based watercolor paints, play with pressed flowers, and use treasures found in nature to get crafty in this no school day workshop. Fees apply. Pre-registration is required and capacity is limited. Visit www.ci.oswego.or.us/parksrec/parks-recreation-classes-activities and register for activity #25616.

NATIVE BEES IN YOUR GARDEN
Saturday, April 15, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Luscher Farm Bunkhouse Classroom, 125 Rosemont Road

Native bees are the most important pollinators of wild plants, helping to maintain ecosystem diversity and feed the world. Adults and teens 16+ are invited to Luscher Farm for a hands-on workshop led by Bee Master Carol Yamada of the Lake Grove Garden Club. Get to know your native northwest bees, discover identification tools for determining which bees are visiting your garden, and learn tips and tricks on building native bee populations in your own yard. Fees apply. Pre-registration is required and capacity is limited. Visit www.ci.oswego.or.us/parksrec/parks-recreation-classes-activities and register for activity #25681.

SUSTAINABILITY RESOURCE FAIR
Saturday, April 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Lakeridge Middle School, 4700 Jean Road

In celebration of Earth Day, the City of Lake Oswego Sustainability Advisory Board, Lake Oswego School District, Lake Oswego Sustainability Network, and Oswego Lake Watershed Council are holding the second annual Lake Oswego Sustainability Resource Fair. Come learn what diverse organizations across our community are doing to advance sustainability, find opportunities to volunteer and participate in educational programs, connect with neighbors, and learn simple ways you can help protect the environment, save money, and live well.

SPRINGBROOK PARK PRESCHOOL NATURE WALK
Tuesday, April 18, 10:45 to 11:45 a.m., Springbrook Park, Park at Uplands Elementary School, 2055 Wembley Park Road, meet at the park kiosk behind the playground

Preschoolers can join Friends of Springbrook Park to learn about trees with a fun and interactive nature walk through Springbrook Park. Exploration buckets will be provided for hands on discovering! This event is free and no pre-registration is required. Preschoolers need to be accompanied by an adult. Questions: Anne Lider 503-701-2291 or anne.lider@gmail.com.

OAK WOODLAND RESTORATION
Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Park at 14903 Westlake Drive

Celebrate Earth Day by joining Oswego Lake Watershed Council for a morning of land tending and restoration at Westlake HOA Oak Woodland. This beautiful oak woodland habitat is home to 300-year-old Oregon white oaks and a diversity of wildlife. Volunteers will learn about Oregon white oak ecology, indigenous land tending and the cultural value of oak ecosystems, and help remove invasive species and plant natives. For additional information and free registration, visit www.solveoregon.org/opportunity/a0C8W00000VC2HP/oak-woodland-land-tending-at-westlake.

STEWARDSHIP WORK PARTIES
Over 460 acres of natural area parks and open space in the City contribute to important habitat for plants and animals, watershed and stormwater management and health. These park natural areas also provide places for the community to connect with nature. Join a friendly Friends of the Parks volunteer habitat restoration work party during Arbor Month to help keep our park natural areas and open spaces healthy and beautiful:

Sunday, April 16, 1 to 3 p.m., Hallinan Woods, Parking on Hallinan Street or Hemlock Street
Join Friends of Hallinan Heights Woods to remove invasive species in the recently acquired natural area in Hallinan Woods. Questions? Barbara Fisher at 503-888-2244 or lanefisher108@comcast.net

Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Cooks Butte Park, Parking near 2286 Palisades Crest Drive
Help Mother Nature with a spring clean-up at this 42-acre natural park. We'll remove invasive species and pick up tree debris so native species can thrive. Questions? Contact Radu Stancescu at radu_stancescu@yahoo.com

Sunday, April 23, 1 to 3 p.m., Springbrook Park, Parking at Uplands Elementary School, 2055 Wembley Park Road. Meet at the park kiosk behind the playground.
Join Friends of Springbrook Park to remove invasive species and help restore habitat in this 52-acre natural park. Questions? Contact Laura Tanz at 503.702.7937 or blmjt2205@gmail.com

Volunteers MUST fill out and bring the Stewardship Waiver available online at lo-stewardship.org. Dress for weather and wear closed toe shoes. Bring gloves, your favorite clippers and water to drink. Restrooms are not available. Stay home if you have symptoms of any contagious illness or had recent contact with someone exhibiting symptoms of any illness. Maintain six feet distance from others. Wash hands before and after the work party.

FARM SATURDAY
Saturday, April 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Luscher Farm Bunkhouse Classroom, 125 Rosemont Road         
Children ages 5 to 12 are invited to spend Saturday morning at Luscher Farm, creating crafts to celebrate Arbor Month and Earth Day, partake in fun farm activities, and learn about organic gardening. Fees apply. Pre-registration is required and capacity is limited. Visit www.ci.oswego.or.us/parksrec/parks-recreation-classes-activities and register for activity #25870.

TREE PRUNING WORKSHOP
Sunday, April 30, 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. This workshop is led by ISA Board Certified Master Arborist Damon Schrosk of Treecology, Inc. Pre-registration is required and capacity is limited to 40 Lake Oswego residents. Visit www.ci.oswego.or.us/planning/workshop-series or call 503-635-0290 for free registration.

LAKE OSWEGO PUBLIC LIBRARY
Celebrate Arbor Month with a book and a kid’s craft! Throughout April, the Lake Oswego Public Library, located at 706 4th Street, will have tree-themed books on display and offer a craft for kids using repurposed puzzle pieces to make a beautiful tree, at the Art Bar on the lower level. The Art Bar is open anytime the library is open. Arbor Month Art Contest entries will be on electronic display from mid-April through mid-May. Open daily: 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

SOIL YOUR UNDIES FOR SCIENCE
Life underground is just as biodiverse and complex as the plant communities that live above, and Oswego Lake Watershed Council wants to help residents measure and nurture that life. It is as easy as burying a pair of cotton undies for 60 days! Celebrate Arbor Month by participating in the 3rd Annual Soil Your Undies challenge! Sign up to receive your challenge kit, which includes a brand-new pair of cotton undies for you to bury in April and unearth in July. Participants can follow along with biweekly soil health tips and experiments to try out while the soil microbes are feasting on all of the buried undies. Learn more about the challenge and register here: https://www.oswegowatershed.org/soil-your-undies-2023.

BE AN LO TREE HERO
Team up with the Oswego Lake Watershed Council (OLWC) and your neighborhood’s Urban Forest Committee to be an urban forest hero by removing invasive ivy from your trees and property. OLWC offers tools, education and leadership. Find out more at www.oswegowatershed.org.

GNOMES IN NATURE HUNT
The wily Stewardship Gnomes, Blossom, Greenie and Oak, will hide in three natural area parks from April to October, moving to different parks on the first of each month. Come out and find them, you may win a prize! Here’s what to do:

• Find three Gnomes hiding in three different natural area parks each month. In April, they will be hiding in Foothills Park, River Run Park and Springbrook Park.
• Take a photo of you, your dog or anything else by a gnome.
• Tag #LOparksgnomes and post photos on social media for a chance to win your very own garden gnome in October.
  Visit lo-stewardship.org each month to learn where the Gnomes in Nature have moved and discover fun facts about the City’s 460-acres of natural park areas, native plants, wildlife and birds.

NOMINATE A HERITAGE TREE
Do you have a favorite tree or group of trees? If it is of landmark importance—because of its age, size, species, horticultural quality or historic significance—you can nominate a tree or group of trees for Heritage Tree designation with permission from the property owner. Check out the Heritage Tree Story Map, learn about the City’s Heritage Tree Preservation Grant Program, and find a nomination form online at www.ci.oswego.or.us/planning/heritage-tree-program.

Explore the related links below:

• Celebrate Arbor Month
• Arbor Month Art Contest
• Workshop Series
• Forestry at the Farmers Market
• The BUZZ on Bumblebees 
• Heritage Trees 
• State of the Urban Forest 
• Tree Care and Maintenance