Posts Categorized: Blog

November — Tree Talk 

Since early November, with community support, Capital Trees has planted over 60 trees in the Richmond region furthering our efforts to expand our tree canopy and build a greener and more vibrant community. As our volunteers learned over the last few weeks, planting a tree is more than just pulling it out of the pot (or removing the burlap/wire) and dropping the tree into the ground. There are several steps that come well before planting day to give trees the best chance to both survive transplant and thrive for years to come.  

October — Tree Talk 

2024 Richmond Tree Week

This year’s Richmond Tree Week marked the 5th annual city-wide week celebrating all things tree! Taking place from October 11 – October 20 this year, more than 20 community organizations participated in 40 free tree-centric events throughout the city of Richmond. Over the course of ten days, Richmonders came together to plant trees, give away free tree seedlings, attend educational workshops, take part in walking and biking tours,

September — Tree Talk 

In 2022, Henrico County reached out to Capital Trees to launch a reforestation effort.  In conversation with county staff and the Va Department of Forestry, a reforestation pilot program at parks and schools in Henrico was approved by the Henrico County Board of Supervisors and Capital Trees in the spring of 2023 (1, 2).  The program officially launched in the summer of 2023 with tree canopy and inventory work at the selected Henrico County parks and schools. 

August Tree Talk: Working together towards a greener RVA.   

By: Anne Poarch, Director of Advancement for Capital Trees

On August 26, Capital Trees celebrated the groundbreaking on our latest project, the Hotchkiss Green, at the Hotchkiss Field Community Center in Richmond’s Highland Park neighborhood. This new greenspace will transform two acres of treeless turf into an inviting urban landscape that includes walking trails, seating areas, shade trees, a pollinator garden, and native shrubs and perennials.

July Tree Talk: 2024 Greater and Greener Conference 

By: Shelly Barrick Parsons, Executive Director

A delegation representing Capital Trees attended the Greater and Greener Conference in Seattle, Washington June 21-25.  Sponsored by City Parks Alliance, Greater and Greener is the biennial conference for urban parks professionals from all sectors (government, nonprofit, foundations, business). Richmond was well represented at the conference with additional attendees from the City of Richmond’s Parks,

June Tree Talk: Trees and Bees

During the recent BioBlitz hosted and sponsored by Capital Trees, tables were set up under the shade of the ample cottonwood tree at Great Shiplock Park. Cyclists and walkers alike waded through the cottony masses that settled onto the ground after each breeze. The cottonwood tree, a type of poplar, is pollinated by the wind carrying pollen from the male flowers to the female ovules. Insects, such as bees can help the process by carrying pollen from one tree to the next. 

May Tree Talk: Trees and Mental Health

We talk about the power of trees and greenspaces a lot at Capital Trees. They work hard for the environment — sequestering carbon, mitigating stormwater runoff, cleaning the air, providing food and habitat resources, and of course, in the true fashion of a “giving tree”, they offer shade. We also talk a lot about how important trees and greenspaces are for supporting physical health. Safe, shady, accessible areas to exercise help promote cardiovascular health and weight loss,

April Tree Talk: Amelanchier Replacement Along the Low Line

Written by: Mary Petres

If you really want to embrace gardening and nature and not lose your mind, it is critical to accept the fact that the landscape is ever changing. Some changes are within our control, most are not. The garden will be amazing, frustrating, challenging, but never perfect. Striving for perfection ruins the journey. Embrace what you see and learn each time you put a foot in nature.

March Tree Talk featuring Women in Horticulture, Landscape Design, and Forestry

Women, throughout history, have made a huge impact on horticulture, landscape design, and forestry over the decades. As a woman-founded organization we celebrate the achievements of women year-round – from our inspirational founders and mentors to the dedicated women working today. To celebrate Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting a handful of noteworthy women that have progressed science, design, literature, human rights, and environmental protection,

February — Tree Talk

Book Review of The Nature of Oaks by Douglas W. Tallamy, by Anna G. Aquino

Have you ever read a book and so relished every word that when you finished it, you immediately read it again? I hadn’t, until The Nature of Oaks by Douglas W. Tallamy. Wanting to indelibly cement the information into my brain, no problem to overwrite some of the frass that’s occupying space, I immersed myself in Dr.