Spring Tree ID.
On Saturday, March 30, Tree Steward Emily Ferguson presented a class on tree identification at the Ivy Creek Natural Area to an appreciative audience. After an hour of class time, Emily led the group on a walk to practice identifying trees as the leaf buds are breaking. In early Spring, just before leaves start to come out, trees can still be readily identified using bark, twigs, buds, nuts, seeds, color and other features to decide what tree you are looking at. This class was the second in a series of four tree identification classes that Emily is presenting this year. She will give one class in each season, since the features that make tree identification possible change over the seasons. Check our Take A Class or Tree Walk page for upcoming classes and tree walks led by Tree Stewards and learn more about how trees enrich our lives.
Students Plant Trees on Riparian Buffer.
Early morning on March 25 a large group of students and adults planted 200 tree seedlings along Parrot Branch Creek adjacent to Crozet Elementary School. Rivanna Conservation Alliance (RCA), who funded this riparian buffer project, had requested CATS assistance. Allen Ingling, Kendra Hall and her husband Jim, Will Hueston, Kathy Nepote and Tim Maywalt helped oversee the “planters” which included 70 fifth graders, 40 seniors from Western Albemarle High School and several parents and teachers. The planting which was anticipated to take all day was over within 2 hrs. Since RCA has limited staff and members for field activities, they hope that this will be the beginning of many future collaborations.
See also:
NBC29 – Crozet Elementary cleaned up watershed to protect Parrot Branch Creek
CBS19 – Students plant 200 trees to protect Parrot Branch Creek
