The historic communities of Beverly, Morgan Park and Ridge are some of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the city. Charming architecture and pride of ownership certainly account for much of the area’s character and ambiance. But credit also should go to their trees, especially the glorious mature oaks.

The century-old oaks lining the parkways and gracing the lawns a of these communities are among the oldest in the city. Once part of a magnificent oak-hickory forest, these heritage trees are now extremely rare in Chicago. These impressive trees, with their imposing trunks, sprawling, glossy-leaved branches and towering crowns have highly prized cultural meaning. They imply strength, dignity, trustworthiness. Oaks say:  We are a community that respects our history and we intend to hand down our legacy to the next generation.

After all, when an urban tree lives for 50, 80 or 100 years (the average life of an urban parkway tree is less than two decades), they have endured much and seen a lot of changes.

So, when an otherwise healthy mature oak tree is cut down for inconsequential reasons—for a better view or for a thicker turf grass lawn, for example—that is a great shame.

Yes, a tree on private property belongs to that private owner. But trees are public assets, too. We should acknowledge trees’ benefits for the community as a whole and preserve and protect them whenever we can. It’s not a matter of yours or mine. It’s a matter of ours.

Local organizations such as Keeping Beverly Green: Protecting Beverly’s Wooded Heritage, are stepping up and speaking out on behalf of trees, working to increase public awareness about the benefits of trees and how to take care of them.

For the past several years, Keeping Beverly Green, led by Beverly residents Karla Winterbottom and Kathleen Tobin, has been meeting with city officials to advocate for a much-needed tree preservation policy in the city of Chicago. As the saying goes, you can’t fight city hall, but they sure are trying. I wholeheartedly support their efforts to preserve and protect urban trees. Here are some of the many economic, environmental and social benefits of trees, and why you should stand up for our trees, too.

Our trees increase home values. Quality landscaping can add 7-15% to a home’s value, according to The Gallup Organization. Large trees can affect home values in an entire neighborhood, as well as for individual homes.

Our trees help commercial districts thrive. According to research by the University of Washington, shoppers return more often to greened business districts, spend more time shopping, pay more for parking and pay up to 12% more for goods.

Our trees reduce energy usage. Air temperature can be as much as 20° F. cooler in the shade of trees than in open areas, according to the Center for Urban Forest Research in Davis, CA. Overall energy savings throughout the year can amount to 7% annually from strategically placed trees.

Our trees cool heat islands on a neighborhood scale. Collectively, concrete, pavement and structures retain excessive summer heat, driving local temperatures up 4° – 7° F. higher than vegetated areas.

Our trees sequester and store carbon. According to the U.S. Forest Service, compared to a small young tree, a large healthy tree sequesters 48 kg of carbon annually (47 times more than a small tree) and stores 2.6 metric tons of carbon (530 times more than a small tree).

Our trees clean the air. A large tree removes about 2 kg of pollution per year (65 times more than a small tree).

Our trees reduce stress, increase concentration and improve the perception of safety in a neighborhood, according to research by the University of Illinois. One study conducted in Chicago showed that levels of aggression and use of physical violence to resolve conflicts were lower when public housing residents had views of trees and nature. Other studies suggest that symptoms of ADHD were relieved after contact with nature; when children played in natural settings, they had higher levels of concentration.

Our trees speed healing. Research by Texas A & M University showed that hospital patients recovered more quickly following surgery when they had a view of a tree outside their window.

These benefits improve the quality of life for all in the community. So, let’s broaden our perspective from seeing individual trees to appreciating the urban forest that shelters the entire neighborhood.

Keeping Beverly Green needs your help to protect and care for OUR trees.

Edith Makra
Community Trees Advocate

Ever notice how spring and early summer have such a pretty, fresh fragrance? Soft scents seem to brush up against you like a beautiful stranger, catch your breath, and then drift away. Where is that tantalizing smell coming from? The showiest of spring bulbs, clouds of crabapple blooms, and lavish lilacs are since spent. You don’t see blooms around you, but there’s definitely a floral fragrance in the air.

This week it is the catalpas that are catching our eyes and tickling our olfaction. Their voluptuous, white, orchid-like blooms throw their soft tropical scent from high overhead. Dripping with clusters of white flowers from tiered branches, these gorgeous trees are too large to be categorized as an ornamental tree, yet too floriferous to be described as a shade tree. The really ostentatious bloomers -magnolias, cherries, and crabapples – ushered in the season. Now a handful of really fine shade trees step out of character and dress up in blossoms for a few weeks, stealing the late spring scene.

The first big trees that bloom bountifully are the horse-chestnuts and buckeyes. Huge stalks, up to a foot high, of complex white flowers dabbed with yellow and red cover the horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) in mid May. A bit unusual are the striking red-flowering stalks, called panicles, of the red horse-chestnut (Aesculus x carnea.) Still eye-catching, but somewhat less so, are the yellow-green panicles of flowers on the buckeye trees (Aesculus glabra). Buckeyes and chestnuts have large, lush leaves that give them a tropical flair. Mature trees create a most inviting, enormous, flower-strewn canopy, with branches that arch gracefully like the arms of a chandelier.

Every year I am enchanted by the bold and playful color combination in the blossoms of the magnificent tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera). Green, orange, and yellow all interplay in one huge blossom shaped just like a tulip. The velvety chartreuse stamens will form the cone-like cluster of seeds in the fall. Succulent leaves trace the outline of a tulip blossom, as a child might draw it. This is among the biggest of flowering trees. In the landscape tuliptrees can reach 70 feet high but in the woods, these tall trees tower up to 120 feet.

The black locust tree (Robinia pseudoaccacia)is a rather rugged tree. With thick, ridged bark and spiny stems this tough character frequents strip mines, alleys, and highways. But in late May or early June, the deliciously fragrant blossoms betray its gentler side. White pea-like flowers drip in abundant strands called racemes that can be 4-8 inches long. Rarely, the purple flowering cultivar is also seen.

I especially prize the stealth scenters—trees whose unremarkable blooms ambush you with potent aromas. Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioica) is becoming increasingly popular as a street tree. But who notices the flowers? Small greenish-white flowers cast a fragrance as rich as roses inconspicuously from the crowns of mature trees. Kentucky coffeetree stays true to character as a unique and elegantly formed shade tree throughout the season until winter reveals sparse branching that is especially awkward on adolescent trees.

Another stealth bloomer that packs a powerful fragrance punch is the linden (Tilia sp.). These common and tough trees envelop many plazas, streets, and urban landscapes in a heady scent without commanding much attention from the eyes. Tiny yellow-green flowers are nearly lost among ample heart-shaped leaves. Late in the fall their strange fruit, a stalked and winged nutlet, is subtly revealed.

I must confess, some of my favorite big bloomers are not universally loved. The catalpa has at times been banished from city streets. After all, lots of blooms must eventually fall. Though I find spent flowers beneath the crown as pretty as a white doily, others find them messy and treacherous to walk through. They also produce a long cigar-like pod, excellent for childhood duels but not favored by adults who must rake them. The chestnuts and buckeyes also get cursed for their large nuts – charming as they are with the “buck’s eye” marking. Finally, the black locust gets snubbed as a weed tree for the zealous growth of young seedlings.

But, if you want another perspective, ask the bees and our ancestors across the pond. Both linden and black locust flowers are prized by bees and honey aficionados. Europeans treasure the black locust, which is sometimes called acacia. Linden flowers are harvested for a pleasant tea, called “lime” tea commonly found in Europe. Lucky for us, these big bloomers are once again being planted (they are replacing more common and popular trees being claimed by invasive pests).

Next time you wander by a blooming catalpa, linden, black locust, or other large-flowering shade tree, stop and take a moment to breathe in its heady aroma. Look up. Wonder at its impressive height. Enjoy its cooling shade. Forgive its messiness. And appreciate the gifts that blooming beauty offers up in spring and all year long.

Ah, another Arbor Day is behind us! I have always defended Arbor Day as the original environmental holiday. The purity and simplicity of its purpose – planting trees – allows us a sense of accomplishment if we can just get some trees in the ground.

Earth Day, the more visible holiday in recent years, aims awfully high and makes strides to save the earth by recycling electronics, establishing composting-worm colonies, making paper and plugging in compact fluorescent bulbs.

Arbor Day is actually about a month of activity for the Community Trees Program. So, finally, I am pausing a moment after more than a month of whirlwind activity to lean on my shovel and consider our accomplishments. In the past year, the Community Trees Program of The Morton Arboretum doubled its staff and there are now two of us advocating for trees. So to really branch out for trees, I turn my advocacy skills inward to sell my Arboretum colleagues on the rewards of community Arbor Day celebrations. If I can get them to take the bait, they are rarely disappointed.

This year, as in the past, Arboretum staff from most every department pitched in to help promote the Morton family motto “Plant Trees” in communities throughout the region. But this year we received an extra boost from very talented volunteers who joined staff in our crazy ambition to visit 25 Chicago schools during Arbor Week. And, we did it!

In total we visited 40 schools in the city and suburbs and planted a love for trees in 3,940 young minds. We also participated in Arbor Day celebrations in 23 other communities and joined in planting 946 trees and 6,100 seedlings. Those trees take root. Really, they do.

As I was driving to my first event in Aurora, I passed a small oak at the Prisco Community Center that Morty the Oak and I helped plant two years ago with a great tree advocate with the Fox Valley Park District, Bill Donnell, and dozens of pre-schoolers. That tender tree, budding vigorously, made me smile. These trees “take,” but I’m marvel even more at the way ideas have taken root in some very special community leaders.

Bill Donnell has been the Arbor Day champion in Aurora for a few years now. This year he launched a new initiative with scouts and community volunteers to plant 1,500 trees in Aurora parks. Last year, just a week or so before Arbor Day, I received a call from an earth science teacher at Nequa Valley High School wanting to plant trees on campus with his students. Though my Arbor Day dance card was nearly full, good-natured colleague Ed Hedborn agreed to visit the Naperville school and help teach the students about tree-planting. He was impressed with the teacher, Nick Marasco, and his students. This Arbor Day, I received another last-minute request for assistance from a youth mentoring group in Aurora, called Triple Threat, wanting to plant trees at a grade school. High school students were scheduled to help the younger students plant six trees. Turns out those students are taught and inspired by the very same teacher and tree advocate we met last year. Nick also led his students in planting 43 additional trees at Nequa Valley this past year.

The last of my tree advocate progeny to tell you about is in Palos Heights. A few years ago, Joe McGee dropped in on me while visiting the Arboretum for the day. As president of the Navajo Hills Homeowners Association, he wanted me to help assure his neighborhood that trees were flourishing and would for many years. I visited the subdivision and made some suggestions for involving residents in planting more diverse trees. Two years ago they collaborated with the city of Palos Heights to plant 19 ornamental and other native trees along Navajo Creek. This year they launched a new project to “Take a Stake in Navajo” by planting trees, as hinted by the Navajo tree committee that selected and marked candidate planting locations with a wooden stake. They worked very hard to make it easy for their neighbors to say “yes” to new, quality trees. They developed a $25,000 plan for canopy restoration in the community and asked the Palos Heights City Council for assistance. In what I think is a perfect public-private partnership, the city anted up one-third of the cost of the new trees, the homeowners association put in another one third and the residents have been asked to put up the last share. A neighborhood garden center allows resident to easily choose native and hardy trees. The Arbor Day celebration in April kicked off the program to plant 75 new trees in the community.

So many of us can feel a sense of accomplishment about this successful Arbor Day – the Chicago Bureau of Forestry and the Chicago Public Schools, my co-workers and our volunteers, the stellar community tree advocates and the neighbors they touch.

We all can celebrate as passion for trees takes root and grows in communities reaching far and wide. Happy Arbor Day!

Thank you to JEWEL-OSCO, presenting sponsor for Arbor Week 2009. 

Sure, you can grumble when community leaders don’t seem to care for the trees as you do.

“They are going to what!? Cut down the trees??”

“Why don’t they do something to save these beautiful oaks?”

“What happened to all the trees we used to enjoy on our walks?”

Or, you can speak up, make yourself heard and try to change things for the better. Many folks avoid getting involved in politics. What I’m asking is for you to participate in your democracy. We have chosen a representative form of government for ourselves and you need to help your mayor, village trustees and other elected officials represent your concerns. If you care about trees in your community, I am asking you to speak up – sometimes that has to be in a public forum.

Melissa and David Creech did. This Glen Ellyn couple lives adjacent to Ackerman Woods, a patch of woods near a park district sports facility. These humble woods didn’t get much attention until the two municipal agencies announced a plan to clear a stand of trees for a detention area and soccer field. Then, friends of the woods came, er… out of the woodwork. More than 1,500 people signed an on-line petition. That means each of the 340 trees had a couple of advocates of their own! Competing public land priorities, economic development issues and engineering considerations made this tree preservation campaign a complex course. Melissa’s skills as a journalist, David’s internet savvy and connections to athletic field expertise, and their red-headed twin girls disarming ways made the Creech family formidable champions for this community’s tree preservation charge. Hundreds of neighbors joined in and voiced their support for the trees. At public meetings, through the media and by direct contact with village leaders, these voices were clear and strong. Civic leaders heard what was important to their constituents. And the trees will stand.

Barb and Dom Costabile spoke up, too. They so enjoyed sitting on their backyard deck in the Oak Hills subdivision in Lisle admiring the surrounding towering oaks. Then gypsy moths moved in. Munch, munch, munch – the fuzzy caterpillars devoured the leaves showing way too much blue sky in the canopies. Trees don’t like that. The resulting droppings on the patio – Barb and Dom don’t like that! With guidance from our Arboretum Plant Clinic experts they brought in certified arborists to treat the infestation and stem the damage. Neighbors followed suit. But the public land in Candlewood Park wasn’t so cared for. Barb made some attempts in past years to nudge the park district to also treat the park trees but without success. We invited the village forester, park district managers and the state’s gypsy moth expert to join the Barb, Dom and the Oak Hill neighbors at the Arboretum to brainstorm creative solutions to the growing gypsy moth problem in the village. Again, the “speak up” option seemed the most promising. Irma Hillock, the chosen spokesperson, mustered courage, armed herself with information, surrounded herself with concerned neighbors and spoke up at the Lisle Park Board meeting. The elected stewards of parks in Lisle, “The Arboretum Village,” were responsive to the citizen’s group and are planning to budget for gypsy moth control for next year. Trees win, again!

While we’re on a roll, let’s look at one more community campaign, for tree planting this time. Rose Titus, a North Riverside Garden Club member grumbled to her husband that trees were disappearing from their neighborhood streets and no new trees were being planted. The village didn’t have a regular tree planting program. As an Arboretum seasonal staff member, Rose knows a little about planting trees, but advocacy was new to her. We gave her a little pep talk and shared some resources that could streamline tree planting for the community. Persistence and her disarming ways got Rose an audience with the Mayor. She told him that trees are important to her and to the character and well-being of the residents of North Riverside. He agreed. And he happily planted the first tree in the Village on Arbor Day to kick off the new community tree planting program.

Ok, it isn’t always this easy. We, the trees and their advocates, have had a good run this spring. Sometimes we lose. But maybe these few victories can inspire others to go out on a limb for community trees. The stumpy, mustached Lorax, a character created by Dr. Seuss, declares, “I speak for the trees.” But he also says, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” If I can add to the Lorax’s challenge: “Speak up for the trees.” If Lorax, Rose, Melissa, Barb and other community tree advocates can do it, so can you.

Stand before the people you fear and speak your mind – even if your voice shakes. – Maggie Kuhn