Welcome to the neighborhood!

Look for the Facebook Page or Group called 'Friends of the Whittier Forest'

Flowering (non-fruiting) crab apple tree, SW corner of Pine and 18th

I'm excited to report that the City Forester has been busy planting some wonderful not-so-small trees around the neighborhood.  This is a flowering crab they just put in on the SW corner of 18th and Pine.  A previous homeowner had had trouble with the irrigation system on this parking, and a beautiful little maple died of dehydration.  Since this was a new neighbor, for some insane reason I didn't want to intrude on her space and so I watched this beautiful little maple die inch by inch.  For 4 years then I've been walking by that little skeleton of the dead sapling----it was either a red or a sugar maple--and it was like a constant reminder of my cowardice and neglect of duty to the tree gods.   I am friends with the new owners, and have already talked to them about the necessity to water this new little guy, and they're planning to baby this tree shamelessly!  Oh, happy day!
 


Right around the corner in the middle of the block between 18th and 17th they put in another little flowering crab and a sturdy little catalpa.  This is in front of a building that is divided into 4 condos.  Unfortunately there is no irrigation system.  I do know the folks who live in the condo directly behind these trees, and this time I promise not to procrastinate about contacting these homeowners about helping with these trees survival.  There's a spigot on the side of the building, and I'll propose that I can bring a hose over through the summer and fall if the trees look like they're getting heat stroke.  Maybe I can get them to purchase a hose, and talk to them about a watering schedule for these two beautiful little specimens!
    All of this has put fire under me to get my Facebook Page (and perhaps a Facebook Group) up and running called 'Friends of the Whittier Forest.'  And to work on a couple of handouts or sheets that can explain basic tree stewardship duties to homeowners in the Whittier neighborhood, especially the homeowners or renters who are the lucky 'new parents' of these wonderful young trees we're being blessed with!

Flowering crab and Western Catalpa, Pine between 17th and 18th, south side