WTC:TUFC Forestry Scholarship Award
Eric Bridges. PHD Forestry student at Mississippi State University, was the recipient of the chapter's scholarship grant.
Can We plant 1.8 million trees in Memphis?
American Forests 2021 Tree Equity Report
See Memphis Commercial Appeals' 7.15.21 interview with Wes Hopper & Ryan Hall on Memphis Trees based on American Foresters 2021 Tree Equity Report https://www.americanforests.org/our-work/urban-forestry/
Commercial Appeal article: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/local/2021/07/14/research-tree-equity-shows-low-income-parts-memphis-getting-hotter/5345740001/
Urban Forestry advisor volunteers
Volunteers work to support tree health, tree education & to increase tree canopy
Volunteers for Trees
- The West TN Chapter of the TN Urban Forestry Council was founded in 2004 to promote TUFC’s mission: “We inspire and empower people to grow healthy community and Urban Forests.”
- photo: Arthur Yates
May 2022 Volunteer Opportunities
Turn in your Hours to Judi or sign up & log your hours with Cabot Creamery --log in hours within 7 days https://rewardvolunteers.coop/
Volunteer Coordinator/ Website manager: Jan Castillo
Cooper Young Garden Walk : Education Booth 2 days
Saturday May 21. 2022 Education Booth in Judi's Garden
shift 1: 9: 30- 12:30 Shift 2: 12:30-4:00
Sunday May 2 2, Education Booth in Judi's Garden shift 1: 9: 30- 12:30 Shift 2: 12:30-4:00
Champion. Landmark, & Historic Tree Team
Sign up with Judi for the Shelby County Team. To view UT Forestry's State Champions click https://fwf.tennessee.edu/champion-tree/
ISA Tree Care for Homeowners
Tree Planting
Mature Tree Care
Mature Tree Care
Mature Tree Care
Mature Tree Care
Mature Tree Care
Trees and Turf
Mature Tree Care
Trees for a Healthy Environment
Trees for a Healthy Environment
Trees for a Healthy Environment
Trees for a Healthy Environment
Why Topping Hurts Trees
Trees for a Healthy Environment
Why Topping Hurts Trees
Anatomy of a Tree
Trees for a Healthy Environment
Why Topping Hurts Trees
You Can Easily Spot the Thorny Invasive Callery Pear Trees in March
- Recognized by their white blooms, escaped “volunteer” callery pear trees, can be seen in overabundance around our area during mid to late March. These non-native trees encroach on native trees needed to support a balanced ecosystem.
by Jan Castillo
Pyrus calleryana: Callery Pear Native to Vietnam and China
From Sterile to Fruit Producing
‘Bradford’ was selected from a Callery Pear for its thorn-less, sterile attributes. It was then cloned* as a cultivar to be sold as a small sterile, thorn less, ornamental tree. When the single cloned BRADFORD PEAR was commercially released in 1961, it became widely popular & planted in residential & commercial areas across the eastern U S. In 2005, it was named 'Municipal Tree of the Year by the Society of Municipal Arborists.
Callery Pear cultivars ‘Aristocrat,’ ‘Chanticleer,’ ‘Cleveland Select,’‘Redspire’, and ‘Whitehouse’ were introduced in the 1960’s & 1970’s. Developed to provide sturdier branches than the Bradford Pear, they were welcomed by landscapers and home gardeners. Unlike the cloned Bradford pear, cultivars of these varieties are grafted to Pyrus calleryana rootstock. As these grafted trees grew, they could develop two genotypes. It was impossible to keep each of these cultivars isolated from each other. While each of these cultivars can not produce fruits on its own, “fruits easily develop when two or more cultivars—which are genetically different and therefore cross compatible—are planted together.” (Culley and Hardiman 2007) .
Cross-pollination of Bradford Pears & the Callery Pear cultivars is frequently provided by bees, which visit blooming plants within a mile. Birds eat the fruit then spread the seeds, resulting in ‘volunteer” Callery Pear trees springing up along our roads, forest interstate medians, & forest edges.
By the 1990s, Pyrus callereana became widely noticed in the natural areas of southern states. In 2009, Michael Dirr lamented that “cookie-cutter Bradfords … inhabit almost every city and town to some degree or another; the tree has reached epidemic proportions and is over-planted.”
In addition to spreading by cross pollination, the rootstock of a planted Callery pear cultivars may develop shoots that flower and produce and fruit. When trees are damaged or cut down leaving the lower trunk, fruit producing Callery Pear shoots often survive, grow into trees, and spread.
How fast has the Callery Pear Invaded our area?
Drive along the 1-40 loop, down highway 72 or any back road during the last two weeks in March to see for yourself. Adaptable Callery pear trees quickly form dense thickets, robbing native trees and plants of light, nutrients, & water. The Callery Pear “invades disturbed areas, open fields), neglected pastures, rights of ways, and forest edges.” (Alabama Extension 8.2020).
As our native trees and plants decrease, so do the beneficial insects which are essential supporters of our food chain. When epidemiologist Dr. Doug Tallamy, compared a native white oak tree in his yard with a non-native Bradford pear in his neighbor’s yard, the oak supported 410 caterpillars while only one caterpillar could be found on the Bradford pear. Without an abundance of caterpillars provided by native trees, birds are unable to feed their young contributing to major losses in bird population. The Audubon Society reports since 1970, the bird population has dropped 25%.
Callery Pear Identification:
Clusters of white 5-petal, March blooms, thorns up to 3” long, leaves -3 inches long / 2 inches wide oval green leathery leaves; fall color: brilliant red; form: pyramidal to columnar, broadens as it reaches 30–50 ft. in height.
Other species with 5- petal White Blooms May be Mistaken for Callery Pear: How Can You Tell the Difference? Serviceberry, Plums, and Crabapples
Serviceberry petals are strap shape, wavy, & have brighter white blooms
Native plums: stamens are longer than the petals
Apple and crabapple blooms have a slightly pink hue
Can the Callery Pear be Managed?
Callery pears cultivars can be banned from commercial production.
Callery pear and its’ cultivars can be removed & replaced with native alternatives.
Alternatives to Callery Pear & It's Cultivars:
1. Viburnum prunifolium (Blackhaw Viburnum)
2. Ostrya virginiana (Ironwood or Eastern Hophornbeam)
3. Cercis canadensis (Eastern redbud)
4. Carpinus caroliniana (American Hornbeam)
5. Amelanchier arborea (Serviceberry)
6. Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood
Tree Articles & Books
The Nature of Oaks by Doug Tallamy 2021
Oaks sustain a complex and fascinating web of wildlife. The Nature of Oaks reveals what is going on in oak trees month by month, highlighting the seasonal cycles of life, death, and renewal. From woodpeckers who collect and store hundreds of acorns for sustenance to the beauty of jewel caterpillars, Tallamy illuminates and celebrates the wonders that occur right in our own backyards. He also shares practical advice about how to plant and care for an oak, along with information about the best oak species for your area. -David George Haskell, author of The Forest Unseen and The Songs of Trees
The Social Life of Trees: book
“To Speak for the Trees: My Life's Journey .… By Diana Beresford-Kroeger
To Speak for the Trees: My Life's Journey from Ancient Celtic Wisdom to a Healing Vision of the Forest.
Diana Beresford-Kroeger—a world-recognized botanist and medical biochemist—has revolutionized our understanding of the natural world with her startling insights into the hidden life of trees. In this riveting memoir, she uncovers the roots of her discoveries in her extraordinary childhood in Ireland… Barnes & Noble 2022
PAW PAW FRUIT: The Next Superfood? https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220425-the-revival-of-a-forgotten-american-fruit?utm_source=pocket-newtab
Barkskins by Annie Proulx
Barkskins. a 2016 novel by Annie Proulx, tells the story of two immigrants to New France, René Sel and Charles Duquet, and of their descendants. It witnesses the deforestation of the New World, during a 300 year span, from the arrival of Europeans to the contemporary era of climate crisis .
Planting Trees to Reduce Flooding
Robert Powers : Best Books to Read on Trees
24 Best Books on Nature and Trees
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants
The Journeys of Trees Zach St. George
A story about people, our forests, and our future. https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324001607
New Approach to Blue Carbon Projects Underway in Colombia
https://e360.yale.edu/digest/new-approach-to-blue-carbon-projects-unveiled-in-colombia
West TN: TUFC Chapter Bylaws revised 2018
above photo by L. West ; Quercus lyrata Overcup Oak leaves October 2021
Bylaws of the West Tennessee Chapter,
Tennessee Urban Forestry Council – A Chapter of The Tennessee Urban Forestry Council
ARTICLE I
Name
The name of this organization shall be the “West Tennessee Chapter, Tennessee Urban Forestry Council” and shall, within these bylaws,
be referred to as “Chapter.”
ARTICLE II Purpose
The purpose of this Chapter shall be synonymous with the mission of the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council (TUFC): to promote and improve Tennessee’s urban forests by providing leadership and guidance through education, planning and advocacy with a focus on West Tennessee issues.
Specifically, the Chapter will work to coordinate and stimulate programs that will:
1) Promote current, sound urban forestry practices within West Tennessee;
2) Promote public awareness of urban forestry through education, advocacy, and special programs; and
3) Cooperate with allied associations, public agencies, and academia in conducting programs beneficial to urban forestry, the green industry and all related natural resources in West Tennessee, Tennessee and the Mid-South Region.
ARTICLE III Membership, Privileges, Dues and Donations
SECTION 1: Membership
Any person, firm, corporation, association or organization engaged in urban forestry or interested in the welfare and benefits of urban forestry within the State of Tennessee shall be eligible for membership in this chapter, in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the Chapter Board of Directors.
SECTION 2: Privileges
Each person, firm, corporation, association or organization duly qualified as a member shall be entitled to one vote each.
SECTION 3: Dues
The Chapter Board of Directors shall determine the basis of membership dues. Dues paid to the Chapter are non-refundable and apply only to the current calendar year beginning January 1st. Upon payment of Chapter dues, a member shall have access to all Chapter privileges. Chapter dues do not grant Chapter members access to those privileges provided by the TUFC. To receive these additional privileges an individual or entity must join the TUFC.
SECTION 4: Donations
Donations made to the Chapter will be utilized at the local level. The TUFC will provide Chapters with a list of members with corresponding levels of membership dues. Chapter donation solicitations from TUFC members on the list provided will be conducted in cooperation with the TUFC so as not to conflict with TUFC objectives.
ARTICLE IV Board of Directors
SECTION 1:
The governing body of the Chapter shall be the Board of Directors (Board). The Board shall be composed of 7 elected members all of whom shall be dues paying members of both the TUFC and the Chapter. These dues must be paid by January 15th of the year in which they are elected to serve. The President, Vice-President, and Immediate Past President shall continue as members of the board until the completion of their officer terms and are included in this number.
SECTION 2:
The last chapter meeting of the calendar year shall be considered the annual meeting at which the offices of the Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and
2 at-Large Board Members shall be elected. These 5 plus the new President and Immediate Past President shall make up the new Board of Directors. A nominating committee shall be appointed by the current President at the chapter meeting prior to the annual meeting with one member being named the committee chairman. This committee shall submit its slate of nominations to the membership for vote at the annual meeting. Additional nominations from the floor shall be invited.
SECTION 3:
The term of office of the Board of Directors shall begin on January 1st and shall be for 1 year. Upon completion of their term, each member shall be eligible for re-election to the board except for the Immediate Past President who must sit out a year before again being eligible.
SECTION 4:
In the event a vacancy occurs with a Board member at-Large, it shall be filled by the Board. This replacement Board member shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
SECTION 5:
Board of Directors shall include persons with diverse backgrounds representing government, business, civic, educational and citizen interests who have an interest in urban forestry.
SECTION 6:
The Tennessee State Forester and West Tennessee Urban Forester shall be ex-officio members with full voting privileges.
SECTION 7:
The Board shall act upon all business of the Chapter arising between annual meetings.
SECTION 8:
The Board shall meet at least quarterly and as needed. The President or 3 board members, as needed may call special meetings of the Board. In the case of special meetings, ten calendar days written notice of the time and place shall be given to the Board
SECTION 9:
A majority of the Elected Board Members shall constitute a quorum. Ex-officio members shall not be considered in determining a quorum.
SECTION 10:
Two consecutive non-notified absences by a Board member to the President or Secretary shall constitute a resignation from the Board.
SECTION 11:
The board shall develop an annual budget and submit it to the membership at the designated annual meeting for approval
ARTICLE V Officers
SECTION 1:
The offices of Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected at the annual meeting.
SECTION 2:
The term of office for each Officer shall begin on January 1st and be for one calendar year. The Vice President shall be the President-elect.
SECTION 3:
An Officer vacancy other than the President shall be filled by a vote of the Board of Directors and that Board member voted on by the board shall complete the unexpired term. Should the office of President become vacant, the Vice President shall become the President for the unexpired term and go on to serve his/her term of President as well.
ARTICLE VI President, Vice President and Past President
SECTION 1:
The President shall preside at all meetings of the Chapter and of the Board. The President shall appoint the chair of all committees and shall sign all contracts made for and in behalf of the Chapter. Each Chapter President or his/her accredited representative shall represent the Chapter at all meetings of the TUFC Board of Directors.
SECTION 2:
The Vice President shall preside in the absence of the President. The Vice President shall assist the President and shall act in his/her place in the event of sickness and inability of the President to perform the duties imposed upon him/her or incident to the Office of President.
SECTION 3:
The immediate Past President shall be a Board member of the Chapter the year following his/her tenure as President. This person shall have full voting rights but will not be eligible for re-election to the board for one year.
(See Article IV, Sect. 3)
ARTICLE VII Secretary/Treasurer
SECTION 1:
It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to properly account for all receipts and disbursements, and to make reports to the membership showing the balance on hand and outstanding obligations at designated meetings. The Treasurer shall have charge of and be responsible for the membership records and other books of account. In addition, the Treasurer shall provide financial reports at the Board’s regularly scheduled meetings.
SECTION 2:
The Secretary shall conduct the correspondence of the Chapter, give notice in writing of all annual and special meetings of the Chapter and its Board, keeping a permanent record of all the business conducted. In addition, he/she shall provide additional copies of all activities including elections, Bylaws and Annual Reports to the Executive Director of the TUFC within one month of completion.
ARTICLE VIII Membership Meetings
SECTION 1:
Chapter membership meetings shall be held at least quarterly with at least 30 days advance notice.
SECTION 2:
Special meetings may be called by action of the Board provided the membership is given at least 10 calendar days written notice.
SECTION 3:
A Chapter quorum is determined as the number of currently paid members attending any membership meeting.
ARTICLE IX Procedure
SECTION 1:
The Chapter shall make and adopt by-laws, rules and regulations for its own guidance as may be expedient insofar as such are consistent with the mission and bylaws of the TUFC. Amendments to these Bylaws may be made by a two-thirds affirmative vote of all the members present at an annual meeting or at any special membership meeting called for that purpose provided that written notice of such meeting shall include a copy of the proposed amendments. The Chapter will inform the TUFC of adopted Bylaw revisions (Ref. Article VII, section I).
SECTION 2:
The fiscal year for the Chapter shall be from January 1 through December 31.
SECTION 3:
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised Shall govern the Chapter in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the chapter may adopt.
ARTICLE X Dues
SECTION 1:
The Chapter shall establish a dues schedule for various levels of membership. This schedule shall be adopted by and may be amended by a majority vote of the board (or membership), upon notification to the general membership, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ARTICLE XI
Committees
SECTION 1:
All committees shall be formed during a Board meeting.
SECTION 2:
The term of the non-standing committees shall expire with the term of the appointing President unless another expiration is provided by an establishing resolution or successful motion.
ARTICLE XII Chapter and State Relationships
SECTION 1: Organization
A local Chapter shall consist of a group of TUFC – West Tennessee Chapter members. No Chapter shall use the name “Tennessee Urban Forestry Council” without the written authorization of the TUFC Board of Directors.
SECTION 2: Financial
In addition to dues, the members of each Chapter may assess themselves for any costs incurred in connection with the activities of the Chapter.
SECTION 3: Bylaws
A Chapter shall make Bylaws for their governance consistent with Mission of the TUFC and shall file their Bylaws with the Executive Director of the TUFC (ref. Article VII, section I).
SECTION 4: Reports
Each Chapter organization shall file copies of an Annual Report with the Executive Director of the TUFC. Each Chapter President or his/her accredited representative shall represent the Chapter at all meetings of the TUFC Board of Directors.
SECTION 5: Grants
Chapter grant requests will be in line with the mission of the TUFC, clearly communicated to both the State and Chapter Boards, and will not conflict with the fundraising efforts for statewide programs supported by the TUFC.
SECTION 6: Media Releases
A Chapter shall have the right to release through its Officers, or a duly authorized spokesperson, expressions of opinion, views, statements, or other public pronouncements on matters of interest to the welfare of its members of the Chapter and the general public. Said public pronouncements shall not contain directly, indirectly, or by implication material at variance with the Constitution, Bylaws, or Policy Statements of the TUFC. Copies of all releases shall be furnished to the TUFC Executive Director at the time they are issued.
SECTION 7: Endorsement
The TUFC does not assume any responsibility for any Chapter unless such action shall have first received the approval of the TUFC Executive Committee.
SECTION 8: Self-funding
The TUFC will not assume any liability for debts incurred by, or for the expenditure of any Chapter. Upon Chapter dissolution, any remaining funds shall revert to the Council.
SECTION 9: Charter
The TUFC Executive Committee shall have the right to rescind the Charter of any Chapter.