2024 Arbor Day Tree Planting
The Planting Process
On Friday, April 26, 2024, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, the Brookline Division of Parks and Open Space, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and arborists from Bartlett Tree Experts planted 10 new trees along the Jamaicaway side of Olmsted Park!
Nearly 30 Emerald Necklace Conesrvancy volunteers participated on planting day. Each tree was planted in a location approved by Boston Landmarks Commission and workshopped with community members.
We dug 10 holes, ensured proper planting height, broke up and prepared the root balls and uncovered root collars, added loam, and biochar to backfilled soil, top-dressed with mulch, installed protective fencing and educational signage and “watered-in” the trees using the Emerald Necklace Conservancy’s watering truck. During the planting process, we talked about Boston’s urban forest and the history of Olmsted Park, distributed educational materials, and gave away additional tree seedlings and planting instructions donated by Speak for the Trees to be planted on private property.
Species and Quantity Planted
- 1 Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
- 2 Tulip trees (Liriodendron tulipifera)
- 2 White oaks (Quercus alba)
- 3 Swamp white oaks (Quercus bicolor)
- 2 American Elms (Ulmus americana)
Location
Along the eastern side of Olmsted Park, along the Jamaicaway. Visit the Daisy Field Parking Lot and walk towards the wildflower meadow to the south. You will see these trees in the park itself, and across the Jamaicaway lining the sidewalk!
For more information about tree planting in the Emerald Necklace, to send your best photos of these trees to us or join the mailing list for stewardship updates, please contact Field Operations or Volunteer Management staff at the Emerald Necklace Conservancy.
2023 Arbor Day Tree Planting
The Planting Process
On Friday, April 28, 2023, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, and arborists from Bartlett Tree Experts planted 10 new trees along the Boylston Street side of the Fenway Victory Gardens in Boston’s Back Bay Fens!
Participants on planting day included the PowerCorps Boston staff and trainees, Fenway Victory Garden members and Emerald Necklace Conservancy volunteers. Each tree was planted in a location approved by Boston Landmarks Commission and workshopped with community members.
We hand-dug 10 holes, ensured proper planting height, broke up and prepared the root balls and uncovered root collars, added loam, and biochar to backfilled soil, top-dressed with mulch, installed protective fencing and educational signage and “watered-in” the trees using the Emerald Necklace Conservancy’s watering truck. During the planting process, we talked about Boston’s urban forest and the history of the Victory Gardens, distributed educational materials, and gave away additional tree seedlings and planting instructions donated by Speak for the Trees to be planted on private property.
Species and Quantity Planted
- 6 Flowering dogwoods (Cornus Florida)
- 2 Princeton elms (Ulmus americana)
- 2 Flowering crabapples (Malus sp.)
Seedling species given Away
- Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)
- Pin oak (Quercus palustris)
- Serviceberry (Amelanchier sp.)
- Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
- Paw Paw (Asimina triloba)
Location
Along the western side of the Fenway Victory Gardens in the Back Bay Fens. Go to the central flagpole for the Fenway Victory Gardens and walk along Boylston Street and Park Drive. You will see these trees buffering the beautiful garden plots from the active street!
2022 Tree Planting
The Planting Process
On Friday, April 29, 2022, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, and arborists from Bartlett Tree Experts met near the rear entrance of the Franklin Park zoo and the Tiffany Moore tot lot to plant 10 new trees! Participants on planting day included the Emerald Necklace Conservancy Youth Leadership Program (YLP) and the Speak for the Trees Teen Urban Tree Corps (TUTC), with staff from the Boston Parks and Recreation Department Forestry Division, PowerCorpsBOS, Age Friendly Boston, and several volunteers.
We hand-dug 10 holes, ensured proper planting height, broke up the root balls and uncovered root collars, added loam and mulch to backfilled soil, installed protective fencing and educational signage, and “watered-in” the trees using the Emerald Necklace Conservancy’s watering truck. During the planting process, we talked about Boston’s urban forest and distributed an Arbor Day Packet encouraging folks to get involved with current City and State programs in urban forestry.
Species and Quantity Planted
- 3 pin oak (Quercus palustris)
- 2 eastern hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
- 2 red maple (Acer rubrum)
- 2 Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus)
- 1 sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
Location
Directly to the southeast of the Tiffany Moore Tot Lot. To visit these trees, head to the rear parking lot of the Franklin Park Zoo. Then, walk towards Seaver Street and the Tiffany Moore Tot Lot. They will pop out at you then!
2021 Tree Planting
The Planting Process
On Friday, April 30, 2021, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy’s Field Operations Coordinator, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department’s Tree Warden, and three arborists from Bartlett Tree Experts arrived in Franklin Park with 10 trees in tow.
Due to a wind advisory, youth participants were unable to attend this planting in person, but they were able to receive a lesson and see their trees via Zoom at the end of the day. Each participant in the Youth Leadership Program received a certificate of completion for their hard work over the past few months, and a link to keep up with how their trees are doing on a regular basis.
The planting began at 2:00 pm with placing each tree in its designated (and Boston Landmarks Commission-approved) planting location. The Bartlett arborists hand-dug each hole, ensured each tree had no girdling roots, adjusted the height of planting to ensure trees were straight and not planted too deep and applied mulch (provided by the Tree Warden) in a donut shape around – but not touching – the trunk of each tree. Finally, fencing was installed to protect each tree from mowing, pet waste and trampling. The Field Operations Coordinator added an inventory tag to each tree and informational signage to each fence. We ran out of fencing for one tree, so we made do with orange flagging as a temporary protectant!
Species and Quantity Planted
- 2 black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica)
- 2 swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor)
- 2 eastern hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
- 2 red maple (Acer rubrum)
- 1 tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
- 1 Princeton elm (Ulmus americana ‘Princeton’)
Maintenance Activities
The Field Operations Coordinator and the Boston Tree Warden hand-watered these trees during the months of May and June using 5-gallon water jugs. Each tree received 10 gallons of water per visit and were visited an average of 1.5 times per week. Then, they were added to the Conservancy’s Summer Watering Contract, and Barrett Tree Service East applied 20 gallons of water per week from June to September. The Conservancy’s Field Operations Coordinator visited and photographed the trees each month at minimum and fixed fences. The trees were mulched by the Boston Tree Warden and Field Operations Coordinator on October 15 to ensure they are set up for the fall, winter, and early spring.
Location
Directly to the southwest of the Walnut Avenue entrance to White Stadium. To visit these trees, head to approximately 492 Walnut Avenue and park either streetside, or in the parking area if the fence is open. Then, walk to the right of White Stadium towards the Overlook Ruins and look for a mostly-grassy area. They will pop out at you then!
