In partnership with Friends of Trees, the Madison South neighborhood is planning a tree planting project for March 20th, 2010! This is the second year that our neighborhood will join in planting trees to create a healthier community. Planting a tree in your yard or parking strip creates long lasting benefits enjoyed by everyone! Did you know that trees remove pollutants from the air? A typical tree absorbs 10 pounds of pollutants, cleans 330 pounds of carbon dioxide, and creates 260 pounds of oxygen each year! Trees also help intercept and retain 760 gallons of rainwater each year, which help keep our rivers clean and help save us money on storm water fees! Trees can cool our homes in the summer and shade our city, which helps us stay cool all summer! Trees raise the property value of your home by up to 20%. Also, unlike many other things, trees appreciate in value each year! And by planting trees now, we can keep our city green into the future. Trees don't last forever, but it is easy for us to keep planting to ensure a "green" future.

Trees for your yard or parking strip cost just $49.99, and  includes a site inspection by the Urban Forestry Department to ensure you choose the right tree for your home, hole digging, help with planting your tree, stakes, mulch, ties, labels, follow-up monitoring, and information on proper tree care techniques! For more information, please visit www.friendsoftrees.org.

Planning has begun for the Madison South neighborhood, so log on to www.friendsoftrees.org to order trees for this great event! If you have any questions, please contact Jillian Miller at (503) 989-8115 or jillianmarie_m@yahoo.com.