New Roots, New Branches

it's that time of year again (just before or after the deep ground freeze) when the DC Department of Transportation plants their new street trees. They get tips from residents, do walk-throughs, and identify spots where new trees are needed.


a lovely row of new trees on U street SE

Anacostia has many such spots, and one of my personal goals has been to re-tree the hood to give its streets the same presence and magnificence as those in other more established neighborhoods.


planting a diverse mix means that if a disease hits, the whole block won't die

One block that saw a ton of new plantings was the 1200 block of U Street SE, home of Rosie's Row and my Flip't DC house (woohoo! prettier street = prettier house). To request street trees for your block, fill out a request online a the Service Request Center.

photos by DG-rad

last week's new street trees

this is another "revealing the power of the DC Service Request Center" post, because last week I noticed that a bunch of street trees requested last year were finally planted.


a bunch planted all the way up Valley Place


corner of Valley and High


16th Street, between V and U. More are on the way.


near the corner of 14th and Good Hope (Fairlawn side)


V Street, between 15th and 16th

It's as simple as putting in a request for the specific block or address you would like to see street trees on. Although the process can take as long as a year, the benefits are totally long-term. If you see newly-planted trees on your block, please water them!

new trees

Before:

dying magnolia - not a good street tree

After:


(previously blogged about here)

before photo clip courtesy of flickr user stgermh

The DC Region is experiencing a drought, and Anacostia is not immune to its ill-effects. From today's Examiner article:

"Farmers in Virginia and Maryland are fretting over brown-eared corn and drooping soybean crops. Here in the city, our communal crop is trees, and they are suffering.

It’s time to get out our buckets and our hoses, check the ’hood for newly planted saplings and drench them. Every day, if possible."

Our trees add value, beauty, health, and pride to our neighborhood, and it is our responsibility (and hopefully, desire) to make sure they stay alive.

For a Great piece on the importance of street trees, see this post from The Goodspeed Update.

photo used in graphic courtesy of flickr user stgermh