Spring Has Sprung!

I love seeing people planting things in the neighborhood. There are no nurseries or garden centers on this side of the Anacostia River (yet, although Ginkgo Gardens and Frager's are just a couple minutes away on Capitol Hill), so it's great to see people going out of their way to spruce up their yards. Spring!

Don't forget about Casey Trees' $50 rebate if you buy and plant a new tree in DC. Click Here for details.

tree planting a wild success

yesterday's historic Anacostia community tree planting was a total and complete success. the Casey Trees-sponsored event drew 87 volunteers from all over the city, and a grand total of 33 new trees were planted on only two city blocks, all on private property.


this 8-year-old received three new trees in his apartment's front yard, and was a part of the whole process: helping with the tree-location flags, planting the trees, and making sure they had enough water


clearly this was an all-ages event: this group named the new magnolia "Angelica" (and another one "Frank")


a group from OPX, a "work environment design" firm standing in front of one of the five trees they planted in a yard on V Street


some loyal blog devotees and "every once in a while" Mama Cole's patrons planting a cherry and london plane tree on U Street


by mid-day, all the trees were planted, staked, and surrounded by bulging ooze tubes

a HUGE thank you to all who came out! It could not have been a more perfectly sunny day, the lunch catered by Congress Heights' own MLK Deli was delicious, and the community and greater city involvement was really encouraging. I hope this is only the first of many.

// new trees on your street or in your yard? please water! //

Read more about the planting in the Washington Post's article "For DC Group, Good Trees Make Good Neighbors"

Community Tree Planting - sign up!

Sign up now! From 9AM to 1PM on Saturday, April 18th, we will be planting about 30 trees on two city blocks in Historic Anacostia, and we still need a lot of volunteers. Necessary tools and light refreshments will be provided.

the purpose of the Casey Trees-sponsored event, outside of the obvious (planting a ton of magnificent trees), is to get the neighborhood excited about the value of trees and to bring us together for an awesome community-building event. Hopefully this will be the first of many neighborhood tree plantings!

graphic by DG-rad

mark your calendars

wednesday:



Entrepreneur? Local-business-interested? Affinity Lab is thinking about setting up shop in Anacostia, and is hosting a meet and greet + discussion at the Honfleur Gallery. (1241 Good Hope)

They describe themselves as a "shared office space meets incubator meets entrepreneurial club-house." Come out and show them we are their next market. 6:30-8:30 PM.

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thursday:



the Historic Anacostia Block Association is hosting Mayor Fenty starting at 7 PM at the UPO Anacostia Community Service Center. (1649 Good Hope)

Listen as we share our top neighborhood priorities, and show the Mayor that we care about top issues like abandoned properties, transportation plans, public safety, and the Historic Homeowners grant program.

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next wednesday:



River East Emerging Leaders (REEL) is hosting another meet-up event at the Honfleur Gallery (1241 Good Hope) from 6:30-8:30 PM.

the event last month was spectacular, and as always, everyone from all areas of the city are welcome and encouraged to attend.

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morning of Saturday, April 18th:

Mark your calendars now (seriously) for the first-ever Anacostia Community Tree Planting! Help plant roughly 30 trees on two city blocks within the Anacostia historic district.