Featured Tree – Anacacho orchid tree

Bauhinia lunariodes - Lee Page, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower CenterThis has definitely been a spectacular spring for Orchid trees.  Native to only a few canyons in western central Texas and northeastern Mexico, they make for lovely ornamental yard trees here in Central Texas.  Best known as Anacacho orchid tree, Bauhinia lunaroides can be single or multi-trunked and grows up to 12 feet tall.  It has small, deeply cleft leaves reminiscent of butterfly wings,  delicate white or light pink orchid-like flowers that grow in clusters, and develops flat green pods containing the seeds.  These trees have caught eyes all over Austin in the past few weeks.  When the tree isn’t covered in breathtaking blooms, its uniquely delicate leaves and smooth, silvery gray bark provide year-round interest.  In addition, it is one of the few trees that are noted for having high deer resistance, making it a great option for those who share their gardens with the hungry foragers.

For more information about this and other trees native to our area, visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s Native Plant Database.

Photo: Lee Page, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Off To A Great Start – BCCRP plants 68,000 loblolly seedlings in first year

Family planting trees together in Bastrop. Volunteer at treefolks.org/volunteer-opportunities/After an intense few months of organizing and 8 weeks of planting trees this winter, 68,000 loblolly pine seedlings were planted on 104 acres of residential property in Bastrop County affected by the Labor Day wildfires of 2011.  This would not have been possible without the Texas Conservation Corps, a program of American YouthWorks who provided 5 weeks of labor, and the 250 Central Texans who volunteered their Saturday mornings to reforest residential property.  THANK YOU to those who volunteered their time to come plant trees with us!  We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support from Bastrop County, its’ residents, and program partners to ensure the first year of  tree planting through the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program was a success.

If you missed helping our Bastrop neighbors this winter or would like to get your hands dirty with us next year, volunteer recruitment will begin this fall.  Our goal will dramatically increase to plant over a half million trees next year and we will coordinate at least 20 volunteer events with 1,300 volunteers in Bastrop County!

If you’re itching for a way to chip in now, you can volunteer to plant loblolly seedlings at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.  If you come back and volunteer with us in the fall, you could plant the very same trees that you seeded!  Now that’s cool!  View the PDF linked below for information about how to volunteer.
Help Sow the Seeds of Bastrop’s Future

Love Beer Fundraiser benefiting TreeFolks & others – Buy tickets at lovebeeraustin.com

Drink beer for a good cause! Tickets at lovebeeraustin.comThe Love Beer Fundraiser is a small, intimate event featuring Texas breweries, live music, great food and fun times. Guests will be given a souvenir tasting glass to sample the delicious local beers, and will also be able to visit with the brewers themselves. Proceeds from Love Beer benefit Tree Folks, Meals on Wheels and More, and HAAM.

Love Beer is happening June 15, 2013, from 4pm to 9pm, at the historical Browning Hangar at Mueller (4550 Mueller Blvd., Austin, TX, 78723). There are only a limited number of tickets available, we highly recommend pre-ordering your tickets to save your spot! Tickets are $55 each or $100 for two tickets.

Brewers include: Adelbert’s Brewery, The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co., Austin Beerworks, Black Star Co-op, Circle Brewing Co., Live Oak Brewing Co., Hops & Grain, The Infamous Brewing Co., Jester King, Pedernales Brewing Co., Real Ale Brewing Co., Saint Arnold, South Austin Brewing Co., Thirsty Planet, and more! Live music from various Austin area artists including Monte Warden of the Wagoneers and Lazy J and the Dirty shuffle.

We hope you’ll join us to drink good beer for a good cause! To purchase tickets or find out more about the LoveBeer fundraiser, visit LoveBeerAustin.com.  Tell your friends!  Follow Love Beer on Twitter  Like Love Beer on Facebook

Austin named among 10 Best Cities for Urban Forests

WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 5, 2013 — When it comes to a commitment to care for greenspaces in the nation’s leading cities, conservation organization American Forests has found that some urban areas are doing much better than others. Through a combination of an in-depth survey, independent data and a vote by a blue-ribbon panel of leading urban forest experts, the nonprofit has named the 10 best U.S. cities for urban forests: Austin, Charlotte, Denver, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New York, Portland, Sacramento, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

American Forests defines urban forests as “ecosystems of trees and other vegetation in and around communities that may consist of street and yard trees, vegetation within parks and along public rights of way and water systems. Urban forests provide communities with environmental, economic and social benefits and habitat for fish and wildlife.”…  Read the rest of the official press release from American Forests here.   And don’t miss the gorgeous video about the many benefits of urban forests at the bottom of the page.

Read the American Forests feature on Austin with some great photos of our beautiful urban forest here!

And the story from USA Today here.