Re: [BloomingdaleActionList] Re: Trees

Patrick,

Thanks for the photos.  Let me note a couple of things.

First, Patrick, Patrick, no need to get frustrated.  You know people!  I most definitely appreciate when people like you grab the bull by the horns and work to improve the neighborhood.  But when the bull fights back, so to speak, please let us know.  You shouldn't be out there alone. 

Second, as for the trees, I was home when the tree along side 143 U Street was trimmed.  That tree had a branch or two that did reach over the roof of the house and a couple of dead branches.  So while that old tree is looking a little older since the trim, I don't think the trimming itself was inappropriate.  Given the age of these trees, I doubt they will improve much.  They are both maples, which, because of climate change, no longer grow well in this area; the temps are too high too long.  DC stopped planting maples a few years ago for that reason.  That said, I have seen trees (and I am looking at two while I write this) that have filled back in considerably since they were heavily damaged in a wind storm in 2005.  One is a catalpa and the other is a maple.  So continue to hold out hope and keep watering the maple across from Mr. Bush.  Although it is a mature tree, good watering will help it do whatever restoring it is capable of doing.

In the mean time, I will work with Mark to forward the photos to UFA and ask for a response.  We'll let you know what we learn.

Take care,
John


John T. Salatti
Vice President, Bloomingdale Civic Association
(202) 986-2592

"Together, Building a Better Bloomingdale"

On Sat, Jun 23, 2012 at 2:00 PM, Patrick Hudak <patrickhudak@gmail.com> wrote:

Betsy and John,

I haven't called the city about the tree chopping, cause I'm doubtful I'm going to get a satisfactory answer.  I've been dealing with the city for nearly a year to try to get trees replanted on my block since they cut them down a year ago... and the process hasn't been easy.  Supposedly, they're going to replant them in the Fall, but I'll believe it when I see it.

I've attached pictures of trees on V street (across from my house) and Flagler.  It may be difficult to appreciate that these trees had full canopies.  Like I said, I and several of my neighbors are fearful that they are going to do this to our remaining trees.  Will these trees fill back in? 

John, any information you can get would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Patrick

On Sat, Jun 23, 2012 at 11:07 AM, John T. Salatti <john.salatti@gmail.com> wrote:

What I would suggest, Patrick, is to photograph what you believe to be egregious examples of overpruning, send those photos to Mark and me and we will send them to our contacts at Urban Forestry, asking for an explanation.  Trees were pruned on U Street and Flagler Place that week and while the cutting was more than I would have done (being very conservative when it comes to tree trimming), the examples I have seen do not seem to be out of line with the larger trees in the neighborhood.  That is, the trimming seems to be setting the trees on a path to what they will be 10 years from now.  But I can't always explain why some trees were trimmed the way they were and why some were skipped.  So let's get the info to UFA and get some answers.

Thanks for being an eagle-eye in the neighborhood,
John



John T. Salatti
Vice President, Bloomingdale Civic Association
(202) 986-2592

"Together, Building a Better Bloomingdale"

On Sat, Jun 23, 2012 at 10:35 AM, Betsy McDaniel <bloomingdame@gmail.com> wrote:

Patick - 

You didn't say if you contacted the city about this. If not, do you want to forward your email to Tim Clark?  I'm not quite sure what his job is, but I am sure he could get it to the right people. I hope there is a good explanation for the work that was done.

In other tree news, last Friday, I used 311 online and requested over 30 trees for the section of Bloomingdale south of RIAve. Chris R had surveyed the area and noted the empty tree boxes, and shared the list with me.  I have already received acknowledgement for some of the cases. I noticed a bright orange dot on a dead tree, and a dot on the curb of one of the empty boxes. So, someone is investigating the tree issues I submitted. 

I don't know if this means we will be getting new trees, but at least there has been a response and we can always hope. 

Don't forget to water the trees you have! Last time I talked to John Salatti, he still had tree bags. (Thanks for the offer of the bag, John, but I actually enjoy watering.)

Betsy

On Fri, Jun 22, 2012 at 6:10 PM, Patrick Hudak <patrickhudak@gmail.com> wrote:

Sorry, I meant to loop in the action list.

On Fri, Jun 22, 2012 at 6:09 PM, Patrick Hudak <patrickhudak@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Everyone,

I'm writing on behalf of several of my neighbors and myself to express our outrage over what the city is doing to our tree canopy.  We are very upset with how the city has butchered the trees, including on V and Flagler.  If you haven't seen them, please takea look.  By chopping away 70% of the branches, they've destroyed the canopy and left what amounts to mainly trunk.  What's the point of having a tree?  Why is this city spending money to put in trees, which they encourage us to water, so they can destroy them? 

These trees are not growing near power lines, and they show no signs of rot.  We don't believe for a second that the city is doing this for either of those reasons.  Also, we would like to see examples of where the city has butchered this many trees in Georgetown, Dupont and other parts of NW.  There are trees growing in Foggy Bottom that hang at a severe angle over 21st street, and the city hasn't touched them.  Do they have a different policy for our area?  Are they sending us the less skilled workers who don't care?  Tod and I are fearful that we're going to return home one day and find the lovely tree in front of our house butchered.

As you can understand, we are extremely upset and concerned that the city is going to continue to destroy what little canopy our neighborhood has left. It will take many decades to repair the damage the city has already done.  How can we stop this? 

Patrick