Volunteers sought to plant trees in Pasadena Sept. 29

Volunteers are needed to help Pasadena City Council member Gene Masuda and the City’s Department of Public Works plant more than 75 trees on Saturday, September 29 as part of Pasadena’s collaborative effort to restore the City’s “Urban Forest” that was heavily damaged in the 2011 Windstorm.

To kick off this year’s fall tree-planting season, the City is working on Sept. 29 with volunteers and the Pasadena Beautiful Foundation, Odwalla’s Plant-a-Tree Program, and the Pasadena Community Foundation to plant trees in areas west of Eaton Canyon Wash.

Volunteers will meet at 8:00 a.m. at Eaton Sunnyslope Park, 3005 E. Orange Grove Blvd. A tree-planting demonstration by City arborists is planned for 8:15 a.m. Volunteers will begin tree plantings at about 8:30 a.m., supervised by City staff. The Pasadena Firefighters Local 809 will provide a volunteer lunch.

From Nov. 30 to Dec. 1, 2011, severe winds damaged 5,550 trees along Pasadena’s streets and in public parks. Of those 5,550 trees, 2,100 trees were significantly damaged and required removal. The rest sustained less severe damage to branches or limbs.

Since the windstorm, the City has been working collaboratively with the Pasadena Beautiful Foundation, Odwalla’s Plant-a-Tree Program, and the Pasadena Community Foundation to help raise money and initiate tree plantings.

Volunteers must wear closed-toe shoes or boots and comfortable clothes that can get dirty. An adult must accompany all children 14 years old, or younger. Don’t forget to bring gardening gloves and a favorite shovel if available!

Interested volunteers should call the Department of Public Works, Division of Parks and Natural Resources, at (626) 744-4321 or by email to Darya Barar, Program Coordinator, at dbarar@cityofpasadena.net. Or, go online to www.cityofpasadena.net/PublicWorks.

For more information about the City of Pasadena, go online to www.cityofpasadena.net.