History

21 03, 2023

Recommended Reading: An African American Tree Activist Lived in Brooklyn

By |2023-03-21T19:48:35-04:00March 21st, 2023|Categories: History, NYC|Tags: , , |Comments Off on Recommended Reading: An African American Tree Activist Lived in Brooklyn

Hattie Carthan in 1978; photo from the New York Public Library. An African American Tree Activist Lived in Brooklyn Washington Square Park Eco Projects Director Georgia Silvera Seamans posted this story on the Brooklyn Botanic Garden blog about Hattie Carthan (1900-1984). Silvera Seamans writes, "[Carthan] [...]

14 02, 2023

Jean Zimmerman and Doug Still Explore Connecticut’s Charter Oak on the This Old Tree Podcast

By |2023-02-14T16:25:26-05:00February 14th, 2023|Categories: Essays and Reflections, History, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on Jean Zimmerman and Doug Still Explore Connecticut’s Charter Oak on the This Old Tree Podcast

This Old Tree podcast host Doug Still (left) and Council Board Member, arborist and author Jean Zimmerman (right) met with Jack Hale of the Hartford, Connecticut Tree Advisory Commission as part of their extensive exploration into the history, lore, and meaning of the storied Charter Oak, [...]

5 12, 2022

Recommended Podcast: This Old Tree, with Doug Still

By |2022-12-05T10:10:25-05:00December 5th, 2022|Categories: Arboriculture, Essays and Reflections, History, Innovative Projects and Programs|Tags: , |0 Comments

This Old Tree: Heritage trees and the human stories behind them. Hosted by Doug Still Old trees are awe inspiring links to the past that fire our historical imagination. Ever wonder what their stories are? Seasoned arborist and amateur historian Doug Still interviews local experts, historians, and [...]

17 03, 2022

Seneca Village, Central Park, and Considering the Consequences of Community Expropriation in the Creation of Parks

By |2022-03-22T21:38:08-04:00March 17th, 2022|Categories: Environmental Justice, Essays and Reflections, History, NYC|Tags: , , |0 Comments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct9iepqScxk&ab_channel=Smarthistory Above: a superb video and conversation between archeologist Dr. Diana Wall and art historian Dr. Steven Zucker about Seneca Village, the predominantly Black community that was razed in the process of creating Central Park. Alex Martin Seneca Village, Central Park, and Considering the Consequences [...]

22 09, 2021

The Storied English Elm of Washington Square Park, with Georgia Silvera Seamans

By |2021-09-22T11:01:13-04:00September 22nd, 2021|Categories: Essays and Reflections, History, Nonprofits, NYC, Recommended Urban Trees, Trees for Parks|Tags: , , |0 Comments

The beloved shade-giving Washington Square Park English elm tree (Ulmus procera), which provides cavities and foraging for birds, squirrels, and raccoons, among other wildlife. All photos by Georgia Silvera Seamans This is the first in a series by Washington Square Park Eco Projects Director Georgia [...]

26 01, 2021

Sublime “Downtown Doors” Series Photo-Documents Staten Island Trees & Homes from 1940 to Today

By |2021-02-28T20:50:49-05:00January 26th, 2021|Categories: History, Innovative Projects and Programs, NYC|Tags: , , |0 Comments

This towering black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) in Staten Island’s West New Brighton neighborhood (at left, in 1940; at right, in 2020) really caught my attention this season. Although black tupelo generally occupies wet woods habitats, it can thrive under a variety of soil conditions. I’m gratified [...]

10 07, 2020

How it Happened: The History of NY ReLeaf

By |2021-02-27T23:06:54-05:00July 10th, 2020|Categories: History, NY ReLeaf|Tags: , , |0 Comments

Welcome to Part One of Council Cofounder Nancy Wolf’s meticulously researched and lively How it Happened: New York ReLeaf A Brief History of Urban Forestry in the United States and the Creation of the New York State Program Part 1 of 2 Answering questions such as: How does [...]

21 09, 2018

A Tribute to Our Friend Pat Tobin

By |2018-09-21T21:22:47-04:00September 21st, 2018|Categories: Essays and Reflections, History, Member Profiles, Organizational News|Tags: |1 Comment

Pat Tobin in 2014 accepting Tree City USA recognition for Fayetteville, which has been a Tree City USA for nearly 20 years, thanks in no small part to Pat’s efforts. With Pat is NYSDEC Urban Forestry Partnerships Coordinator Sally Kellogg. Beloved Council Past President (2006-2009) [...]

17 02, 2018

An Important Book for this Challenging Moment

By |2018-02-17T12:27:33-05:00February 17th, 2018|Categories: Advocacy, Funding, History|Tags: , , |0 Comments

As mentioned in the previous post, Jill Jonnes’s heralded 2016 book, Urban Forests: A Natural History of Trees and People in the American Cityscape, is a key resource for educating and inspiring ourselves, our fellow citizens, and our legislators as we seek to protect our urban forests. Here’s a review. [...]

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