‘Friends of Trees’ increases outer NE Portland’s leafy canopy

See how their late-winter planting will provide
shade for summers to come …

Kathi Glover and Jillian Perkins, both of Parkrose Heights, are helping a neighbor plant a magnolia tree, as part of the outer northeast Portland Friends of Trees “action day”.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Early on a blustery Saturday morning a few weeks ago, a large group of folks, dressed for digging in the dirt, showed up at Eastminster Presbyterian Church on NE Halsey Street for a “winter planting action day”.

The minions of tree lovers – mostly local neighbors – fanned out over an area that extended from PDX Airport, east to Gresham, and south to Burnside – to plant trees.

In Parkrose Heights, we caught up with Kathi Glover, as she helped plant trees in front of someone else’s house. She told us that this was her first activity with Friends of Trees.

Planting trees for one another
“We just finished planting trees in my yard,” Glover told us, as she took a brief breather. “We’re all volunteering in our own neighborhoods. I think we have yet one more yard after this.”

Working with Glover was another Parkrose Heights neighbor, Jillian Perkins. “It’s neighbors helping neighbors plant trees,” she added.

Helping to plant the new magnolia trees is Walt Quade, crew leader for Friends of Trees.

From planter to crew leader
“I like to see trees being planted in our neighborhood,” is how Walt Quade, a crew leader for Friends of Trees, explained his efforts. “This is one of the best ways of doing it.”

Quade said he’s been volunteering with Friends of Trees for a dozen years. “I started as a homeowner. I wanted to have trees put in our yard.”

Because he appreciated the organization’s mission, and enjoyed the volunteers with whom he worked, he kept on planting trees.

“I thought this would be kind of neat to do, on a regular basis,” commented Quade. “I’ve got lots of trees in my yard now. After I volunteered for a while as a tree planter, I became a crew leader.”

Learn how you can get trees planted in your yard, or how you can volunteer, by CLICKING HERE.

© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

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