In October 2021, I called the Ardmore Initiative asking if they could help me identify business and property owners who would be open to planting trees on their property. I followed that call with an email with some stats like: “Trees are good for business. In districts with trees and green space, shoppers are willing to travel further, stay longer, and visit more frequently, and spend 12% more for goods.” In June 2022, I applied for the open position at Ardmore Initiative and in my interview, I talked about the need for more trees in the business district. I started my job in July. In February 2023, after months of building relationships, I emailed the business owner for Shade & Seeker at 112 Cricket Ave and asked if AI’s Streetscape Committee in partnership with Ardmore Tree Stewards could plant a tree on her grassy corner property. Melissa replied, “I would love a tree or several of them. I can do what I want with the yard. It is very hot and dry there.” So- we planted 2 trees there through the PHS Tree Tenders program. I was part of the planting team that planted those trees- a Kentucky Coffee Tree and a Swamp White Oak. This spring and summer, I’ve been watching the property with interest as they killed the grass and spread seed. I didn’t ask, I just wondered as I biked past on my route to and from work. And now what was a hot and dry grassy corner is a showstopper. I stopped this morning and marveled at the chorus of bird and insect activity. Can you hear it?
Gracey Moralis
3mo
And make it fruit trees and you feed the homeless too 🥰
Anna Durbin
3mo
Very Beautiful and Inspiring!
Relentless problem-solver | Civic Leader | Systems Thinker
3moTree planting day! April 22, 2023. Featuring champion Tree Tender Derrick Wu and the always amazing Julie Bender