Elm Watch: Calendar

April 30, 2010 Arbor Day is a celebration of trees, launched in 1872 and coordinated by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Local tree planting is encouraged. This year North Canaan Elementary School will celebrate its 20th Arbor Day, with a planting and the placement of identification signs in its Children's Arboretum comprised of 25 native trees. Planting of a Black Tupelo last year.

February/March, 2010 Pruning Season. Pruning is now recognized as an important "next phase of Elm Restoration." Elm Watch is pruning and training 150 elms in two dozen communities and campuses, working with Tree Wardens, landscapers and arborists to encourage best techniques. Because of the rapid growth rate of elms, biannual and even annual pruning is recommended. Download Pruning Young Elms lecture description.

January, 2010 Pruning Young Elms, a 96 page manual for citizens and professionals describing proper technique to achieve strong branch unions, optimal height of main stem and durable crown architecture. Profusely illustrated, with many photos by Tom Zetterstrom. Zetterstrom also provided peer review of the manuscript and fostered a wide circle of support for this publication from elm advocates throughout the United States. Published by University of Minnesota, by Chad Giblin, cost $14. via email: gibli002@umn.edu Pruning Young Elms cover

November 13, 2009 Tom Zetterstrom, keynote speaker, 12th Annual Trees in the Urban Landscape Symposium, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston (Worcester), MA. Zetterstrom presents "Return of the American Elm to the Community Forest" and "Pruning Young Elms." Also programs on the "Next Generation of Elms" and "Elm Planting Demo." Go to http://www.towerhillbg.org/thwebdir.html Tower Hill Elm Symposium speakers

October 9, 2009, 3 PM Elm Watch Tenth Anniversary Lecture, The Return of the American Elm, by Tom Zetterstrom at Geer Village. In 2004, 2005 and 2009 a total of twelve elms were planted to provide shade for an interior courtyard and for two parking lots. Read Lakeville Journal article, 10/15/09

July 31, 2009 Green Municipal Parking Lot completed, Canaan, CT. Elm Watch in conjunction with the Streetscape Advisory Committee developed the landscape plan, placing two American elms in the interior and twenty trees of mixed species around the perimeter. The objective is to provide shade and beauty while providing parking for 29 cars. The tree wells have high volume of topsoil to support the health, growth rate and longevity of the trees.

May 30, 2009 The Right Tree in the Right Place, illustrated lecture by Tom Zetterstrom, sponsored by Kinderhook Neighbors for Good Growth and The Garden Club of Kinderhook. 3PM at the First Presbyterian Church, 3212 Church St, Valatie, NY

April 29, 2009 The planting of two "Princeton" American elms completes the installation of an American elm allee at Geer Village in Canaan, CT

April 25, 2009 Millerton, NY, Dedication of two memorial elms in front of Simmon's Way Inn on Main Street, to enhance large shade tree canopy in town center. Sponsored by Townscape of Northeast. Millerton's champion elm on Rt. 44 East, DBH 38 inches.

April 24, 2009 Nineteenth Annual Arbor Day Planting at North Canaan Elementary School, hosted by fifth grade students, planted a Black Tupelo (or Gum), adjacent to parking lot. Nyssa sylvatica is notable for its brilliant Fall colors.

April 22, 2009 Sharon Hospital plants an American elm to commemorate its one hundredth anniversary and to honor its corps of volunteers. Tom Zetterstrom speaks about the civic symbolism of the elm in New England history.

April 18, 2009 Art Gingert and Tom Zetterstrom perform long overdue pruning of elm at Cornwall Free Library. The 3 inch caliper elm was planted in 2003 and now has an 8 inch caliper.

April 9, 2009 Elm Watch, as part of its Tenth Anniversary, organizes sanitation pruning of its hundred year old, flagship elm on Baldwin Hill in Egremont, MA. Thanks to Haupt Tree Company for providing its superb climbers.

February/March/April, 2009 Dozens of elms among the 150 which have been planted by Elm Watch since 2001 are being pruned every year or two. The objective is to select strong branch unions and avoid narrow crotches which may be vulnerable to wind breakage.

December 9, 2008, 10-2:30 Tom Zetterstrom presents 'Pruning Young Elms' lecture to The Hotchkiss School Grounds Crew and Arboretum Committee. Hotchkiss has maintained an exemplary Heritage elm program for half a century. In the past three years, 36 Princeton elms have been planted. Pruning objectives demonstrated in the workshop included selecting dominant stem, subordinating competing leaders, reducing temporary branches with the goal of developing strong, branch union, classic form and 20 foot clear main trunk. Pruning Workshop Photo

December 4, 2008 Tom Zetterstrom works with the newly created Simsbury Tree Committee to develop mission, goals and objectives. Inspects Town Hall Elm Restoration plantings inspired by Tom's earlier Keynotes presentation. Post Card of Main (Hopmeadow) St. Elms

November 19, 2008, 7:30 Tom Zetterstrom presents "The American Elm Returns to the Community Forest", sponsored by the Greenwich Tree Conservancy, with the Greenwich Tree Warden, at the Bruce Museum Bruce Museum Press Release

October 18, 11:00 AM, 2008 Memorial tree planting for Attorney Catherine Roraback at her historic office, Canaan, CT. Lakeville Journal photo and article on Catherine Roraback Tree, 10/23/08

September, 2008 Colorado College Bulletin, Summer, 2008, expanded profile about Tom Zetterstrom's photographing and preserving trees of North America, including the American elm. Colorado College Bulletin profile with photo by Lisa Vollmer

June 4, 2008 American Elm in the Community Forest, slide lecture by Tom Zetterstrom Town of Simsbury, CT, Gifford Green Conversations

April 25, 2008 Celebrate National Arbor Day, (www.arborday.org) Various local American elm plantings in April and May. 19th Annual Arbor Day at North Canaan Elementary School, CT

April 25, 2008 Planting Princeton Elms on the historic Washington Rd elm allee, Princeton University, NJ. This allee was originally planted with Princeton elms in 1922, half a century before National Arboretum testing, and is today designated a National Historic Site Tom Zetterstrom assists Jim Consolloy, grounds manager Princeton University

April 26, 2008 American elm planting inn memory of author, naturalist and journalist Jonathan Maslow, Passaic, NJ. Family and friends gather to water and dedicate the Maslow elm.

April 3-4, 2008 Demonstration planting, installation of American Elm Arboretum and lecture by Tom Zetterstrom, National Conservation Training Center, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Shepherdstown, WV. NCTC poster for Elm lecture and planting.

March 31, 2008 Pruning elms planted 2002,2003,2004 in CT and MA. The intent is to select the dominant main leader, reduce and gradually remove competing leaders, and ultimately raise the vase shaped crown and develop a canopy above utility lines and architecture. Lakeville Journal photo and article 03/03/08

March, 2008 The early pruning of elm encourages a dominant main stem and a strong mature tree. Janet Kaufman and Anna Dibble prune 3 year elms in Londonderry, VT

February 21, 2008 1:00 pm "Elms in the Community Forest" lecture by Tom Zetterstrom at Litchfield Garden Club, Litchfield Community Center, Litchfield, CT, public invited (search litchfield garden club.org) Litchfield Garden Club Lecture

November, 2007 Tom Zetterstrom and North Canaan Streetscape Advisory Committee create "green" municipal parking lot treescape design featuring diverse native species.

October, 2007 Zetterstrom designs large canopy treescape for Shepherdstown, WV town center. The Shepherdstown Chronicle, 01/25/08, article and photo

October, 2007 Tom Zetterstrom designs an American Elm Arboretum on the campus of the National Conservation Training Center, US Fish and Wildlife Service in Shepherdstown, WV.

September 18, 2007 Historic elm restoration at the Lenox Library in Lenox, MA, sponsored by the Tri-Town Rotary (search tritownrotary.org) and Elm Watch. Berkshire Eagle, 9/19/07

May-December, 2007 Advocate and develop alternative design to include American Elms and large canopy trees in gateway streetscape design, South Street, Pittsfield, MA. South St.1912, photo showing elms at Berkshire Museum

May-August, 2007 Advocate and provide alternative design for large shade trees and increased soil volume at Great Barrington Big Y parking lot. Berkshire Record, 8/17/07

May 20, 2007 11:00am "The American Elm" film viewing at Millerton Moviehouse, Millerton, NY, American elm planting demonstration, hosted by Townscape. Millerton News, 5/24/07

May 18, 2007 2:30 pm "The American Elm" film viewing and discussion at Berkshire International Film Festival, Great Barrington MA. (search http://www.myelmstory.com)

May 17, 2007 Testify at Massachusetts Highway Department public hearing regarding South Street Treescape, City Hall Pittsfield, MA. Berkshire Eagle article, 5/03/07

May 4, 2007 Arbor Day Housatonic Valley Regional High School, White Oak planting, dedication, and launch of arboretum program. HVRHS Arboretum, illustrated map by Robin Cockerline

May 4, 2007 Eighteenth Annual Arbor Day North Canaan Elementary School, CT bird friendly garden installed in understory of American elm. Lakeville Journal 5/10/07

May 2, 2007 Streetscape Committee meeting at Pittsfield City Hall, MA to discuss inclusion of elms on South Street (front article 5/3/07 and editorial in Berkshire Eagle.) Berkshire Eagle Editorial supports Return of Elms, May 4, 2007

March 20, 2007 "The American Elm" film premiere, Washington DC Environmental Film Festival. (search myelmstory.org)

November 2006 18 American elms were planted among 74 trees in a diverse native treescape designed by Tom Zetterstrom and North Canaan Streetscape Advisory Committee.

June 21, 2006 Planting of a Princeton American elm at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA in celebration of Rotary International's Centennial, Tri-Town Rotary sponsor.

May, 2006 Connecticut Senator Andrew Roraback plants an American elm in Goshen with Elm Watch founder,Tom Zetterstrom and volunteer, Janet Kaufman. New planting

May 29, 2006 An elm planting commemorated the centennial of the Yale Summer School Music Shed in Norfolk, CT.

May 15, 2006 North Canaan elementary school students planted a "Valley Forge" American elm, marking the 50th anniversary of the school. Lakeville Journal 4/27/06

April 29, 2006 Sheffield Tree Project and Sheffield Kiwanis Club in cooperation with Elm Watch planted an elm at the Bushnell Sage Library in Sheffield, MA.

April 28, 2006 Great Barrington Steiner School students and parents celebrated their first annual Arbor Day with poems by students and a talk by Elm Watch founder Tom Zetterstrom.

January 17, 2006 Tom Zetterstrom presents "Return of the American Elm" slide lecture to Darien, CT Garden Club, and inspires formation of local tree committee and streetscape inventory.

October 26, 2005 Pittsfield, MA, Berkshire Museum Slide lecture by Tom Zetterstom, "Preserving and Defining Place in Berkshire in Landscapes and Streetscapes."

July, 2005 "Greening of CT Cities and Towns" is published by University of CT Press and highlights Elm Watch as a model community forestry organization.