Tree Tour at Horton Park Arboretum on Community Garden Day 8/11

Horton Park Community Native Plant Gardens to take part in Community Garden Day 2012!

You are invited to visit Horton Park on Sunday, August 11th, as part of the Twin Cities wide Community Garden Day.  Come and enjoy free refreshments, music, and tours of the gardens and arboretum.  You will get to see the latest blooms and butterflies in the gardens and may even get a chance pitch in!  

Event Time: 11:30-2pm (tree tour at 11:30)

Street Address: 1383 Minnehaha Ave W, St. Paul

Also note: Midway Greenspirit Garden is also open from 11am-3pm! Make a plan to traverse Hamline Ave in the Midway to reach both gardens.  At Greenspirit, you will find an interactive garden show-and-tell  where gardeners have provided reflection on their plots and experience and demos on their foodshelf donations, beehive and growing peppers.  See this link for details.

Arboretum Tour
Over 60 new trees were planted in the park at an Arbor Day event this year by the city and the Friends of Horton Park to greatly expand the park's role as an arboretum.  Come at 11:30 to get a tree tour hosted by a St. Paul forester. It's a great way to learn about trees that do well in our area.

 Garden Tour
The neighborhood group Friends of Horton Park maintains the community native plant gardens at Horton Park.  We have native oak savanna, shade, and prairie gardens planted and maintained by volunteers with the support of the St. Paul Parks Department.  Our gardens provide a wonderful place to learn about gardening with plants native to Minnesota, which are often beautiful, easy to maintain, and provide nectar and seeds for native insects and birds.  Garden tours will be offered as requested between noon and 2 pm.

About The Friends of Horton Park
The Friends of Horton Park maintains the Native Plant Gardens at Horton Park.  We have native oak savanna, shade, and prairie gardens planted by volunteers with the support of the St. Paul Parks Department and neighborhood volunteers. Our gardens are a great place to learn about gardening with plants native to Minnesota, which are often beautiful, easy to maintain, and provide nectar and seeds for native insects and birds.

For More Info: hortonpark @ gmail.com

Rescheduled: 'Insect pests of fruit trees' to be at the Heartwood Festival on June 2nd

The rain chased away the demonstration table about 'Insect pests of fruit trees' on Arbor Day 2012, but HMEG,  Extension Master Gardeners & the Local Food Resource Hub are bringing it back for the Midway's big to do, the Heartwood Festival on Saturday, June 2nd! Anyone who got a fruit tree last fall in the HMEG give-away, or is a part of the Midway Local Food Resource Hub, or just is an aspiring home fruit tree grower will find this demo a great resource.

Stop by to learn the fairly simple ways of detecting the presence of fruit tree insects to determine when, or if any treatment may be needed. Learn to identify the Curculio, Coddling Moth, Apple Maggot fly, various leafrollers, sawfly and more. Integrated Pest Management (IPM), the method stressing least harm to the environment and consumer will be the key approach taught at this demonstration to provide home growers with successful fruit crops. Various insect traps and bagging fruit methods will be demonstrated. Lots of chances to ask questions.

'Insect pests of fruit trees'  at Newell Park on Saturday, June 2nd. from 1-4pm

Find the demo at the HMEG table! 

About the instructor: Ann Aurelius has been a dedicated Ramsey County Master Gardener for 7 years. She specializes in urban food growing and has spent extensive time with the Gibbs Farm apple orchard trees--learning about the pests that love to snack on them!

This event is part of the 2012 Midway Local Food Resource Hub educational opportunities.

Urban fruit tree growers, learn more about the insect pests of fruit trees at Arbor Day 2012!

Plum curculio

Maybe you got a fruit tree last fall in the HMEG give-away?  Or maybe you are an aspiring home fruit tree grower?  Either way, HMEG has arranged a great drop-in event to learn more about care of your fruit trees. This demonstration will  be set-up at St. Paul's 2012 Arbor Day celebration. Stop by to learn the  fairly simple ways of detecting the presence of fruit tree insects to determine when, or if any treatment may be needed. Learn to identify the Curculio, Coddling Moth, Apple Maggot fly, various leafrollers, sawfly and more. Integrated Pest Management (IPM), the method stressing least harm to the environment and consumer will be the key approach taught at this demonstration to provide home growers with successful fruit crops. Various insect traps and bagging fruit methods will be demonstrated. Lots of chances to ask question.

Its all at Horton Park on April 28th for the city of St. Paul’s Arbor Day celebration at Horton Park from 10 am to 1 pm.


About the instructor: Ann Aurelius has been a dedicated Ramsey County Master Gardener for 7 years. She specializes in urban food growing and has spent extensive time with the Gibbs Farm apple orchard trees--learning about the pests that love to snack on them!

This event is part of the 2012 Midway Local Food Resource Hub educational opportunities.

Arbor Day Plant and Play at Horton Park

• Looking for a reason to spend some time at a Midway park with the family?
• Ever wanted to plant a tree in a local park?
• Want to learn more about what you can do with your outdoor space?

Come out to Horton Park on April 28th for the city of St. Paul’s Arbor Day celebration at Horton Park! With the guidance, volunteers will be planting over 70 trees in Horton Park. After the planting, the Midway Frogtown Arborators will share some brass tunes. Tours of the park’s trees will be offered periodically, as well as slack line and tree climbing opportunities for the kids. In addition, Friends of Horton Park will be opening the community gardens for the season and attendees can partake in that activity too. While at the park, you can get a tattoo, press plants for a City Herbarium with Works Progress, learn about fruit tree pests and diseases from Ramsey County Master Gardeners, make a stem-dwelling native bee nest with Befriending Bumble Bees, climb a tree, listen to the Midway Frogtown Arborators, and more! The planting will start at 9:00 a.m.(you can register on site beginning at 8:30), rain or shine, and run until 10:30. The rest of the day’s events will run 10 am until 1:00 p.m. There will light refreshments provided, but visitors who plan to be there for long are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch. This event is co-hosted by Friends of Horton Park, the Hamline Midway Environmental Group (HMEG) and St. Paul’s Natural Resources. Come anytime during the event! You can pre-register to help with the planting by heading to this registration link, or if needed by contacting Andy at 651-632-2411 or Andy.Rodriguez@ci.stpaul.mn.us. For other inquiries contact steph@hmeg.org.

Location:   Hamline and Minnehaha Aves in the St. Paul Midway
Date:         Saturday April 28th
Times:       Registration for planting: 8:30am
                  Planting: 9-10:30am
                  Activities, refreshments, demonstrations and community garden opening: 10am -1pm

HMEG night at the library: Seed swap, winter sowing, and screening of 'Taking Root'

Beat the winter blues and get inspired for a new growing season! Bring your seed collection and catalogs to share. Trade seeds for an exciting new specimen to grow, peer through seed catalogs, learn how you can plant those seeds in the winter (winter sowing) and then take in a film about how planting trees transformed a nation. TAKING ROOT: The Vision of Wangari Maathai, tells the dramatic story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai whose simple act of planting trees grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, protect human rights, and defend democracy. Learn more about the film at: http://takingrootfilm.com/.

Wednesday February 22, 2011 at the Hamline Midway branch library auditorium

• 5:30-6:15 Seed exchange and winter sowing demo.
• 6:15-7:45 Film
• 7:45-8:00 Wrap-up/clean-up

Come to all or part of the evening! This event has free admission and will have light refreshments; Do bring your own covered beverage container and bowl to reduce waste. (However, if you plan to be there from seed time to film ending, you may want to bring along a bit more nourishment.)

A note for parents- This event is intended mostly for adults. This film may not be suitable for children (some violence, recounting history of Kenya). Please do your due diligence before bringing your kids.

This event is brought to you by the Hamline Midway Environmental Group (www.HMEG.org), Hamline Midway Library Association, U of MN Master Gardeners, Mississippi Market, and is part of the community events/education offered by Hamline Midway's new Local Food Resource Hub

Free Swamp White Oak

We had a fun and successful tree distribution on Saturday 9/17/2011 with 63 trees being distributed to residential properties of the Hamline Midway neighborhood.  Most of The specimens were fruit trees (apricot, cherry, plum, serviceberry).  Another step towards Midway local food security. 


However, we have one Swamp white oak tree that needs a good home.  It is in a 5-gallon container and looks very healthy.  Swamp white oak trees need a large space to grow (H:  50-60’, W: 40-50’) so if you know of a neighbor who has a perfect spot, or another place (park, school ground, business or school) in the Hamline Midway for this tree, please let us know.  First come, first served!

"Care of Young Fruit Trees" Workshops on Sept. 17th - Free

The Hamline Midway Environmental Group (HMEG) and Egg|Plant Urban Farm Supply are offering two "Care of Young Fruit Trees" workshops taught by Rebecca Koetter. The classes will be held on on Saturday Sept 17th at Egg|Plant during HMEG's tree distribution day. The 45 minute sessions will be held at noon and 3:00pm. Topics to be covered will include fruit tree planting, mulching, watering, pruning (very basic), reasons for fruit sanitation, rodent protection, and product supply needs. These classes support HMEG's goal of offsetting tree canopy losses in the Midway due to emerald ash borer and help ensure good production from fruit trees that are included in this distribution.

These workshops are specifically designed for the HMEG Tree Team fall 2011 distribution, but they are free and open to anyone. No reservations required.

For those planning on planting- be sure to call Gopher One before you dig: (651) 454-0002

About the instructor: Rebecca Koetter is a Research Fellow at the UMN and a full time manager of several edible trees and shrubs at the TRE Nursery and on the St Paul U of MN campus. She works on urban forestry outreach education programs with the Department of Forest Resources in St. Paul.

What: "Care of Young Fruit Trees" classes

Where: Eggplant Urban Farm Supply, 1771 Selby Ave., St. Paul.

When: 12:00 pm (noon) & 3:00 pm

Who: Taught by Rebecca Koetter, sponsored by Hamline Midway Environmental Group (HMEG) and Egg|Plant Urban Farm Supply

Can you plant trees in the Fall?

Fall planting of containerized trees can be quite successful. Roots will continue growing until the soil freezes though watering up until ground freeze is an important step. A nice layer of mulch will ensure the freeze happens evenly. There are a couple of MN extension publications that describe tree planting through November even. Here is one: http://www.mntrees.org/planting.cfm.

Spring and fall are the best time to plant trees in Minnesota, because temperatures are neither too hot nor too cold and soil moisture is plentiful. Trees planted during the summer need more regular watering.
Spring Planting Season: April to early June
Fall Planting Season: late September through November

As far as we researched, fruit trees don't really have any other particular planting demands in this regard than other trees and shrubs (we did ask). Regardless of the time of planting, fruit trees owners should consider installing rodent protection because winter bunny chewing can destroy a tree.

Some urban foresters are starting to consider fall being the better time to plant. A spring planted tree may only have a couple of months to toughen up for the usual summer hot and dry (this year being exceptional).

Of course, every season can vary, as will the performance of a particular plant, which will also depend on how its cared for. Bareroot trees are a different story entirely-they need spring planting.

You’re Invited to Get a fruit or shade TREE From the HMEG Tree Team!

As a community, we are facing losing all of our ash trees due to the Emerald ash borer (EAB). In response, the Hamline Midway Environmental Group (HMEG) Tree Team has secured sponsorship to provide trees to Hamline Midway residents at a great discount. Trees are offered first-come, first-served based on availability, limited to one tree per property. Trees cannot be planted on the boulevard. See your choices below:

Fruit Tree Species

Evans Bali Cherry, Prunus cerasus 'Evans Bali'. Zone 3-8. Ht. 15’.
Full sun. Deep, dark red fruit 1" in diameter and excellent for baking
and fresh eating. The fruit is much sweeter than other sour cherries.
Extremely hardy buds. 5-gallon container.

Northstar Cherry, Prunus ‘North Star’. Zone 4-8. Genetic dwarf, Ht.
8-10’. Self-fertile. Full sun. Red fruit with small stone, very productive
sour cherry. 5-gallon container.

Mount Royal Plum, Prunus ‘Mount Royal’. Zone 4-8. Ht. 8-12’. Full
sun. Blue, European plum. Excellent for dessert, jam and preserves.
Tasty right off the tree. 5-gallon container.

Pioneer Chinese Apricot, Prunus armeniaca 'Pioneer'. Zone 4. Ht.10-
15’. Golden-yellow fruits are sweet, firm and juicy. Trees bear young
and heavily. Its pit is edible and tastes of almond. Self-fruitful,
however yields improve with cross-pollination. 5-gallon container.

Native Shade Tree Species

Hackberry, Celtis occidentalis. Zone 3-5. H:50-75' W: 50-75'. Full sun
to part shade. Tolerates dry polluted conditions. Persistent small,
purplish berries. Yellow fall color. Very high wildlife value. 5-gallon
container.

River Birch, Betula nigra. Zone 4-8. H:50-60’ W:35-40’. Clump. Full
sun/light shade. Cinnamon-brown exfoliating bark. Yellow fall color.
High wildlife value. 5-gallon container.

Swamp White Oak, Quercus bicolor. Zone 4-5. H: 50-60' W: 40-50'.
Tolerates most soils. Yellow orange fall color. Persistent leaves in
winter. Fibrous root system. Resistant to salt and soil compaction. Very
high wildlife value. 5-gallon container.

Native Ornamental Tree Species

Pagoda Dogwood, Cornus alternifolia. Zone 4-7. H:15-20’ W:20-25’.
Full sun to shade. Graceful small tree has pale yellow flowers in May
with blue-black fruit. Maroon-red fall color. Branches grow in irregular
tiers, forming a somewhat horizontal, layered look to the plant. High
wildlife value. 5-gallon container.

Serviceberry, Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’ (native
hybrid). Zone 3-8. H:20-25’ W:10-15’. This tree has white blossoms in
spring with sweet purplish-black fruit. Brilliant red-orange fall color.
Heavily branched, the tree has an interesting spreading branch pattern
and attractive light gray bark. High wildlife value. 5-gallon container.

All trees are only $5!

Reserve your tree by September 1st! Contact Hamline Midway Coalition at 651-646-1986 or michaeljon@hamlinemidway.org. Prepayment required. Send your name and choice of tree
along with a $5 check or cash to:

HMC at 1564 Lafond Ave., St.
Paul, MN 55104.

Recipients MUST pick up their tree on September 17 at:

Eggplant Urban Farm Supply,
1771 Selby Ave., St. Paul.
between 10:00am – 6:00pm.

Be sure to call Gopher One before you dig: (651) 454-0002!

Do you need a printable flyer with this info? See this pdf.

Major funding from the Community Organization Partnership Program and McKnight Foundation via the Hamline Midway Coalition. HMEG will gladly take donations towards future greening efforts. Cash or checks can be made to HMC. Thanks!

Residential Ash Tree Inventory and 2010 Tree Distribution is Completed!

HMEG's 2010 Residential Ash Tree Inventory  has long been completed, but we want to share the final reporting on the project.  Over 25 neighbor volunteers (including a 4-year old, 6-year old, and 2 dogs) counted trees on residential properties and identified how many of those are ash. There are over 6,700 trees and approximately 680 ash trees making our residential ash population about 10% as compared to the public (boulevard, park) ash population of 17%. Also collected were how many properties had space for tree plantings and these addresses were given first chance at HMEG shade tree distributions.  No other neighborhood in St. Paul has conducted this kind of survey and it could not have happened without the efforts of neighbors Tanner Larsen (as part of an internship) and Barb Spears.  Thanks to all volunteers!

To see a full write-up of the project, see an e-copy of the Shade Tree Advocate Winter 2011 issue:  http://issuu.com/mnstac/docs/shade_tree_winter_2011.

First Annual Hamline Midway Plant Swap Set For October 2nd

All plant loving neighborhood residents are invited to the First Annual Hamline Midway Plant Swap, 10:00am - 2:00pm, Saturday, October 2 at the Hamline Park Building (SE corner of Snelling & Lafond). Bring perennial plants (or seeds) to trade or give away.

The swap will be simple, bring plants to give away or trade. If you don't have any plant to give away, come anyway as I am sure there will be someone who has more than they need of a particular plant.

The plant swap is sponsored by the Midway Greenspirit Community Garden and will coincide with the Hamline Midway Tree Team free tree give-away at the same location. We hope there will be synergy between these two events. See www.hmeg.org for details on the tree event or email treeteam (at) hmeg.org.

See you there.

Stephen Mitrione
Garden Coordinator
Midway Greenspirit Garden
St. Paul, MN
smitrione (at) iphouse.com

You’re Invited to Get a FREE TREE From the Hamline Midway Tree Team!

As a community, we are facing losing all of our ash trees due to the Emerald ash borer. Neighbor volunteers have surveyed the Hamline Midway neighborhood this summer to identify ash trees and tree planting spaces on residential properties. Further, the Hamline Midway Tree Team has secured sponsorship to distribute free trees and we want to give one to YOU!

Most of the trees come from Outback Nursery, a native plant nursery in Hastings whose owner has a connection to the neighborhood. Others have been donated. Trees are offered first-come, first- served based on availability, limited to one tree per property and cannot be planted on the boulevard. See your choices below.

Available Tree Species

American Basswood, Tilia americana. Zone 3-6. 5-gallon container. Ht. 50-60' W 30-40'. Full sun to partial shade. Shade tolerant. Golden yellow fall color. Fragrant flower clusters.

Black Walnut, Juglans nigra. Zone 4-7. (Donated - native). Approx. 2-gallon container. Ht. 50-75' W 50-75'. Tolerates drought. Full sun. Golden yellow fall color. Edible nuts. Large nuts.Allelopathic.

European hornbeam, Carpinus betulus. Zone 4-7. (Donated – non-native). 1-gallon container. Ht. 50-60’ W 40’-60’. Dense dark green foliage. Yellow fall color. Ribbed nutlet. Fluted bark.

Hackberry, Celtis occidentalis. Zone 3-5. 7-gallon container. Ht. 50-75' W 50-75'. Full sun to part shade. Tolerates dry polluted conditions. Persistent small, purplish berries. Yellow fall color. Very high wildlife value.

Red Pine, Pinus resinosa. Zone 2-4. 2-gallon container. Ht. 75' W 35-55'. Full sun. Minnesota State Tree. Also called Norway Pine. Long dark green needles. Reddish bark. Canopy becomes open and flat-topped with age.

Swamp White Oak, Quercus bicolor. Zone 4-5. 5-gallon container. Ht. 50-60' W 40-50'. Tolerates most soils. Requires wet to moist acidic soil. Flood tolerant. Exfoliating two-tone bark. Yellow orange fall color. Persistent leaves in winter. Fibrous root system. Resistant to salt and soil compaction. Very high wildlife value.

Tamarack, Larix laricina. Zone 2-5. (Donated - native). 1-gallon container. Ht. 50-75’ W 15’-30’. Midsize tree. Soft needles turn straw yellow in fall before dropping, medium to fast growth rate; prefers full to partial sun.

Yellow Birch, Betula alleghaniensis. Zone 2-4. 5-gallon container. Ht. 60-70' W 30'. Full sun to part shade. Yellowish-bronze, exfoliating bark. Beautiful yellow fall color. Resistant to
birch borer. Very high wildlife value.

Recipients MUST pick up their tree on October 2 at the Hamline Midway Coalition parking lot between 8:00am –12:00N. Tree care experts will be on hand with information and free advice. FREE mulch available – bring your own container. Assistance with delivery and tree planting may be available upon request.

Reserve your FREE tree by September 26!

E-mail
treeteam@hmeg.org
or call Barb at
651-646-5568.

Be sure to call Gopher One before you dig: (651) 454-0002

We Take Donations! If you can offset your free tree with $10, $15 or more, your investment will go right back into the tree fund for future plantings. Checks can be made to HMC. Thanks!

Major funding from the Community Organization Partnership Program and McKnight Foundation via the Hamline Midway Coalition.

A project of the Hamline Midway Environmental Group www.HMEG.org

_____________________________________________________

This information can be downloaded as a pdf flyer too.

HMEG Photo Site

Have you clicked through the HMEG photo collection? Some recent additions have been made this week. See all the albums at our photo site http://picasaweb.google.com/hortonpark. Have other pictures to contribute or willing to fill in captions? Contact steph at hmeg dot org .

HMEG Events and Other Projects

Jun 4, 2010

photos: 12

Market Days - Midway Barter Market

Aug 2, 2009

photos: 6

Friends of Horton Park

Jul 12, 2009

photos: 92

HUMC Maxine Smith Raingarden

Feb 7, 2009

photos: 36

Snelling Avenue Planter Project

Jan 26, 2009

photos: 49

HMEG Rain Barrel Workshops

Jun 8, 2007

photos: 17

Hamline Thomas Intersection Improvements and Community Garden

May 24, 2007

photos: 33

Midway Greenspirit Garden

Feb 7, 2007

photos: 19

Hamline Midway Tree Team

Sep 26, 2006

photos: 46

Ten Thousand Villages Helping the HMEG Tree Team Buy More Trees for the Neighborhood!

Here is a fun opportunity to support the Hamline Midway Tree Team in raising money to buy more trees for residents in the Hamline Midway neighborhood. Simply shop at Ten Thousand Villages this Thursday evening, July 22, from 5-8:00 pm! Barb from HMEG's Tree Team, will be on hand with info on this project and the Emerald Ash borer and greet customers.

Ten Thousand Villages St. Paul is a non-profit, fair trade gift shop whose mission is to provide vital, fair income to Third World people by offering home decor, jewelry and personal accessories, books, cookbooks, coffee and chocolate from over 38 countries around the world. They recognize the importance of trees and green spaces to a healthy, vibrant community so they are supporting our effort by providing a Benefit Shopping Night. You can do your part - it's easy!

Simply stop by the store on July 22, 2010 between 5:00 and 8:00pm. For every purchase made that evening, 20% of the proceeds go to the HMEG Tree Team. The store is located at 867 Grand Avenue (at Victoria Crossing West). Visit www.tenthousandvillages.com to learn more!

HMEG is Talking Trees!

Hamline Midway Ash Tree Inventory Underway!
The Hamline Midway Environmental Group Tree Team has recruited 18 neighbor volunteers to help count the number of ash trees in our neighborhood. We want to know how the residential ash population compares to the known public (boulevard, park) ash population of about 17%. This will help us identify areas in the neighborhood that are more susceptible to ash tree loss due to the Emerald ash borer (EAB). We could still use volunteers (of all ages) and would be happy to teach you how to identify ash trees and conduct a very simple inventory by August 1! If you'd like to help, please contact the Tree Team at treeteam@hmeg.or or Tanner at 651-917-1248.
Trees for the Hamline Midway Neighborhood!

Fall Tree Planting
In conjunction with the ash tree inventory, the Hamline Midway Environmental Group Tree Team will be offering trees this fall to neighborhood residents to plant in their yards. Funding is provided by Councilman Russ Stark from the Community Organization Partnership Program (COPP) and the HMC Board from the McKnight Foundation. This summer, the Tree Team will be determining the species of trees to be offered and developing the project. If you are interested in a tree, please contact the Tree Team at treeteam@hmeg.org or Barb at 651-646-5568 to get your name on the list. More info to come!

HMEG to be at Hamline Midway Spring Festival on Sunday May 23rd

Where to be this Sunday? Newell Park of course, for the Hamline Midway Spring Festival. Music and more. HEMG will have a tent set-up too which HMEGers are welcome to sit at. There will be info about composting, energy workshops, gardening and of course trees. Be sure to ask how YOU can help with the upcoming residential ash tree survey! Here is the details about the Spring Festival as provided by the Facebook event:

Hello All,

On Sunday, it will be hot. Please, bring water, some more water, and some extra water after that. If anything, bring a water bottle to continue to refill throughout the day at the fountain by the main building. The bathrooms and silent auction are also housed within the main building.

Here's the Schedule of Events as it stands now for the HMSF on Sunday, May 23rd.

Main stage will kick off at 12 noon with the amazing Brianna Lane. If you haven't done it yet, now is the time to get right with the Lane. Then around 1pm the modern psychedelic folk blues of Nikki and the Ruemates. This will be the Ruemates plugged in and packing a drummer. Now, at 2pm, we have our friends from Cleveland, the most attractive, post-graduate, folk-punk band there is, Heelsplitter. Yes, they are named after the fresh water mussel, that crippled so many of the early inhabitants of North America. Now, making his HMSF debut, the hardest working man in Eagle River, MN, Drew Peterson. Drew will be joined by HMSF veteran, Bradley Smith on bass. Acoustic, working man, soul from two true gentlemen. At 4pm, we have another HMSF debut, but he is a man who needs no introduction here in St. Paul, Pulitzer prize winning writer for the Pioneer Press, David Hanners. Who just this last March released an amazing new album, "The Traveler's Burden". A stunning set of songs, beautifully crafted by David and producer Ric Lee. Look at this hat trick, we have Dan Newton and his Cafe Accordion Orchestra making THEIR HMSF debut as well. Veterans of some of the Twin Cities' finest stages, Dan and his CAO, stand as one of the finest examples of the depth of talent that exists the Twin Cities. They will get rolling around 5:30. Then, to bring it all back home, we have Hamline-Midway's very own, LOUDRAY. The RAY will play a set on their own, before being joined by some friends from the day to jam out the festival, until we have to get to the after parties.

Just when you that that was way to cool to be true, we have a second stage as well.
The second stage line up looks something like this at this writing.
At 12:30 or so, we will have a special surprise guest making HIS HMSF debut. Then, at 1:30, those stalwarts of the HSMF, a band I am proud to say has grown into one of the most adventurous acoustic combos in the Twin Towns today, and they have been with the HMSF since Day One. My friends and yours, The Sans Souci Quartet. Following the SSQ at about 2:30pm, St. Paul's Bluegrass Juggernauts, Pocahontas County!!!! No stranger to the HMSF stage, PC wishes to welcome our new mandolin player, Eric Larson to the Festival fun. Now, this is why I love putting these shows together, the opportunity for creating rare, or one of a kind musical experiences. Here, again, veterans of the HMSF, Kim and Quillan Roe, leaders of the 331 club house band, the Roe Family Singers, will perform a rare duo set. This rare spectacle, which has become a HMSF tradition will begin a touch before 4pm. Capping off the second stage, a man who has deserved very little respect over his life, and who has gotten even less than that, another HMSF veteran, a Midway familiar, "Sneaky" Pete Bauer. "Sneaky" will be kicking out an extra long set of his trademark growl and groan starting at around 5pm.

Also happening at the second stage, Midway artist Lindsey Nyygard will be directing a live painting event featuring you!! That's right, we want a picture that was painted by the Hamline Midway Community and our friends. So make sure to swing over and have Lindsey get you a brush, and put your touch to the community canvas.

And, all of these musicians and more will be performing at the Turf Club (Univ. and Snelling) and the Dubliner Pub (Univ. and Vandalia) Sunday night, after the HMSF has wrapped up.


The wonderful folks down at the Midway YMCA are going to be out at the park as well. Here is a schedule of their day at Newell Park.

Midway YMCA Promotional Table:
1:00-4:00 (we will be there at 12:30 to set up) - We will have some face painting and carnival games (bean bag toss) happening at our table during the entirety of our time there. These, of course, are all free of charge.

Structured Youth Activities:
We will run three time blocks of structured games for kids in the field. We are targeting about a half hour for each. They all will be different activities, though I listed two as 'Field Games' - which will be comprised of most of tag-like games. That was the best thing I could think of to call them without confusing people about what would be happening.

Field Games at 1:30 - 2:00
Kickball at 2:30 - 3:00
Field Games at 3:30 - 4:00


Plenty more happening, over 45 items to bid on in the silent auction, all of them awesome. Art, fun, music, food, can't beat it!!!

I hear Zander is preparing his rib sauce now. Get ready, and remember to bring some WATER!!!

Be well,
Colin Anderson

Seeking Midway "citizen scientists" to help count ash trees during the 2010 summer

The 2010 Hamline Midway Tree Planting and Ash Tree Inventory Program

This summer, the Hamline Midway Environmental Group Tree Team will be counting the number of residential ash trees to guide our 2010 tree planting program that will occur this fall. Volunteer surveyors are being solicited! Are you a person who may walk frequently in the neighborhood? Or, one who would like to engage their kids in a local eco-opportunity after school is out? Or are you a person who is interested in our urban forest/habitat? Or, would you like an “excuse” to go beyond your immediate block and explore a different part of the neighborhood? Then this could be a volunteer experience for you; neighbors become citizen scientists! Volunteer surveyors will be taught how to confidently identify ash trees and record their observations on a simple recording form. Residents of the Hamline Midway neighborhood, of all ages and experiences, are encouraged to participate! You can do this at your own pace and on your own schedule as long as we get the data by August 1.

We will be hosting two upcoming training sessions at the Hamline Midway Coalition Building (Snelling and LaFond) for volunteers (of all ages) on:

• Tuesday June 1 – 6:30-8:30 and
• Saturday June 5 – 9:00-11:00

With the center of the Emerald ash borer (EAB) infestation so close to the Midway neighborhood, now is the time to consider the impact of losing our ash trees and do something about it! The information we collect will help target future tree plantings in our neighborhood.

Residents who are interested in volunteering with other neighbors for the ash tree inventory are encouraged to contact the Tree Team at treeteam@hmeg.org or call Tanner at (651) 917-1248.

Look for more info on this project and tree care at the HMEG table at the Hamline Midway Spring Festival on May 23rd from 12:00-5:00 in Newell Park!

Pagoda Dogwood planted at Library last fall by HMEG

I went to check on the pagoda dogwood at the Library today and was surprised to find that not only had it leafed out, but the baby tree had friends! The tree was planted during the fall 2009 Hamline Midway Library celebration event. HMEG was there with information about trees and emerald ash borer (EAB). We also brought along a tree and with fellow neighbors' help, planted in front of the library where the ground's crew had approved. I am not sure who planted the tulips, but the act of volunteers planting a tree proved to be contagious.

Pagoda dogwood is a native Minnesota tree that is smaller in stature and is often found in understory situations. It has a horizontal branching that give it a Japanese feel. This particular pagoda came from the Como Corner Community Garden in SE Minneapolis where the pagodas there often produce seedlings.

Watch this blog for more opportunities to plant trees over the next season.

low cost tree sale available to St. Paul residents, deadline for order 4/17

This sale is the The Friends of the Parks and Trails Tree sale where low cost trees are available to metro residents. Order today!

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Buy a Tree Sale 2010. Order trees until Saturday April 17. Pick up trees 9AM-1PM Saturday May 1. To order trees: print the Tree Sale Form (PDF) and mail it with a check. Your phone and email are needed if you forget to pickup your trees.

• Autumn Blaze Maple
• Bicolor White Oak *
• Black Hills Spruce
• Pagoda Dogwood *
• Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn
• Mount Royal Plum
• Honeycrisp Apple
• Arrowwood Viburnum *
• Little Lamb Hydrangea
• Blue Velvet Hypericum
• Miss Canada Lilac
• Hope For Humanity Rose
• Wisteria Aunt Dee

* Native

Online Donation of Trees to Parks Credit card only, your donation is tax deductible because we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Give trees to City or County Parks of your choice from our list.
Donated trees will be picked up and planted by the park system you choose.

Pickup Sites:

Highland Park Pavilion, 1200 Montreal Ave., St. Paul
Ramsey County Parks Garage, 2015 No. Van Dyke, Maplewood

For more information contact PeggyLynch@visi.com (Peggy Lynch) Telephone: 651-698-4543

Mailing address:
The Friends of the Parks and Trails of St. Paul and Ramsey County
1621 Beechwood Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55116

Saturday at Newell Park: Professional Tree Climbing, activities like ziplines, tree planting and more

Midway and folks nearby- Newell Park should be your destination on Saturday, May 15th! Park visitors will find the Arbor Day tree planting and Festival of Trees event.
including the professional tee climbing competitions. Could this be extreme reality TV happening right in the Hamline Midway? Schedule is as follows. HMEG will also be in attendance with information on composting, energy workshops and how to participate in the 2010 ash tree survey that we are conducting (surveyors needed!).

The event will begin at 9:00 with a volunteer welcome and opening remarks followed by a planting demonstration and the planting of 32 trees around the park. Please bike or walk to the event if possible. On street parking will be available around the park and there is a small parking lot at the north end of the park.

After the tree planting event there will be an Emerald Ash Borer presentation given by a Tree Care Advisor who can answer questions about the insect and its potential impact on Saint Paul's urban forest. The Festival of Trees and Tree Climbing Championships will concurrently run during the day on Saturday. Check out the climbers, vendors, information tables, and kids activities including a zip line, climbing wall, scavenger hunt, and face painting.

2010 MSA Tree Climbing Championship
Saint Paul Festival of Trees and Arbor Day Celebration
at Newell Park, 900 N. Fairview Avenue

Saturday May 15th
8:00-4:00……. Tree Climbing Championship Events

Work Climb
Belayed Speed Climb
Secured Footlock
Aerial Rescue
Throwline

9:00-11:00…... Arbor Day Volunteer Tree Planting Event
11:00-11:30…. Emerald Ash Borer Presentation
10:00-2:00 ….. Kids Activities

Scavenger Hunt
Climbing Walls
Bucket Rides
Zip Line

Sunday, May 16th
10:00-2:00…... Tree Climbing Championship
Masters Challenge