A Celebration of Trees

Have you ever walked down your street and thought, “Hmmm, I wonder what species this tree is.” If you have, you might be inclined to join in on an urban tree ID adventure happening during Northern Kentucky Tree Week.

Join the Fort Thomas Tree Commission, Urban Canopy Works, and Green Umbrella’s Greenspace Alliance for a Tree ID walk in Tower Park on Wednesday, October 16 from 5-6:30 PM! 

An Ode to the Old

Kentucky has a rich natural history, with its sloping bluegrass hills to the west folding into the rugged, tree-covered Appalachian Mountains to the east. Stumble into the Bluegrass Region of Central Kentucky where thousands of venerable, ancient trees like bur, chinkapin, Shumard oaks, blue ash, and shellbark hickory have continued to grow, uninterrupted for hundreds of years and landowners continue their quest to protect and preserve them. Along parts of the Ohio River Valley in Northern Kentucky, one can become immersed not only by the sounds of birdsong but completely covered by lush tree canopy. Wander far enough and you just might stumble across not one, but both of Kentucky’s state trees – the tulip poplar and the Kentucky coffee tree.

Honoring our Trees

In celebration of Kentucky’s natural heritage, the University of Kentucky’s Urban Forest Initiative is spearheading a tree week to celebrate trees and all the ways they affect our lives. Locally, the Northern Kentucky Urban & Community Forestry Council is hosting a Northern Kentucky Tree Week from October 11-20. The celebration will feature tree-themed events throughout Boone, Campbell, and Kenton Counties, including a guided Tree ID Hike in Fort Thomas’ Tower Park. The hike will be a collaboration between the Greenspace Alliance, Urban Canopy Works, and the Fort Thomas Tree Commission.

Hone in your tree ID skills

If you’re interested in developing your tree ID skills we hope you’ll join us at our upcoming Tower Park Tree ID walk. The walk will take place on Wednesday, October 16 from 5-6:30 p.m. and will be guided by Urban Canopy Works’, Cassandra Hoffman, and the Fort Thomas Tree Commission’s, Laura Milton. It will feature 30 unique trees throughout Tower Park and surrounding neighborhoods. We will meet in front of the mess hall at the Fort Thomas Farmer’s Market (801 Cochran Ave. Fort Thomas, KY 41075).
This hike is a part of our monthly Meet a Greenspace Hiking series. We hope these hikes will provide those who join the time and space they need to reconnect with nature. If you have any questions, contact Green Umbrella’s Greenspace Alliance Manager Claire Carlson at claire@greenumbrella.org.