The city plans an anti-tree topping campaign? Sounds ominous:

Today we went to a training session for the city’s Neighborwoods program. The program coordinator, Micki McNaughton, gave a presentation for the first part, and then we planted some trees for the 2nd part.

Presentation is maybe the wrong word.  It was a friendly and energetic conversation and explanation of the program and general care of young trees from a woman with obviously love for both trees and her job.  I have handouts, with notes on them; I almost wish I’d had my camera to take pictures of her sketching on the whiteboard the various sections of the tree, how they work, etc.

Topping is her particular nemesis, and apparently the city is getting ready to roll out a huge anti-topping campaign soon.  My favorite trees in the whole city, lining a street which I’ve loved since before I moved to Olympia, are all in serious trouble because of topping done in the 1950s.

And yes, then we (me, C, and two other attendees) went out with Micki to a site where we planted three flowering plums along Capitol Way south of the freeway, and yes, we worked in the rain...

The Neighborwoods program is one of the best things that the city of Olympia does: trees, civic involvement and betterment. Goes to show that cities can do good things to get people more involved. Conversate over at epersonae's emergency weblog (best blog name in Oly, by the way).