Darby Creek at Morton Morton House Area Restoration – Fall 2014

Newly planted trees from our recent planting front the invasive phragmites grasses to be removed in this round of the restoration.

Shade Tree members and residents pitch in to plant some trees in our June planting.

Sometimes the digging required a bit of muscle.

In our previous post we discussed how the Shade Tree Committee had been awarded a Watershed Grant to improve the area around the Morton Morton House along the Darby and Muckinapates Creeks. We removed Invasive weeds, including multiflora rose and stiltgrass and planted some native trees and shrubs in June as part of the delayed first phase of the Project.

Now we are entering the second phase. This next phase will start on Saturday, September 20 from 9 to 1.  On that day we will be removing more invasive weeds, mainly phragmites, a tall reedy invasive grass that dominates the shoreline.  We ask borough residents to please come out and help in this effort to restore this area to its natural beauty.  We will supply gloves, but it might be wise for volunteers to bring some boots, or at least some old footwear that can stand a little water.

Then on Saturday, October 11 from 9 to 1 we will be planting more native trees and shrubs in the areas where the phragmites and other invasive plants were removed.  Please consider showing up for one or both of these events.  We, and future generations, will appreciate it.

For more information contact us at 610-532-1743 or gkrieg@netcarrier.com.

Darby Creek area Restoration near Morton Morton House site in Norwood

View of Darby Creek through the tangle of Invasive weeds that choke out the natural beauty of the site.

The Shade Tree Committee has been awarded a Watershed Grant to improve the area around the Morton Morton House along the Darby and Muckinapates Creeks. Much of the area is inaccessible and overgrown with invasive weeds.  The shoreline shows signs of erosion and there is little buffer with the vegetation necessary to hold back storm waters.

With this grant we will begin a multi-year plan to remove the invasive weeds and plant native species that will shore up the stream banks, open up the area, and restore it to a more usable and friendly state for borough residents and others.  Visitors will have greater access to the water’s edge and enjoy the beauty of the view of the water and the attractive native shrubs, grasses and trees that will be planted.

The initial phase of this will involve removing the existing invasive species like multiflora rose.  Later phases will include restoring the area around the canoe launch on the Muckinapates Creek to make it more accessible and establishing trails through the wooded areas to the water’s edge. The Historical Society has done an amazing job restoring the Morton Morton house and surrounding grounds.  This work would extend those efforts in making this a beautiful area to spend an afternoon – or even a whole day.

We will be conducting the initial phase of the plant removal on Saturday, June 14, from 9 until noon. Borough residents are encouraged to come out and help in this effort to restore this area to its natural beauty. Gloves will be provided for the cleanup and refreshments will be available afterwards.

The fun part starts on Saturday, June 21, when we actually start planting the native trees and shrubs.  Please consider joining us for one or both of these events. We, and future generations, will appreciate it. If you have any questions please contact us at 610-532-1743 or gkrieg@netcarrier.com.

Norwood Community Garden 2014 Opening

Norwood residents of all ages enjoy the fruits of the enjoyable labor of tending their garden plots at the Norwood Community Garden.

The Norwood Community Garden will soon open its third season.  Last year we had several Norwood residents rent (roughly) 4’ x 8’ plots for the season.  These raised beds yielded many delicious pounds of tomatoes, peppers, squash, corn and other edibles, along with a variety of herbs such as rosemary, thyme and Thai basil, and a colorful mix of flowers.

Come join your neighbors in helping to produce a bounty at the Community Garden located next to the parking lot at the Norwood Train Station.  Plots can be rented for $20 for the season.

We will be having an open house (or should we say, garden) on Saturday, May 31 from 9 to 12.  Stop by for refreshments and a plant giveaway.  See you then!

Spring 2014 Tree Planting (Here Comes the Sun)

The community in action with one of 20 trees planted last fall.

Even though it feels like it’s been a long, cold, lonely winter, spring is not far off. Why not plan to put some more green on your property and in the borough with a new tree for your property?

The Norwood Shade Tree Committee will once again make trees available through the TreeVitalize program run by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) to borough residents at a substantial discount. These are sizable bare root trees (8 – 12′) that would normally cost at least $150. They will be priced at only $25 each. The trees are made available as street trees, meaning they must either be planted along residential street curbs or within 10 feet of the sidewalk or street on private properties.

Any interested resident should contact the Shade Tree Committee at 610-532-1743 or at gkrieg@netcarrier.com. Orders must be placed by Feb 20.  The trees will be picked up on Thursday, April 24 to be ready for planting on Saturday, April 26. Money will be due by April 23.

We have conducted quite a few plantings over the course of the last several years with much success. Join us in helping to make Norwood a greener and more beautiful community.

The following is a list of the available trees (to be distributed on first come, first served basis):

Small (under 30’):
8 Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’)
Medium (30 to 50’):
6  Bowhall Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Large (over 50’):
2 Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

Norwood Community Garden 2013 Opening

Community Garden Kickoff

 

Spring 2012 Tree Planting

Norwood resident and members of Shade Tree/EAC stand beside a newly planted sugar maple last November - too early for syrup.

The Norwood Shade Tree Committee will once again make trees available through the TreeVitalize program run by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) to borough residents at a substantial discount. These are sizable trees (8 – 12′) that would normally cost at least $200. The trees are made available as street trees, meaning they must either be planted along residential street curbs or within 10 feet of the sidewalk or street on private properties.

Any interested resident should contact the Shade Tree Committee at 610-532-1743 or at gkrieg@netcarrier.com. Orders must be placed by Feb 20.  The trees will be picked up on April 20 and planted the next day, Saturday, April 21. Money will be due by April 18.

We have conducted several of these plantings over the course of the last couple of years with much success. Join us in helping to make Norwood a greener and more beautiful community.

The following is a list of the trees from the PHS order form:

Small (under 30’)
___ ** Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ (Green Hawthorne)

Medium (30 to 50’ – possibly taller in ideal conditions)
___ **Acer rubrum ‘Bowhall’ (Bowhall Red Maple)
___ **Acer rubrum ‘Red Sunset’ (Franksred Red Sunset Red Maple)
___ **Acer saccharum ‘Commemoration’ (Commemoration Sugar Maple– appropriate for parks)
___ ** Acer saccharum ‘Green Mountain’ (Green Mountain Sugar Maple)
___ ** Celtis occidentalis (Common Hackberry)
___ **Gleditsia triachanthos var inermis ‘Imperial’ (Imperial Honey Locust)
___ ** Gleditsia triachanthos var inermis ‘Shademaster’ (Shademaster Honey Locust)
___ ** Gleditsia triachanthos var inermis ‘Skyline’ (Skyline Honey Locust)
___ **Tilia americana ‘American Sentry’ (American Sentry Linden or Basswood)

Large (over 50’)
___ **Acer freemanii ‘Armstrong’ (Freeman Maple)
___ **Acer freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze’ (Jeffsred Freeman Maple)
___ **Celtis laevigata (Sugar Hackberry)
___ Ginkgo biloba’ Magyar’ (Silver King Sweetgum)
___ ** Gymnocladus dioicus (Kentucky Coffeetree)
___ Platanus acerifolia ‘Bloodgood’  (Bloodgood London Plane Tree)
___ **Quercus bicolor (Swamp White Oak)
___ ** Quercus palustris (Pin Oak)
___ **Quercus rubra (Northern Red Oak – prefers slightly acidic soils)
___ ** Tilia Americana ‘Redmond’ (Redmond American Linden)
___ Zelkova serrata ‘Village Green’ (Village Green Japanese Zelkova – requires pruning attention)

An Octopus’s Garden this is not!

The Norwood Community Garden, with it's first 6 beds, at it's start 11/6/11

Nor is this garden in the shade or under the sea. But on a beautiful sunny Sunday, (Nov 6), the Norwood Shade Tree-EAC broke ground on a new Community Garden near the Norwood train station.  It’s located next to the train station parking lot in the abandoned basketball court. We started by constructing 6 raised beds which were filled with a rich compost donated by the borough of Swarthmore. These beds will be made available to borough residents in the spring at a nominal to-be-determined annual fee. The size of the beds is roughly 4′ x 8.’ Anyone interested in leasing a bed should contact the Committee (see contact info above).

A couple of Shade Tree'ers pause between beds

We created raised beds because the basketball court’s macadam surface lies just beneath a thin layer of soil. It was not suitable for much beyond grass and weeds. In any case, raised beds provide a much richer medium for growing the vegetables, flowers or whatever kind of (legal) vegetation one wishes to grow. It is our hope that enough community interest will be generated to expand the garden further, transforming this now vacant lot into a vibrant center of community life.

Stormy Monday, Tuesday, Wed …

A tree falls in Norwood, Pa – courtesy Hurricane Irene 8/28/11

With our recent seemingly endless days of rain, flooded basements, failed sump pumps and frayed nerves, we probably are dreaming of a sunny isle somewhere, or maybe just a day on the beach at the Jersey shore. But the damage done by some of these storms (see the corner of Sylvan and Amosland above) and the cumulative stresses of this precipitation on our stormwater management is significant. The importance of a healthy tree canopy in a community cannot be overemphasized.

For an an instructive interactive look at these benefits see the Trees Tame Stormwater at the Arbor Day Foundation’s website.

Norwood Riverfront Day

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Noon to 5:00 PM

Darby Creek at the Morton Morton House

The Borough of Norwood’s Shade Tree/Environmental Advisory Committee invites you to join us for a Riverfront Day at the Darby Creek at the Morton Morton House in Norwood

 

Tours of the Morton Morton House noon to 5:00 PM

Kid’s Environmental Treasure Hunt 1:00 to 4:00 PM

 

REFUGE CANOE TOURS AND PADDLE FOR PRESERVATION-GOVERNOR PRINTZ CANOE CHALLENGE #5

Join the Darby Creek Valley Association (DCVA) and Philadelphia Canoe Club at 4:00 PM (start of high tide). Canoe tours will begin at the Heinz Wildlife Refuge and end at the Morton Morton House.  Register for canoe tours and paddle challenge at the Heinz Wildlife Refuge.  DCVA can be contacted at (610) 789-1814 for more information, or see their website.

 

Light refreshments