Trees Matter

Join us at our upcoming mesquite pod harvesting events on 6/13 & 6/20! Link to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTRJumcPcHzoi0YxeK-w1M7W7oosdVdMSm7Z8eT9phdShPgQ/viewform

Join us for our Summer Mesquite Harvesting & Milling event series! In partnership with Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Sonoran Scavengers, and of Tempe Government, this is a four part event series, where we’ll guide you through the process from harvesting the pods from the trees, to milling them into delicious, sweet mesquite flour!

🌿Link to sign up for milling events: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTRJumcPcHzoi0YxeK-w1M7W7oosdVdMSm7Z8eT9phdShPgQ/viewform

🌿Link to sign up for harvesting events: https://volunteer.bloomerang.co/volunteer/ #/join-party?k=g26qb1vl2w4aor

See you there this summer!!

Volunteers Needed! Assist in the long-term success of our community trees 🌳 Sign up for any of our June shifts by clicking here: https://volunteer.bloomerang.co/volunteer/ #/join-party?k=jme0zws3ubptak

What are your favorite trees to see blooming around the Valley? Any trees we're missing? 😍 Let us know your faves in the comments!

It’s Fun Fact Friday time!! This is the Desert Willow (Chilopsis Linearis).
🌸 This tree is a great fit for our southwest desert for many reasons! With its vibrant blooms, rapid growth, drought tolerance, and easy maintenance, it truly is a wonderful tree for here in the Valley.

🌸 Native to the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico, did you know that this tree is low water use? Once established, this tree can survive on rainfall alone!

🌸 The Desert Willow is deciduous in winter, meaning it will lose its leaves during that season. So, a pro tip is to plant it on western and southern exposures where shade is wanted in summer, and then that allows one to take advantage of the winter sun when it will lose its leaves.

🌸 They bloom from May through September with vibrant flowers ranging from white, light pink, dark pink, to purple! They are also a source of food for wildlife, attracting birds, butterflies, and hummingbirds seeking nectar.

🌸 Do you have a Desert Willow? Let us know in the comments!

At Trees Matter, we make neighborhoods greener, communities stronger, and lives better. Join us in our work to enhance urban landscapes, uplift residents, and combat environmental issues through the power of trees.

Join our new summer educational series, free to the community! First webinar: Wed, May 20, topic: Heat Preparedness. Register here: https://volunteer.bloomerang.co/volunteer/ #/join-party?k=u80rgsesuxqkne

We were honored to be selected as the non-profit partner for the 2026 MESA Design Competition! Phoenix College students were tasked with developing a human centered design to tackle key issues urban trees face in Phoenix. Jacob, our Urban Forestry Specialist, and Ali, our Planting Programs Manager were among two of the four judges for this competition. They listened to two amazing presentations and helped select a winning team who will receive a scholarship. Winning team announced soon 🤫
 
Phoenix College MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) supports first-generation and underrepresented STEM students through mentorship, academic support, and hands-on learning. The competition asks student teams to design and prototype a solution to a real problem provided by a local nonprofit.
 

Last Tuesday we planted 10 trees at Maurice C. Cash Elementary alongside students! 🌳💚
 
BIG thank you to:
💚 & Laveen School District for working with us to organize this planting
💚 for partnering with us: providing the funding and day-of volunteers for this planting
💚Our TM staff for leading the event
💚Our TM volunteers, including special Tree Team Volunteer Cohort, for planting with us
💚 for providing our trees
💚 for providing our tools
💚 for taking the beautiful photos in this post