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News and Blog Articles
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One of the things we talk about a lot here at Classic City Arborists is the importance of native species. By keeping up the native populations, you can help reduce the impact of invasive species and generally improve the health of your local ecosystem. What is a native species?The U.S. Forest Service defines native species as “naturally occurring, either presently or historically, in any ecosystem of the United States.” These plants were already here when humans got here, and have been thriving in their respective climates and conditions for a long time. Native plants are vital to their respective ecosystems, and have evolved to work together. When left to their own devices, an all-native ecosystem is essentially self-sufficient, and will flourish with little to no maintenance required. Of course, with the prevalence of invasive species, landscaping, development, construction, and general human interference, it’s getting harder and harder to find an all-native ecosystem – at least in urban areas. That’s why there’s been a push to plant more native species and maintain greenscapes in urban settings such as neighborhoods, city streets, and parking lots. Why are native species important?Native species are the lifeblood of any ecosystem. Without them, the delicate, complex web of give-and-take among the plants, animals, insects, fungi, and bacteria may start to fail. Think of your local ecosystem as an old-fashioned watch with cogs and gears. If you take away one of the gears, or if the teeth of that gear get too worn down, the whole watch will start to slow and eventually stop working altogether. Native species are the essential gears and cogs that keep your ecosystem healthy. Native flora also supports your local pollinator population. We’ve talked before about how important it is to save the bees, and maintaining native flora is one of the easiest ways to do that! Since these plants were basically designed to grow here, they don’t need much help from you, making them a low-maintenance option. What species are native to Georgia?Our great peach state hosts around 250 different species of tree, and also protects 58 different plant species. Here are some of the most common native trees you’ve probably seen around town: Pine TreesYou could probably guess this first one! Pine trees are one of the most common species in Georgia, with plenty of variations to choose from. For example: Loblolly Pine, Longleaf Pine, Slash Pine, Spruce Pine, White Pine… you get the idea! Oak TreesOak trees are also incredibly common around here, with a range of different species. The most recognizable is probably the Live Oak – those widespread, ancient trees characteristic of antebellum Georgia and still decorate our coastlines. Other oak species include Laurel Oaks, Northern Red Oaks, Post Oaks, Scarlet Oaks, Shumard Oaks, Southern Red Oaks, Chestnut Oaks, Water Oaks, Willow Oaks, White Oaks, and more. Sugar Maple - Acer saccharum Sugar Maples are definitely a familiar sight in the Classic City, characterized by their bright yellow fall displays. Other native maple species include the Red Maple and the Florida Maple. Eastern Red Cedar - Juniperus virginiana This aromatic evergreen tree features a conical-shaped crown with grayish to reddish bark that exfoliates in long strips. They reach heights of around 40 to 50 feet, and are one of the hardier species in our area. Southern Magnolia - Magnolia grandifloraThe flowering magnolia tree is another staple in Georgia, and definitely a familiar site around Athens. These oval-shaped trees feature dark green, shiny leaves and large white flowers that smell amazing. Sweetgum - Liquidambar styracifluaSweetgum trees are best known for the spiky ‘gumball’ seed pods they drop every spring and summer. They also produce some vibrant yellow, orange, and purple fall colors. But trees aren’t the only thing native to Georgia! There are also plenty of shrubs, vines, and flowers to look out for: American Wisteria - Wisteria frutescensWisteria is a vine known for its gorgeous purple flowers. It only shows up for a short time every spring, but it’s certainly a sight to behold! Trumpet Honeysuckle - Lonicera sempervirensThis native species is known for its delicate scent and delicious taste – remember when you were a kid, and you’d pick off the dark yellow honeysuckle flowers for that one little drop of sweet nectar? Hydrangeas - Hydrangea macrophylla, Hydrangea arborescens, and Hydrangea quercifoliaWhether you prefer the periwinkle blue blossoms or the rarer light pink variety, hydrangeas are a flowering bush that most homeowners love to have in their yards! These low-maintenance, easy-to-grow bushes definitely up the curb appeal. There are way too many native species for us to list them all here. If you want to learn more about these native species, or find more, check out the Georgia Native Plant Society! AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio.
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 For the past 150 years, America has celebrated an annual tree-planting holiday, known as National Arbor Day. And for the last 50 years, the Arbor Day Foundation has helped fund, plan, and spread the word about this holiday and the importance of planting trees. What is the Arbor Day Foundation?While our country has celebrated Arbor Day since 1872, the Arbor Day Foundation wasn’t established until 1972. Its mission? Plant as many trees as possible, in as many places as possible. Thanks to these efforts, the Arbor Day Foundation has contributed nearly 500 million trees across over 50 countries around the world! How do they do it?The Arbor Day Foundation does more than just spread the word about tree planting. Their efforts reach all across the world! One such effort is Tree City USA, a program established with the USDA Forest Services and National Associate of State Foresters. Tree City USA supports and encourages cities to maintain their urban forests. In its first year back in 1976, 46 different cities in America participated in this program. In 2022, more than 3,600 cities are involved! Tree City USA expanded in 2018 with the Tree Cities of the World branch, which reaches cities on every continent (except Antarctica) in over 55 countries across the globe. The Community Tree Recovery program is another effort to keep up our tree population, this time by providing free trees to community members who have lost trees due to natural disasters. Tree Campus Higher Education consists of nearly 400 higher education campuses, all of which follow the program’s best tree care practices. The Arbor Day Foundation is partnered with the US Forest Service to assist in the reforestation of our national forests. What’s the point?All this might seem like a lot of fuss about trees – and it is! Trees are vital to our communities and to our planet. Not only do they create the oxygen we need to breathe, but they also filter out harmful pollutants and carbon dioxide. This has the dual effect of making our air cleaner for us to breathe, and reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which helps slow the buildup that contributes to climate change. Trees also help support the local ecosystem by providing shelter, food, and nesting grounds for a variety of species. Their root systems help reduce erosion, and their canopies can actually cool the temperatures in the area by shading the blazing sun. Plus, we as a species just really, really like trees. We’ve talked before about the healing power of trees; a simple walk through the park can help soothe mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety! Hospital patients who can see trees from their windows even recover faster! How can you get involved?If you want to help out the Arbor Day Foundation, or just participate in the Arbor Day celebration this year, there are a few ways you can get involved: Post to social media! During the week of Arbor Day, the Arbor Day Foundation is planting one tree for each individual Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook post that has the hashtag #ArborDay (up to 75,000 trees!). Plus, this year, Kimberly-Clark has agreed to match those efforts, meaning that you post about the holiday will plant two trees! Join the Foundation! By making a one-time donation in the amount of your choice, you can become a member of the Arbor Day Foundation, and receive 10 free trees to plant. Whether you plant them in your yard or pass them around your community, that’s 10 more trees in the world. You can also choose to have your 10 trees sent to one of America’s national forests, or even the rain forest! In addition to your trees, a membership with the Foundation includes a subscription to the bimonthly Arbor Day newsletter, a copy of The Tree Book to guide you in planting and caring for your trees, and discounts on trees and shrubs purchased in the Online Tree Nursery. Donate! You can support the Foundation by sending a one-time donation, or set up a recurring one. The money you contribute will assist the Arbor Day Foundation in planting trees across the world. Spread the Word! If you tell 5 friends about Arbor Day, and 3 of those friends decide to join the Foundation, that’s 30 trees planted! And if those 5 friends tell 5 friends, who tell 5 other friends… the amount of trees planted this year will explode exponentially. AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. |
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23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24