A tad off-topic, but: Marylanders Plant Trees

[Kalidurga]

This was in the DNR netletter today:

This month, Governor O'Malley launched the citizen component of Marylanders Plant Trees, a program designed to increase tree cover in Maryland. Through this initiative we are working together with businesses, communities and citizens to achieve the goal of planting 50,000 trees by 2010 and 1 million new trees by 2011.

As w work toward a smarter, greener, more sustainable future, planting a tree is an easy way for each of us to get personally involved. These trees may be small now, but in years to come they will enhance the quality of life for our children and grandchildren. Trees not only protect water quality, clean our air and provide wildlife habitat, but also beautify our neighborhoods and highways, providing sound barriers and shade for the outdoors in which our children play.

A new interactive website provides citizens advice on where, how and what type of trees to plant, and $25 discount coupons for the purchase of native trees costing $50 or more. Print your coupon and check the list of participating tree vendors to locate one in your area. For each $25 coupon redeemed, the State will reimburse participating businesses $20 and the tree vendors have generously offered to absorb the remaining $5 cost.

Citizens who plant new trees are encouraged to use the site to register the trees they've planted and calculate their benefits, so we can track our progress towards our 1 million tree goal. I urge you to visit the Marylanders Plant Trees website, www.trees.maryland.gov, today to get started on learning more about this fantastic program.

I thank you in advance for your efforts to help ensure that our One Maryland can be the best it can be. Together, we can work towards a future for our children where our air is cleaner, our waterways are clear and healthy, and every citizen is an informed and inspired steward of our beautiful natural areas

I'm gonna link this to cycling via the affect it could have on the quality of our rides. Yeah, that's the ticket

[ny biker]

I'm gonna link this to cycling via the affect it could have on the quality of our rides. Yeah, that's the ticket

Trees definitely affect ride quality. The WOD is the perfect example. Sections with no tree cover are horribly hot in the summer. Some sections of the trail in Fairfax County have become noticeably windier in recent years as development near the trail has resulted in vegetation being cut down. But once you get to the shady parts out in Loudoun County, it's beautiful.

[Kalidurga]

That's why the only section of the W&OD I ride is the stretch between Leesburg and Purcellville. Which I'm planning to do tomorrow, as a matter of fact.

You Virginia folks need to get on the stick and make your governor adopt a similar program (so says the Va-born Md convert ).

[ny biker]

We're too busy trying to keep Dominion from cutting down all the trees from Leesburg to Purcellville.

VDOT has started the preliminary work for the HOT lanes on the beltway, and they're cutting down lots of trees. It makes me sad.

[Zen]

If someone will dig the holes I'd take two

[Kalidurga]

Ugh. I've been seeing the signs about Dominion along the trail for a few years now, I hope that gets settled soon. Freaking power line rights-of-way. Let them run through the darned fields of McMansions that've sprouted up out there instead (which'll never happen, of course).

And more lanes on the Virginia beltway, yippee!!

[ny biker]

My car has an external thermometer, so I can see the outside temperature when I'm driving. I did a bike ride one day last summer in Loudoun County, and I parked the car in Middleburg. Driving back home after the ride in mid-afternoon, the temp was 95 for the entire drive along route 50 east, and stayed at 95 on I66. When I got to 395, which has something like 9 or 10 lanes including the HOV, the temperature went up to 105.

This is what happens when you cut down the trees and put down more asphalt.

Now they're in the planning stages for HOT lanes on 395, and they're talking about possibly putting up sound walls on the edges of my neighborhood. I think we're also requesting that they plant trees, and I hope they do.

[Selkie]

The section of the W&OD that transverses Arlington County is fairly well shaded. Because the power line runs right along side the trail, Dominion trims the trees.

Apparently, the power company is upgrading the power lines. The project started last fall, around Columbia Pike. There's been heavy equipment along/on the trail and a lot of mud/muck on the trail from the effort. They are as far as the junction w/the Custis Trail and probably will make it to Falls Church by June.

IIRC, Arlington County has an active "restore the canopy" campaign and will pay folks to plant trees. Not sure of the details but I'm sure there's something about it in the County website. Our yard, unfortunately, has no more room for trees, as we live in an older, established neighborhood with lots of big old oaks.

[ny biker]

Yes I think the hottest parts are in Fairfax County.

I noticed the Dominion equipment a couple weeks ago. I was riding after work, so I picked up the WOD from the Custis trail. I guess I'll be seeing a lot of them in the next few months.

I am glad that Arlington is such a pro-environment kind of place.

[Selkie]

Since I've moved to the DC area, I've lived in Fairfax, Stafford (ugh!) and Arlington Counties, and Arlington is by far the best in every regard.

[ny biker]

And what are we doing indoors when the sun is finally out???

(Actually I was just out on the balcony putting together a storage shed. It's windy out there!)

[Selkie]

LOL

I rode 43 miles this morning in the wind and took three dog walks today!!! I need a break from the wind. Tomorrow should be better -- warm sunny no wind! ENJOY.

[ny biker]

I was going to do a 40-mile cherry blossom ride this morning, but I've been kinda sick all week so I decided to take it easy instead of fighting the wind. I'm really hoping I feel well enough to ride tomorrow though.