BTF News

Benicia Tree Foundation's Second Saturday Tree Care Day in August was held at the Forrest Deaner Native Plant Botanic Garden which is in the Benicia State Recreation Area.  The purpose was to help the Benicia State Parks Association with some needed tree pruning of oaks that were planted from acorns in 1998, when the idea of a botanic garden at this State park was in its infancy.

Benicia Tree Foundation's experiment to plant trees in open space is entering its fifth dry season.  The idea was to find a way to plant trees that was easier and cheaper than our prior projects where we would plant standard nursery-grown trees in yards, parks or school campuses.  The Lake Herman project involved planting 100 native tree saplings on 8 acres of city-owned open space east of the lake.  

Caltrans asked to replace the trees being removed from our freeways

At its June 2nd meeting, the Benicia City Council unanimously approved a resolution requesting that Caltrans plant replacement trees along the freeways and work with the City and local organizations on other tree planting and maintenance projects.

PG&E'S Tree Trimming in Benicia

The Board of Directors of the Benicia Tree Foundation has reviewed the guidance provided by the Solano County Public Health Department to determine how it can safely re-initiate Tree Care Days as the Shelter-at-Home order is relaxed for the COVID-19 public health emergency.  This guidance has been updated as of July 10, 2020 and it will be followed as we recruit volunteers for our Tree Care Days. These Tree Care Days will be held outdoors at one of our project sites and will be conducted according to the following practices:

Volunteers worked through this winter to expand the tree planting in the Lake Herman Open Space.  During the course of five Tree Care Days, 44 volunteers planted acorns at 66 new locations.  But that is not all.  These volunteers also weeded and mulched over 70 trees planted earlier in this open space. 

Volunteers met on at Benicia Housing Authority's Capitol Heights neighborhood for our Third Thursday Tree Care Day in February.  Of the 31 trees planted in 2015, 29 trees are still growing.  Most of the trees are in great shape, but a few are struggling due to limb damage.  The trees were mulched, most all the tree stakes have been removed, and some needed structural pruning as you c

Volunteers are needed to plant and mulch trees, and pick-up trash at Francesca Terrace Park

Volunteers are needed to prune and mulch trees planted by students in 2013