Protect your community: Take action for trees!

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Have you heard? Last summer, TreePeople championed the protection of our urban trees as the City of LA prepared to launch its 30-year sidewalk repair program. Now, LA is starting to roll out steps to repair sidewalks across the region. That’s right–  over the next 30 years, the City plans to spend $1.4 billion dollars after a city settlement to make our sidewalks more accessible for all Angelenos.

A large piece of this effort will likely involve removing many street trees– trees that provide shade and cool spaces.… Read more >>

Soil. Water. Life

Soil is life

Soil moisture: why is it important for you and and your garden? Why it is important for LA and its issues with the urban heat island effect and other challenges?

Soil, Water, Life

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Here at TreePeople, we sometimes wonder where the tree ends and the soil begins.  Fallen leaves and branches decompose and  create soil, which creates trees, which drop branches and leaves creating more soil.

We also love to think about the tree-water-soil connection. Where does water end and soil or tree begin?… Read more >>

Tree Planting Season Is Back!

Tree Planting Season Begins

Summer Tree Care

This summer was not easy for LA’s trees.

We’ve seen the impact these five years of drought have had– and with each heat wave this summer, we lost even more trees. We want trees to live, so in the summer we shift our focus to care for them get through these hotter hots and drier dries.  

That’s why we’re proud to share that this summer, more than 700 TreePeople volunteers joined us to care for almost 2,000 trees!… Read more >>

Los Angeles Needs Stormwater Infrastructure

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As a lifelong Los Angeles resident, I understand the extremes that mother nature can throw at us. I recall the droughts of my youth, when we were all urged to be thoughtful about our water use and conserve. I also remember vividly the opposite extreme, when that scarcity turned to plenty, neighborhoods flooded and streams and beaches poisoned by a toxic stew of polluted runoff.

Years later, as Assemblymember representing the San Fernando Valley and then as a LADWP Assistant General Manager, I began to look upon these weather extremes with a sense of obligation.… Read more >>

Have You Spotted These 10 LA Trees?

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Time for a quick lesson in dendrology! How many of these trees have you seen around your neighborhood? Here’s the countdown:

10. Bauhinia variegata (Purple orchid tree)

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The Bauhinia variegata is a semi-evergreen tree that is native to Southeast Asia. Not only do the flowers that grow on these trees smell amazing, but they are also used in various foods!

9. Cassia leptophylla (Gold medallion tree)

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The Cassia leptophylla is a semi-evergreen tree with clusters of bright yellow flowers and brown seedpods.… Read more >>

Three Cheers to Our Volunteers!

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Did you know TreePeople hosts a Volunteer Celebration? It’s true! Each year, we invite our most dedicated volunteers up to our park for a day of fun to show our thanks.

This year featured our first ever TreePeople Volunteer Olympic Games! Rio has nothing on this. The day was warm and the stakes were high as volunteers gave their all competing in events like: the Tree Stake Ring Ross, Tree Tie Noodle Dance, Mulch Bucket Stacking and TreePeople Trivia Pong.… Read more >>

Partnership: How Boeing Helped Us Plant 80,000 Trees

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The July day was hot and the sky was smoky from the Sand Fire, but that didn’t stop the 30 dedicated volunteers from Boeing.


“Boeing’s volunteers are known for being some of the hardest workers,and this morning only proved that.”Volunteer Manager Peter Roquemore

Gathering at the Betty Davis Picnic Area of Griffith Park, the volunteers rolled up their sleeves. Their mission: to water nearly 100 newly planted trees. Their work helped ensure that there will still be shade and beauty after drought, water restrictions and insect pests have devastated the park’s tree population.… Read more >>