JUNE 22, 1982 PAGE 7
Pruners go out on a limb to keep trees healthy
Safety lines keep pruners from falling in case they lose their grip during the trimming process. I t’s a good thing
too.
Spilyay Tymoo
photos and text
by
Marsha Shewczyk
* _______ \_______ ______
Part of the crew is responsible fo r cleaning up. Two local residents,
William Leonard and Clifton Brunoe pile branches and run them
Trees need care too. F oe many years
the trees in the W arm Springs
community have been left to themselves.
Occasionally the power company would
come by and cut the tops off but only
with concern fpr the utility lines, not the
trees themselves.
As the trees in the campus area
matured they were and still are being
exposed to a variety o f conditions
including water shortage, extremes in
temperature, insects and disease. All of
this influences the way in which a tree
grows.
For the sixty years most of the trees
have been in existence they have
received little help. And despite this they
are basically strong and healthy trees.
But broken limbs and brown leaves
are indications that something is wrong.
Examination of the campus area trees
revealed that they were in need of
pruning and nourishment to enable trees
them to complete their 100 year life cycle
in a healthy manner. Some trees were in
immediate need while others simply
needed nourishment.
The revitalization task has been
undertaken by a Portland firm, Vets
Tree Servicei owned by Warm Springs
tribal member Ted Brunoe. The Bureau
of Indian Affairs is paying the firm
$37,475 to prune and fertilize the 160
trees in the campus area. Five local
people have been hired to help complete
the 45 day contract.
The two dominant varieties of trees
being worked on are the Lombardi
Poplar and Chinese Elm. Some
cottonwood trees and birch are also
receiving attention of the crew.
Vets Tree Service supervisor Paul
Irish stated that all the trees were in need
of work. He explained that there is no
space for either light or air to ' get
through the branches. Keeping the trees
healthy will ensure their staying alive
much longer.
But because the trees are so old, Irish
feels plans should be made to plant trees
which will replace the ones that will
eventually die. Until that time, fertilizing
and pruning will prolong the aged tree’s
life span.
With just this little attention, the trees
in the area will flourish and continue t a
provide shade, areas of play for children
and beauty in the community for a while
longer. It’s not really too surprising what
a little care will <d©«<«*
Local resident Don Gold is caring fo r an orphaned crow which lost its
home as pruners cut branches from trees on the campus area. The crow
is slowly wandering out on its own but still looks to Don fo r a home
and food.
Crew supervisor Paul Irish points out the dead branches being removed from the campus area trees. H e feels the trees were
due for a trim. -
........
.
.
____________________,