Save the date - March 10 Arbor Day Tree Planting Celebration and Barbeque

GVB Volunteer Opportunities-GVB Office and message phone number 685-7910
1. SaturdayMorning Tree Plantings 9 am to noon
2. February 10 -Dos Pueblos HighSchool, 7266 AlamedaDr.
3. February 17 - San Marcos High School, 4750 Hollister Avenue (rescheduled Jan 27 rainout)
4. February 24 - San Marcos High School, 4750 Hollister Avenue
5. February 3 - Pruning Workshop -WORKSHOP FULL - call 685-9710for waiting list
6. Wednesday morning County Park tree plantings, Feb 7, 14, 21, 28, 9 to noon - call685-7910 for locations
7. Devereux Greenhouse/Growing Groundsyoung tree care - Mon & Fri9 am to Noon- Call 685-7910
8. Litter pickup2nd and 4thSat.-Call Don and Judy Nason 964-4895
9. Graffiti removal and reporting - Call Ed Graper 964-7117,edgraper@yahoo.com
10. Monthly Goleta Valley Beautiful award nominations - Call Bonnie Freeman 683-1878 or Phebe Mansur 685-2277
11. Additional GVB ongoing volunteer community service activities, call 685-7910

January was a great month for planting trees in the Goleta Valley
January was bone dry and cold until the soaking rains we really need came at the end. On January 13, the water froze in the garden hoses but 104 volunteers managed toplant 43 trees on the Isla Vista School campus, with some wrap up work by 16 volunteers on January 20 that also involved planting3 trees on the Kellogg School campus.On January 6, 39 volunteers planted 14 trees at Dos Pueblos High, while on January 27, 6determined volunteersplanted one tree at San Marcos High and mulched others before getting rained out.Along with 2 other trees planted at Kellogg by Work Training Program crews, that's 63 new trees in January!

To sign up for a volunteer activity, send an e-mailScottor leave a message at 685-7910.
AlsoClick here to see the calendar

For additional photos of the Isla Vista planting, seeclick here

February 3 Citizen Pruner Workshop Full
In an effort to keep a high quality instruction, enrollment at the February 3 Citizen Pruner Workshop was capped at 60. If you did not pre-register and receive a confirmation notice, you may be one of those that will be on the waiting list fora future workshop.Call 685-7910 toconfirm your status. This workshop concentrates on shade tree pruning. Future workshops may deal more with fruit tree pruning.More details on the workshop in next month's newsletter

GVB February Residential AwardWinner-7218 Evanston Place, 93117- Al and Joni Gregson
The February award goes to 7218 Evanston Place in Goleta. Homeowners Al and Joni Gregson sought to create a year-round, low maintenance landscape, and with the aid of Gil’s Landscape Services they came up with a design. Working around the original Japanese Pine, pygmy palms and grasses were added, along with a ton of local boulders and stone for the dry creek bed. Recycled materials were used wherever possible. A wide Arizona flagstone walkway draws you through the garden as it curves its way to the entry, with solar lighting marking the path.
You can nominate your favorite Goleta Valley Residential property by downloading a nomination form from the website or by contactingBonnie Freeman at 683-1878. For all other categories (Multifamily residence, Commercial, Firescape, Sustainable Development, Home Owners Association, Preservation of the Goleta Valley, Public/Institutional, Open Space, Shopping Center, Commercial Orchard, Open), contact Phebe Mansur at 685-2277 or call 685-7910.

GVBJanuary commercialAwardWinner-75 Castilian, 93117, Biomechanics Institute
The January 2007 goes to 75 Castilian in Goleta. Biomechanics Institute completed a renovation of the site in August 2006. To achieve a "modern tropical" landscaping theme, a variety of palms were added. Hearty ground covering and drought tolerant plants consisting of flax, Cotoneaster dammeri "Low Fast", and Society Garlic create dramatic borders in the flower beds. Blue Fescue, Fuchsias, Impatiens, and Birds of Paradise add splashes of color. Drip irrigation was installed. Kitson Landscape Design completed the design, installation, and now maintains the site.

The rains have come- Water Kings and Queens,remove your Treegators
We normally come around and remove Treegators in October/November, but this year we have left them on till the first soaking rains.We ask that our tree waterers (our Water Kings and Queens) can now unzip the bags and remove them from the trees, fold them flat and store them in your garageuntil April/May when they should be reinstalled. The tree will not be harmed if you decide to leave your Treegator on. Call us at 685-7910if you need help or if you are unable to remove/store your Treegator.

Project Learning Tree Training for EducatorsGVBhelped sponsor a Project Learning Tree Workshop at the Goleta Union School District Board Room last month. State instructorsconducted a workshop training for Project Learning Tree trainers to learn aboutthe latestmaterials available, with GVB Executive Director Ken Knight now a Certified Instructor. There areapproximately 100 Project Learning Tree lesson plans for teaching required environmental curriculum with a tree-related theme. Elementary and high school teachers who would like to schedule a 4 hour training workshop in how to use the Project Learning Tree materials are requested to contact GVB at 685-7910, or Project Learning Tree State Coordinator Kay Antunez at (916) 653-7958 or e-mailKay.Antunez@fire.ca.govKay.Antunez@fire.ca.gov.
On January 4th, Ken Knight previewed a Project Learning Tree Activity23 - The Fallen Logwith Julie Armstrong's 2/3 class at Isla Vista School, and on February 13, he'll be doing Activity 77 Trees in Trouble at Vicki Kornharens 3/4 class at Brandon School.

More January 2007GVB accomplishments/Kudos
Our hungry/thirsty volunteers received drinks and snacks through the support of Beautify Dos Pueblos, and the Isla Vista and San Marcos PTAs, many of whom have helped pre and post water our tree planting sites-there are so many wonderful helpersthat we would like to recognize-we're working on developing a separate web site page for this.
The Nason litter crew collected 14 bags of litter in 21 1/2 hours,including a rubber snake and those little liquor bottles.
Ongoing Greenhouse volunteers Stacia and son Adran spent 18 hours at the Greenhouse fixing irrigation andformative pruning of the trees, along with our great Devereux clients (see photo above)who clean, repot and keep the place looking good.
Work Training Programs crews have been busy helping provide logistical support for our large scale plantings, as well asreplacing 3 trees that were destroyed by gophers. And a special thanks to all the media coverage we've been getting recently. Our scrapbook is getting huge.

Membership Drive continues!
For past members, if your name isn't on our list of supporters at www.goletavalleybeautiful.org , you may be getting a friendly reminderabout your2007 membership dues.For any omissions or errors on our web, please let us know at 685-7910.Business sponsor ads are coming soon, along with our 2007 Silent Auction supporters. Forthose who still need to renew, you can now use our website to renew your membership online using a secure PayPal system. If the hyperlink does not work, you can cut and paste the linkinto theaddress area of your browser. Your comments to kennethknight@cox.netkennethknight@cox.netwill help us build a better communications link.

Goleta Valley Beautiful E-Mail News -March 2007

Nominations due March 27 for 33rd Annual Awards Banquet presented on May 19

GVB Volunteer Opportunities-GVB Office and message phone number 685-7910
1. SaturdayMorning Tree Plantings 9 am to noon
2. March 3 -Foothill Elementary School, 711 Ribera Drive
3. March 10 -Dos Pueblos HighSchool, 7266 AlamedaDr. - Arbor Week celebration with a barbeque sponsored by the Suburban Kiwanis and cookies by the Reina del Mar #126 Native Daughtersfor the first 100 registered volunteers
4. March 17 - San Marcos High School, 4750 Hollister Avenue
5. March 24 - La Patera Elementary School- 555 La Patera Lane
6. March31 -Spring Break-No Project
7. April 7-EAB Planting Project in Isla Vista-locations to be announced
8. April 14 -Dos Pueblos HighSchool, 7266 AlamedaDr.
9. April21-El Camino Elementary School, 5020 San Simeon Drive
10. April 28 - San Marcos High School, 4750 Hollister Avenue
11. May 5 -Dos Pueblos HighSchool, 7266 AlamedaDr.
12. May 12 - San Marcos High School, 4750 Hollister Avenue
13. March 21- Annual GVB Advisory Council - Edison conference Room, 123 Love Place call 685-9710for information
14. April 22 - Tu B'Shvat/Earth Day Tree Planting Celebration at Queen Ann Open Space - call 685-7910 for info
15. Wednesday morning County Park tree plantings, March 7, 14, 21, 28, 9 to noon - call685-7910 for locations
16. Devereux Greenhouse/Growing Groundsyoung tree care - Mon & Fri9 am to Noon- Call 685-7910
17. Litter pickup2nd and 4thSat.-Call Don and Judy Nason 964-4895
18. Graffiti removal and reporting - Call Ed Graper 964-7117, edgraper@yahoo.com
19. Monthly Goleta Valley Beautiful award nominations - Call Bonnie Freeman 683-1878 or Phebe Mansur 685-2277
20. Additional GVB ongoing volunteer community service activities, call 685-7910

GVB volunteers add 53 new trees to Goleta Valley in February

Now that our clay soilhas been softened by rain, we've entered into our most productive time of the year to plant new trees.61 volunteers planted 14 trees at Dos Pueblos on 2/10, including the trial installation of 71Visapore weed blocking screens around existing trees. On 2/17, 18 volunteers showed up at San Marcos despite rain in the forecast, and we planted 10 trees. Another 63 volunteers returned to San Marcos on 2/24 to plant 24 trees and move four 20' telephone poles to get to the planting spots. Now that's teamwork!Work Training Program crews added another 11 trees in county parks, along with 3 replacement trees-the gophers are on the attack. Photos byNatalie Rossington.
To sign up for a volunteer activity, send an e-mailScottor leave a message at 685-7910.
-Also Click here to see the calendar

Call for nominations - 33rd Annual Award Nominations Due March 27

Nominations are being accepted for the best designed & landscaped residential and business properties in the Goleta Valley incorporated and unincorporated areas. The Goleta Valley stretches from the Santa Barbara City line(generally Highway 154) on the East to the Rancho Embarcadero subdivision adjacent to the Bacara Resort on the west. Nominations are open to everyone, including self-nominations. Forms are available at www.goletavalleybeautiful.org, or Click here to see and download the 2007 Auunal Award Nominationor GV Chamber of Commerce 271 N. Fairview Ave #114. Please send completed forms to PO Box 6756, Goleta CA 93160-6756. Call 685-7910 for information. Categories include: 1. Single Family residence, 2. Multifamily residence or apartments, 3. Sustainable development, 4. Homeowners Association Common area, 5. Commercial, 6. Preservation of Goleta Valley Heritage, 7. Public/Institutional, 8. Public Park or Open Space, 9. Shopping Center, 10. Firescape Design, 11. Commercial Orchard, 12. Open Category. Past winners are not eligible unless substantial renovation has occurred. Awards will be presented at the 33rd Annual GVB Awards Banquet and Silent Auction on Saturdrday May 19 February 3 Workshop Graduates 34 Citizen Pruners
We capped enrollment at 60, and after a morning of instruction by Dan Condon, Dougal House,Ken Knightand Jerry Sortommee, participants took an open booktest and then a field examination at the Optimist Groove in Lake Los Carneros Park. 34 successful Citizen Pruner graduates of the workshop will receive certificates and recognition at the May 19th banquet good for 5 years with an annual volunteer pruning requirement. Several graduate put their skills to good use at Dos Pueblos on 2/17. Citizen pruners can call 685-7910 for volunteer pruning assignments.

GVBMarch 2007 CommercialAwardWinner- 5790 Thornwood Rd, Paradise Machining & Precision Welding

The March award goes to Paradise Machining and Precision Welding at 5790 Thornwood in Goleta. The landscaping features unique mixtures of palms and rare Cycads with Kangaroo Paw and Bird of Paradise for accent color. Rock and quaint wood fencing are incorporated into the landscape design. Planted over ten years ago, this drought tolerant and low maintenance site continues to flourish and grow. This is a rare find in a commercial/industrial zone. Kitson Landscape Design completed the design and installation, and now maintains the site. No photo available.

Water Kings and Queens,its time to weed and mulch
Your trees don't need watered this month, but get a start on weeding around your tree and add up to 3-4 inches of mulch except by the root crown within 4 " of the trunk. Call us at 685-7910if you need help, additional mulch,or if you are unable to remove/store your Treegator.

Tree related Science Night Projects complement school tree plantings
Elementary school students are learning tree related math and science concepts in a fun manner at Science Night demonstrations. Students can test the viability of acorns using the float test, tell time through tree ring analysis, see samples ofall the different tree speciesat their school, and make prints of leaves, among other activities. A collection of tree related coloring books and tree activities for students to do with their parents is also available. GVB volunteers have been at Kellogg, El Camino and Ellwood schools this year,with Brandon coming up on March 22 and Isla Vista on May 24. If your school is having a Science event, let us know at 685-7910 and we'll be glad to participate.

MoreFebruary 2007GVB accomplishments/Kud
Carpinteria Beautiful Director Donna Jordan shows off the first of 10 Portola Sycamore clones grown at GVB's Devereux Greenhouse and planted at a Carpinteria Park. Thanks to California ReLeaf for supporting our joint efforts. Morehungry/thirsty volunteers received drinks and snacks through the support of Beautify Dos Pueblos and theSan Marcos PTA. The Nason litter crew collected 6 bags of litter in12 hours-they appreciate the thank you honks from passing motorists. Ongoing Greenhouse volunteers Stacia and son Adran spent8 hours at the Greenhousepruningand moving trees to get ready for next year's crop. The Devereux clientsare busy weeding and filling pots with soil, as well as expanding into working with cymbidiums, spider plants and jades. They are looking to present their work at a Farmers Market in the near future. Work Training Programs crewsplanted 14 new and replacement trees, and provided invaluable support to prepare for our substantial increase in volunteers this year.Ed Graper devotes countless hours in his continuing battle against graffiti. And a special thanks toscholarships from the Partnership for Excellence that allowed GVB to attend their excellent 2/15 workshop.
Membership Drive ends March 31!
It is crucial for every member to renew their support annually to GVB. Your donationcalidates thatwe're doing work that has value to the community. We don't receive subsidies from local governments or schools, and our expenses are growing as our activities increase. Forthose who still need to renew, you can now use our website to renew your membership online using a secure PayPal system.
Your comments to kennethknight@cox.netkennethknight@cox.netwill help us build a better communications link.
click here to go to top of newsletter