Growing the Oak Canopy in Harvard

Did you know that the City of Harvard was once an oak woodland?

Many old oaks remain, but their numbers are declining as they reach the end of their natural lives.

Thanks to support from you, and a grant from the Morton Arboretum, TLC is providing no-cost Conservation@Home site visits in Harvard to spread the word about oaks and the many benefits they provide.

The Alvarez family of Harvard is the first to receive a site visit through the program – they were interested in adding more native plants and trees to their property.

Sandi Alvarez booked a Conservation@Home visit with Anna Evans, TLC’s Oak Outreach Specialist. They walked the property, noted the invasive and native species present, and talked about their options for management.

Their landscaping experience, a desire to add native plants, and room to plant new trees, made them great candidates for both a free bur oak and a serviceberry through the program.

Congratulations to the Alvarez family for being Harvard’s first land owners to receive a tree and shrub as part of this new project, and for growing Harvard’s oak heritage.

This program is open to homeowners, businesses, HOAs, churches and schools in Harvard – whether you are on a city lot, or hundreds of acres.

If you would like to learn more about TLC’s oak outreach in Harvard, please contact Anna Evans at aevans@conservemc.org.