2012 El Quito Neighborhood Landscape and Lighting District Funded Improvement Projects

January 2012

2012 - Second Annual "Trees For Free" Program

2012 Mistletoe Trimming/Removal Project

Mistletoe, while often associated with holiday celebrations, can damage and sometimes kill infested trees.  The City of Saratoga in collaboration with the El Quito Neighborhood Association is offering a free mistletoe removal program for street trees in our neighborhood.  Letters were mailed to residents in mid December 2011 with postcards enclosed for voluntary participation.  If you have a mistletoe infestation in your street trees, please take advantage of this NO COST program to improve the health of your trees.  Removal of mistletoe also reduces the likelihood of additional infestations and the spread of the parasitic plant in our neighborhood. 

 

For additional information, please read an overview of mistletoe control measures by UC Davis.

The deadline to participate in the 2012 program was January 6, 2012.  The project will be executed in early 2012.

If funds are available, there is a possibility that the program may be offered again in future years to help rid our neighborhood trees of this harmful parasitic plant. 

El Quito Park Gets a Face Lift

 

 

Saratoga's department of Public Works just completed the renovation of the north and west side of El Quito Park, adding over thirty new trees, new flower beds, new boulders, and reconditioned the pedestrian path.  The project was managed by Saratoga’s department of Public Works, working with Our City Forest to complete the physical planting, path renovation, and distribution of bark for ground cover.  

 

A wide assortment of drought tolerant trees and plants cultivars were selected and planted in the park to increase the park’s overall plant diversity.  Tree and plant selections were chosen to add arboretum-quality diversity and beauty to the park, attract and feed our local bird and butterfly populations, and to attract and nurture native pollinators.  Underutilized turf areas were removed around the perimeter to significantly reduce water, chemical, and fertilizer use in the area.

 

A special thanks to Kevin Meeks and John Cherbone of Saratoga’s Public Works department, the volunteers and staff of Our City Forest, and the El Quito Neighborhood Association for a job well done!  

Stop by the park and check it out!

 

2011 El Quito Neighborhood "Trees for Free" Program Planting Day A Resounding Success!

 

 

March 2011

 

With a beautiful spring day as the back-drop, the El Quito neighborhood tree planting day started off with a kick-off event at El Quito Park.  With over 150 people in attendance, the honorable Howard Miller, mayor of Saratoga, greeted volunteers and neighbors to the kick off the event and congratulated everyone for all of the efforts that had led up to the tree planting day in our neighborhood.  Speakers included Council person Jill Hunter, Lori Ellingboe - El Quito Neighborhood Association president, Rhonda Berry - CEO Our City Forest, and Rev. Erik Swanson - Pastor of Westhope Church in Saratoga.

 

When the spring 2011 program is complete, we hope to have approximately 100 new trees added to our neighborhood!  An additional 30+ new trees will be added to El Quito Park later this spring (in a separate parks program initiative). 

 

The El Quito Neighborhood Association plans to offer future tree planting programs as revenue and planning resources are available.  If you are interested in participating or volunteering for future programs, please send an email message to elquitona@gmail.com stating your interests.  

 

We sincerely thank our volunteers, public officials, the Saratoga Department of Public Works, Our City Forest, and our El Quito residents who added trees to their properties to benefit our entire community.  WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT YOU - THANK YOU!

 

1. Pick up to 2-15 gallon trees from a list of over 30 varieties. (Tree List)
   -Videos to help you in your selection of a tree.
2. Fill out and submit your "Street Tree Request Form" by February 11th to Our City Forest. (Form)
3. Watch your new trees be planted at NO CHARGE TO YOU!

Program Details

Go to Our City Forest's El Quito Neighborhood Street Trees for Free web site for the following;