Plantings to Enhance Creeks along Happy Hollow

A large variety of trees and shrubs are being planted along Happy Hollow Boulevard by Omaha Parks, Recreation and Public Property.

Eric Gustafson planting along Happy Hollow Creek. October 11, 2012.

The plantings will "help mitigate for the vegetation we had to remove for the creek repair work," said Pat Slaven, a planner with the city department. "I specified smaller plant material that come in grow bags and allow for a healthier root system, but which also allows a larger variety of species."

Included in the variety of 60 trees and 90 shrubs to be planted, are Buckeye, Horsechestnut, Serviceberry, Chokeberry, Pawpaw, Shagbark Hickory, Gray Dogwood, Hazelnut, Wild Plum, Elderberry, and a couple types of Viburnums, as well as Catalpa, Goldenrain Tree, Japanese Tree Lilac and Tuliptree.

"The plants were selected for wildlife value - food, habitat, etc. - as well as to provide a diverse range of color, texture and interest when viewed from Happy Hollow Boulevard," Slaven said.

The first plants were put in place on October 11, by Jensen Gardens, and they will finish this work on October 15-16th.

Some of the unusual species included in the variety, and not typically planted are Goldenrain Tree and Pawpaw, Eric Gustafson explained as he worked along Happy Hollow Creek. "All of the species at Nebraska hardy," and appropriate for growing in the area.

Most of the plants will be placed along this creek, with the others at one spot along Wood Creek, at the Elmwood Park ravine.

Once the plants get established, they will provide seasonal variation in flowering, leaf coloration and texture, Gustafson also indicated.

The cost of project was about $15,000 including two years of maintenance by the contractor, Slaven said.

Maintenance will include watering as appropriate and "touching up the mulch" as needed, Gustafson said.

This funding is in addition to the costs of the recent project to stabilize the creek banks.

Arbor Day Tree Plantings at Omaha Parks

During the period around Arbor Day, tree plantings occurred at three different Omaha parks.

The most diverse planting was a neighborhood-driven effort to place berry trees along Happy Hollow Creek.

Wild plum, elderberry, paw-paw are planted closer to the creek, said Sarah Newman who is responsible for the effort. Nearer to the sidewalk are blackberry, raspberry and currants.

Planting started on April 26 with the plum trees on the west side of the plot, and once the rest of the ground was properly tilled (after two attempts), additional planting continued into the weekend.

Money for the trees and tilling came from a $1100 grant from the City of Omaha, Newman said. The city will also provide mulch. A portion of the funds will be used to provide fruit picking tools and baskets for people in the Dundee area to pick fruit at their own trees. The equipment will be kept at the Dundee Community Garden.

The fruit from these trees can be "freely picked," Newman said. The berries will also be available for local birds and other wildlife to feed upon.

An Arbor Day event was held at Fontenelle Park on Friday, the 27th. Five flowering crabs and two oak trees were planted during an event hosted by Omaha mayor, Jim Suttle.

Suttle read a proclamation, and then with a bunch of children from Holy Name Elementary School, threw dirt around the already placed crab trees, and dug a hole for one of the oaks. Acting director, Brook Bench, assisted, as did other employees of the Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department.

More than 200 trees, especially Scotch pine which died due to disease, have been removed from the park in the past five years, said John Wynn, city forester.

A new tree nursery was established the weekend of April 21 on the north side of Levi Carter Park. About 130 trees, bought for $35 each, were planted, said Wynn. The trees included yellow-wood, linden, locust, catalpa, spruce, gingko and oaks.

Students from the University of Nebraska at Omaha helped with the planting done Friday.

The trees will be ready to transplant in two-three years, Wynn said. This nursery was created to provide a better-located site — with a reduction in travel while planting trees at east Omaha parks — rather than relying upon the nursery presently at Tranquility Park, in the western part of the city.