Arbor Day Event

The Prairie Village Tree Board holds an annual Arbor Day event, planting a tree in recognition of Arbor Day in late April. Nominations may be made to designate an Arbor Day Honoree.

Arbor Day offers an opportunity to recognize the efforts and contributions of outstanding individuals, or organizations, who have made a difference in Prairie Village. Their efforts should have had a positive and lasting impact on the community; they may be living or deceased individuals or couples and may have served the community in any capacity. Nominations are accepted until the last day in February. Nomination form is available for download. 

2024 Arbor Day - Celebrating the memory of Dennis Patton

Dennis Patton, Kansas State University Research & Extension’s Johnson County horticulture agent & educator for over 35 years, was named the 2024 Arbor Day honoree, in memoriam, by the Prairie Village Tree Board. He was remembered and celebrated at the Prairie Village Arbor Day event on Saturday, April 27th at Wassmer Park. Laura Patton, Dennis’ wife, attended the event representing the Patton family. A White Oak was planted in his memory prior to the event. In attendance to honor and remember Dennis Patton, were Mayor Eric Mikkelson, many family members, friends, members of the Master Gardeners, and several members of the Prairie Village Tree Board, and City Council.

 Laura Patton with members of the Prairie Village Tree Board and Mayor Mikkelson at the 2024 Arbor Day event at Wassmer Park in memory of Dennis Patton

To see more photos, click here "PV Arbor Day 2024-Wassmer Park April 27, 2024-Photos"

Watch a short video of the 2024 Arbor Day event in memory of Dennis Patton

 

For more information go to page 4 of the July/August 2024 Village Voice ... https://www.pvkansas.com/home/showpublisheddocument/13568/638542142868200000

 

To read more about the impact Dennis had in Prairie Village and surrounding area, click here: "Arbor Day 2024 Honoree celebrated in Memory of Dennis Patton-Original Draft VV article"

Click on following article on legacy of Dennis Patton from Johnson County Post ... Dennis Patton, longtime JoCo horticulture agent, dies at 64

Click on following article on legacy of Dennis Patton from Johnson County Post: Dennis Patton, longtime JoCo horticulture agent, dies at 64

See the following article on PV honoring Dennis at Arbor Day celebration from the Johnson County Post: Late Dennis Patton, longtime JoCo horticulturalist, will get fitting Arbor Day tribute

See the following tribute to Dennis on his gardening legacy from Johnson, County Kansas: Gardening legacy of Dennis Patton

To see a complete list of all past Arbor Day event honorees, click here: Prairie Village Tree Board Arbor Day Honorees 2009-2024

2023 Arbor Day

The city of Prairie Village celebrated 2023 Arbor Day with an event at Porter Park Park on Saturday, April 29th. The Public Works department planted a Shagbark Hickory there to honor the 2023 Honorees. The Green team, a group of more than 20 fourth to sixth grade students at Prairie elementary School, was named the 2023 Arbor Day Honoree by the Prairie Village Tree Board. In attendance to honor the Green Team were Mayor Eric Mikkelson, many family members, parent sponsors and friends, and several members of the Prairie Village Tree Board, Prairie Village Public Works, and City Council.

 

 

 

Tree Board Chair Kevin Dunn presents the 2023 Arbor Day Honoree award and planting of a Shagbark Hickory to the Prairie Elementary Green Team

 

Prairie Village Urban Forester, Bridget Tolle, demonstrates the proper way to mulch the new tree

 

Prairie Elementary Parent and Sponsor, Melinda Lewis, talks about the Green Team's activities and accomplishments

 

Arbor Day Honoree Prairie Elementary Green Team, with Mayor Eric Mikkelson and members of both the Prairie Village City Council and Tree Board at Porter Park on April 29, 2023

 

Arbor Day Honoree Prairie Elementary Green Team, with parent sponsors, family members, and friends at Porter Park on April 29, 2023

 

For more information on the Green Team, go to page for 6 of the 2023 May/June Village Voice and page 4 of the July/August Village Voice

2022 Arbor Day

 

 

Tree Board Chair Kevin Dunn presents the 2022 Arbor Day Honoree award and planting of a Shortleaf Pine to Deborah Nixon

 Arbor Day Honoree Deborah Nixon, and husband Mike, with Mayor Eric Mikkelson and former Mayor Laura Wassmer, at Wassmer Park on April 30, 2022

Arbor Day Honoree Deborah Nixon is pictured with members of her family at Wassmer Park on April 30, 2022

Arbor Day Honoree Deborah Nixon is pictured with members of the Prairie Village Tree Board, at Wassmer Park on April 30, 2022

The city of Prairie Village celebrated the 150th Anniversary of Arbor Day with an event at Wassmer Park on Saturday, April 30th. The Public Works department planted a shortleaf pine there to honor Deborah Nixon, the 2022 Arbor Day Honoree. Nixon is a member of the Johnson County Master Gardeners program and has served in the planning, installation and maintenance of the demonstration garden at Wassmer Park. She retired in 2021 after serving on the Prairie Village Tree Board for twenty years, and was Chairperson for many of those years. In attendance to honor Nixon were Mayor Eric Mikkelson, former Mayor Laura Wassmer, many family members and friends, and several members of the Prairie Village Tree Board and City Council.

2021 Arbor Day

 

Arbor Day Honorees Chase Horner (L) and Harley Witbrod (R), 2021 Shawnee Mission South graduates, became the youngest people to be named Arbor Day honorees by the Prairie Village Tree Board. The two planned and organized a large-scale tree-planting service project titled “SMSD For Trees”. They are pictured at Brenizer Park, across from the Prairie Village Shops in early May, 2021. A Sango Kaku Japanese Maple was planted in their honor.

For more information on the “SMSD For Trees” project, see the following article: https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/community/joco-913/olathe-southwest-joco/article251052274.html

 

2019 Arbor Day

 

 The Uppman Family at Weltner Park, April 2019

Overcup Oak tree planted in Memory of Marilyn Uppman

 

 Arbor Day Honoree Kristin Riott and Family at Weltner Park, April, 2019 

Willow Oak Tree planted

To see articles on recent Arbor Day Honorees, click on the following link for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 Village Voice. For a list of all Arbor Day Events and Honorees dating back to 2009, click here.

Arbor Day Poster Contest

As a member of The National Arbor Day Foundation and as a recognized Tree City USA, the city of Prairie Village participates in the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest as part of our mission to educate people in our city about the value of trees, the importance of diversity of our trees and the importance of sustainable tree management.

The Kansas Arbor Day Poster Contest

Is an artistic competition open to public, private and home-schooled fifth-graders across the state that strives to increase an appreciation and awareness of the important role that trees play in our quality of life, communities, ecosystems and our state. The City of Prairie Village invites 5th graders to submit posters for the contest to the Prairie Village Tree Board. The city winner is then sent on to the Kansas District Competition. Submission deadline is early January and a Prairie Village winner is selected in late January.

 

Prairie Village 2023 Arbor Day Poster Contest Winner

Makaela Lewis

5th Grade-Tomahawk Elementary School 

For more information on the 2023 Arbor Day Poster Contest, please see page 5 of the March/April 2023 Village Voice

For a list of all Arbor Day Poster Contest winners dating back to 2020, click here

 

Prairie Village 2022 Arbor Day Poster Contest Winner

Evelyn Stidham

5th Grade - Highlands Elementary School

 

Evelyn Stidham, a fifth grade student at Highlands Elementary and the 2022 state winner of the Kansas Arbor Day poster contest, holds a framed copy of her winning artwork and her award certificate on April 23rd at McCrum Park. Also in attendance were Evelyn's parents, Christine and Jeff Stidham; Mayor Eric Mikkelson; Kim Bomberger, Arbor Day poster contest coordinator with the Kansas Forest Service; Bridget Tolle, Prairie Village Urban Forestry Specialist; Councilman Greg Shelton; representatives from the Kansas Nursery & Landscape Association and the ITC electric transmission company; and members of the Prairie Village Tree Board. ITC and KNLA donated the two trees that were planted in Evelyn's honor at the park: an Autumn Service serviceberry shown in the photo and a Heritage oak. Later that week Evelyn and her parents met with Kansas Governor Laura Kelly in Topeka where another tree was planted to honor Evelyn.

For more information on the 2022 Arbor Day Poster Contest, please see page 4 of the May/June 2022 Village Voice. 

 

Prairie Village 2021 Arbor Day Poster Contest Winner 
Leah Norris
5th Grade – Highlands Elementary School

Leah Norris, a student at Highland Elementary and the 2021 winner of the Prairie Village Arbor Day poster contest, receives a frame of her winning artwork and her award certificate from Mayor Eric Mikkelson at a ceremony on June 5th at Wassmer Park. With Leah, are her parents Allison and Chris. A Green Gable Blackgum tree was planted in Leah's honor.

 

 

Leah Norris, a student at Highland Elementary and the 2021 winner of the Prairie Village Arbor Day poster contest, receives a frame of her winning artwork and her award certificate from Mayor Eric Mikkelson on June 5th at Wassmer Park. Also in attendance were Kim Bomberger - Arbor Day Poster Contest Coordinator with the Kansas Forest Service (next to the Mayor); Bridget Tolle - Prairie Village Urban Forestry Specialist (far left); and members of the Prairie Village Tree Board. A Green Gable Blackgum tree was planted in Leah's honor.

September/October

As part of our community outreach program the Board hosts an Annual Fall Tree Seminar the last Wednesday in September or first Wednesday in October at Meadowbrook Clubhouse (Birch Room) at Meadowbrook Park, 9101 Nall Ave.  The seminar provides access to industry and horticultural experts to assist citizens with the care of their trees and landscape.

2024

The Prairie Village Tree Board's annual fall seminar was held September 25th at the Meadowbrook Clubhouse and featured a panel of four local tree experts to discuss the topic of how to make your trees more resilient in the face of our Midwest weather that include drought; wind; storm damage; temperature extremes; clay soil; and insect pests. Panel included: Jonah Nelson, owner/manager of Family Tree Nursery; Cathy Justice, ISA Certified Arborist with Heartland Tree Alliance; Rick Spurgeon, "Professor PlantRight" and ISA Certified Master Arborist; and Jesse Kirk, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist with Wellnitz Tree Care. Urban Forestry Specialist with the City of Prairie Village, Bridget Tolle also participated in the discussion.

                                                                                                                      Kevin Dunn, Chairperson of the Prairie Village Tree Board (standing)moderates a panel of four local tree experts to discuss the topic of tree resiliency at the 2024 Fall Tree Seminar.  

For more information see article in Johnson County Post:  Prairie Village fall tree seminar to cover resiliency, care tips

2023

The Prairie Village Tree Board's annual fall seminar was held October 4th at the Meadowbrook Clubhouse and featured a panel of three experts that included: Urban Forestry Specialist with the City of Prairie Village, Bridget Tolle; Heartland Tree Alliance Program Manager, Sarah Crowder; and Landscape Architect with Multistudio, Robert Whitman. An informative discussion ensued on the topic of planting native versus non-native trees and to help homeowners weigh the pros and cons of choosing between them

For more information, go to page 6 of the November/December 2023 Village Voice.

Click here: https://www.pvkansas.com/home/showpublisheddocument/13167/638344302068800000

Kevin Dunn, Chairperson of the Prairie Village Tree Board (standing) moderates a panel of three local tree experts to discuss the topic of planting native vs. non-native trees at the 2023 Fall Tree Seminar. 

2022

The Prairie Village Tree Board's annual fall seminar was held October 5th at the Meadowbrook Clubhouse and featured a panel of four experts that included: Writer and Horticultural agent for Johnson County K-State Research and Extension - Dennis Patton; Board Certified Master Arborist - Ivan Katzer; Suburban Lawn & Garden Vice President - Matt Stueck; and Program Manager of the Heartland Tree Alliance - Sarah Crowder. The topic was on what we can do to maintain and preserve our mature trees.

For more information from Ivan Katzer on tree pruning care and hiring an arborist, click here.

Also see the following article in the Shawnee Mission Post

https://shawneemissionpost.com/2022/10/06/prairie-village-tree-tips-182361/ and on page 6 of the November/December 2022 Village Voice click here.

Prairie Village Tree Board Kevin Dunn moderates the panel of speakers at the 2022 Fall Tree Seminar.

2021

The Prairie Village Tree Board's annual fall seminar was held October 13 via zoom and featured a presentation about shade gardening developed by Evan Mills, Lead Gardener for the David T. Beals III Woodland and Stream Gardens at Powell Gardens. In addition three Tree Board members gave  presentations. Mark Morgan gave an update on the Kansas State Champion Tree program, including champion trees in Prairie Village. Frank Riott discussed the new Prairie Village Tree Protection Ordinance that became effective June 1, 2021. Deb Nixon gave a presentation called "What's Bugging Your Trees," on how to maintain healthy trees.

In addition three Tree Board members gave presentations. Mark Morgan gave an update on the Kansas State Champion Tree program, including champion trees in Prairie Village. Frank Riott discussed the new Prairie Village Tree Protection Ordinance that became effective June 1, 2021. Deb Nixon gave a presentation called "What's Bugging Your Trees", on how to maintain healthy trees.

 

2020

View a recording of the 2020 Fall Seminar. Access the 2020 Fall Seminar handout.

To Read a short summary of the 2020 Fall Seminar titled “Recommended Trees for Prairie Village & Greater Kansas City”, by Dennis Patton – Horticultural Agent at Johnson County K-State Research and Extension, click here.

 

The Tree Board works with the Kansas Forest Service to nominate and measure trees in the city that may qualify for state champion status. These are the largest trees of their kind in the state based on three key measurements: tree circumference; height; and crown spread of the tree’s branches. In 2023, Johnson County has 28 state champion trees.

See the following articles:

Shawnee Mission Post - These 28 Johnson County trees have been dubbed ‘Champions’

Johnson County Website - Johnson County is home to 28 Champion Trees in 2023

 

Prairie Village has several state champion trees located both on residential and city property. See the following 2023 article in the Shawnee Mission Post This Prairie Village Backyard Tree is now a 'Champion.' See recent article in the May/June 2023 Village Voice and the March/April 2021 Village Voice. 

An overview of the Kansas State Champion Tree Program, including photos of the state champions in Prairie Village, was presented at the Prairie Village Tree Board's Fall Seminar on October 13, 2021. To read the handout of the presentation click here.

This Swamp White Oak Tree in a Prairie Village front yard is 99’ Tall!

It was declared a Kansas State Champion Tree in 2020.

This English Oak in a Prairie Village backyard is over100 years old!  It was declared a Kansas State Champion Tree in 2023

 

Learn More: For a complete list of all Kansas State Champion Trees, including those in Prairie Village, and to see an interactive state map of where they are located, go online at:
https://www.kansasforests.org/kansas_forest_services/championtrees.html

Since 2017, as a designated “Tree City USA”, Prairie Village and the Prairie Village Tree Board holds an annual Street Tree Planting Event during the fall to promote the value of trees in our community.

With the assistance of the Heartland Tree Alliance (http://bridgingthegap.org/heartland-tree-alliance/) or other community outreach organizations, volunteers plant typically 20-25 trees throughout various areas within Prairie Village.

A diverse range of tree species are planted in the city right-of-way with personal commitments gained from each homeowner to water & care for the trees over two-year, critical growing period.   

Proven studies have shown that trees provide numerous benefits to the community, including reductions in particulate matter concentrations, ambient air temperatures, & crime, and improved health and psychological benefits.  As well stated by The Nature Conservancy, “TREES (the right tree in the right spot) can help make our air healthier and our cities more verdant and livable.”

Volunteers planting new trees in the Meadowlake neighborhood of Prairie Village, as part of the Sixth annual Fall Street Tree Planting Event - November, 30 2022

See recent articles on Fall Street Planting in the January - February 2023 Village Voice, January/February 2022 Village Voice and the January/February 2021 Village Voice.

 

Volunteers planting new trees in the Indian Fields neighborhood of Prairie Village, as part of the Fifth annual Fall Street Tree Planting Event - November, 2021

Volunteers planting new trees along Roe Avenue in Prairie Village as part of the annual Fall Street Tree Planting Event – November, 2020

 

See recent articles on Fall Street Planting in the January - February 2022 Village Voice, January/February 2021 Village Voice and the January/February 2020 Village Voice.

The Prairie Village Tree Board and Parks & Recreation Committee have teamed up to create an arboretum in each of the City's parks.

Using the City's existing park system, land and trees, an arboretum will be established in each of the City's parks. The mission of the arboretum will be to "enhance the cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities for the community within the Parks System, while increasing opportunities for participation and volunteerism".

Through the Friends of the Prairie Village Arboretum residents may contribute to the development and expansion of the arboretum by making a tax-deductible donation to the program through the Prairie Village Foundation. Donations may be for general support of the arboretum, or for specific uses such as planting memorial trees to honor specific individuals or organizations and their contributions to the community.

To make a contribution to the Friends of the Prairie Village Arboretum, download the donation form [PDF] and send it, along with your contribution, to:

Prairie Village Foundation – Arboretum Fund
Attn: Assistant City Administrator
7700 Mission Road
Prairie Village, Kansas 66208

Donations can also be made online at www.prairievillagefoundation.com. Click under “Support” to go to Donate page.

Arboretum Map 

The Prairie Village Tree Board has created a map of Prairie Village park trees through Google maps. You can click on any tree icon for pictures and information about the trees. 

Prairie Village has adopted a Tree Ordinance, effective June 1, 2021. The intent is to preserve the city’s existing tree canopy and streetscape for aesthetic, economic and environmental benefits.

The ordinance classifies trees to be protected in four categories, based primarily on their location on city streets and on private lots. Those classifications include all right-of-way trees — that is, trees that are in public right-of-ways, typically between a sidewalk and a street; frontage trees; lot trees; and buildable area trees. For more information, you can review the entire ordinance.

Tree Planting Information

The Prairie Village Tree Board has list of approved trees that can be planted in the City right-of-way.  Please check out the list of Approved Trees [PDF]. Another good resource for tree information is the National Arbor Day Foundation website.

See the following links from The Arbor Day Foundation on how to save and preserve existing trees during home remodeling and construction ...

https://www.arborday.org/programs/graphics/conservation-trees/save-trees-during-construction.pdf

https://www.arborday.org/trees/bulletins/?start=101 and scroll down to select July/August 2021: Save Your Trees from Subtle Death

Deb Nixon, of the Prairie Village Tree Board, presented an in depth review of how to keep our trees healthy from pests and disease called 'What's Bugging My Trees'. In addition, links and contact information to professional organizations for additional resources is included. To read the handout click here.

Arborists are professionals that specialize in the management and care of individual trees. It is encouraged to use certified arborists who have demonstrated competency and ethical and technical attributes for tree care. Certified arborists in Kansas have completed training, passed a certification exam, and possess a minimum of two years of practical experience applying sound and proper arboricultural practices. See the “Need an Arborist” article in the January/February 2021 Village Voice.

You can obtain a list of certified arborists from the Kansas Arborists Association: https://www.kansasarborist.com and the International Society of Arboriculture: https://www.isa-arbor.com/For-the-Public.

The ISA also manages Trees Are Good, an educational website that provides the public with quality tree care information: https://www.treesaregood.org/.

Tree Trimming Guidelines From Evergy

See the following link from Evergy: https://www.evergy.com/outages/safety/tree-trimming-guidelines.

More than 3,400 communities have made the commitment to becoming a Tree City USA. Prairie Village is proud to have achieved Tree City USA status by meeting four core standards of sound urban forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day.

Click on the link to read more Tree City USA Directory - The Arbor Day Foundation

 

Bridget Tolle is Prairie Village's Urban Forestry Specialist and graduated from Columbia College with a B.S. in Environmental Science. She is involved in the trimming, removal, and planting of trees on City property, and is also responsible for maintaining the City's tree inventory. The Urban Forestry Specialist spends a lot of time inspecting the health of trees in the city's parks and right-of-way areas, and is the City Liaison for the Prairie Village Tree Board. Bridget is a ISA certified arborist.

Read all about Bridget on page 19 of a recent feature article in The Kansas City Gardener Magazine.

Multi Studio of Kansas City, has updated (2024) their recommended list of trees to plant in our area. This list includes evergreens, shade trees, landscape trees, street trees, big and small trees, native and non-native trees, comprised from 15 metro area experts including Ivan Katzer, Dennis Patton, Robert Whitman and more. There is also a list of "Don't Plant" Trees!

To see their Tree List: https://www.multi.studio/2023/the-tree-list/  

 List of recommended trees to plant click here.

For more information see the following article https://shawneemissionpost.com/2023/05/10/kansas-missouri-trees-201240/

 

The Emerald Ash Borer was first discovered in the U.S. in 2002 in S.E. Michigan. It was discovered in the summer of 2012 in both Missouri (Parkville) and Kansas (Wyandotte County). On July 15, 2013 the 1st identification of EAB in Johnson County was confirmed by the Kansas Department of Agriculture. https://www.pvkansas.com/Home/Components/News/News/755/601?navid=564

Prairie Village Public Works (PVPW) started tracking EAB before it arrived here and put together a program to treat and/or remove the approximate 700 Ash trees located on city owned islands, parks and street right of way (ROW) in the summer of 2014. 100 city property Ash trees were removed in the Fall of 2014 and replaced with new trees that were a diversity of species to avoid the monoculture of having one tree species (Ash) all in the same place. As of early 2022, PVPW has removed 443 Ash trees in our Parks, Islands, and Rights of Way (ROW), and replaced them with new diverse trees. https://shawneemissionpost.com/2014/08/28/prairie-village-emerald-ash-borer-plans-ahead-tree-removals-coming-soon-30881/

From Bridget Tolle, Prairie Villages's Urban Forestry Specialist: “When planting new trees, it is crucial to plant a diversity of species. If we are planting Sugar Maples everywhere, then it is likely that we could run into a problem in the future similar to EAB. This could result in having to remove a lot of trees due to a disease or pest. A diversity of tree species allows for a resilient urban forest.”

The 1st case of EAB in Prairie Village was confirmed in March, 2015. https://shawneemissionpost.com/2015/04/07/emerald-ash-borer-confirmed-38141

The City of Prairie Village is currently treating 50 Ash trees on City ROW property with trunk injections of Emamectin benzoate on even numbered years (2016, 2018, 2020, 2022) See following for EAB maps in PV: https://www.pvkansas.com/residents/emerald-ash-borer/latest-special-street-eab-maps. 

For more information on EAB, including its history; effect on Ash trees; treatment options; and links to more information see the following:

https://www.pvkansas.com/residents/emerald-ash-borer

https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/emerald-ash-borer.html

The Tree Board has a booth at the annual JazzFest in September. Stop by to get information on our tree programs and to register for a free tree!

Tree Board booth at the 2022 Prairie Village JazzFestival on September 10.

Click on the following link to see the Prairie Village Tree Board's recommended reading list on Tree Books:

PV Tree Board Recommended reading list on Tree Books

The Tree Board has a booth at the annual VillageFest on July 4th.  Stop by to get information on our tree programs: get washable free tattoos for the children; and to register for a free native tree!

              Prairie Village Tree Board booth at VillageFest 2024