To those who love new foliage, April feels a bit like November does to lovers of fall. Fresh maple catkins and flowers, alder and cottonwood leaves color streets and parks while highlighting the deeper tones of evergreens. Hidden in this patchwork of new growth are moss and lichen, newly brightened by the season’s showers. These two Pacific Northwest fixtures remind us growth depends on relationships. Quietly growing on neighborhood trees and soil, rocks and sidewalks, they are often confused with parasites, or mistaken for signs of disease or disrepair. In reality, both are exemplars of symbioses, or mutually beneficial relationships between organisms. Lichen is fungus and algae (and sometimes cyanobacteria) coexisting to share nutrients (algae) and protective qualities (fungi). It’s a tiny ecosystem and trees are one of its preferred homes. Moss is the first plant to grow after fires, and loves trees and soil, supporting both by holding moisture, sharing nutrients, providing insulation through the seasons and habitat for tiny insects and hungry birds. As you look around your neighborhood with fresh eyes, take a minute to appreciate moss and lichen, their varied shapes and colors, and all the people who help you grow healthier, happier, and wiser!

Learn more about mighty moss and lively lichen on our Nature Explorers website!

April Tree Shares

AMVets Tree Share and Plant Swap

On April 11, 2026, we hosted a tree share, plant swap, and volunteer event at AmVets Post 1 in South Tacoma in partnership with Pamela Draper and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD). Joined by eight volunteers, staff members distributed 204 free trees and shrubs to 73 residents, and engaged with community members, offering personalized guidance on tree placement, planting techniques, and long-term maintenance to ensure prolonged tree health. The event embodied community connection. Draper hosted a plant swap and fruit tree pruning workshop. TPCHD shared the results of a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) on the South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District (STGPD) and information about how trees improve air and water quality. 

Chief Leschi Schools Earth Day Tree Share

On April 22, we had the honor of celebrating Earth Day and sharing 166 trees and shrubs with the Chief Leschi Schools community and surrounding neighborhoods. We connected with residents about planting trees and caring for our planet. Thank you to our Tribal partners at the school for supporting our work, to WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center for donating Western redcedars, and to the Puyallup River Watershed Council for providing funding for this event. We can't wait to be back next year!

Donkey Creek Park Tree Share

On Saturday, April 25, we started the morning at Donkey Creek Park and shared 582 trees with visitors. The sun welcomed residents as they chatted with neighbors, picked their perfect trees, and brought them to their new homes. A mix of deciduous and evergreen trees in varying sizes were provided by Woodbrook, a local native plant nursery. We want to give a huge thanks to the City of Gig Harbor and the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation for providing funding and making this event possible.

Celebrating Apple Trees

We would not be here without the many relationships that nurture our work. Everything we’ve highlighted so far this month is the fruit of partnerships, and the webinar and tree-planting we just co-hosted with Job Carr and Parks Tacoma are no exception. On April 13, we gathered to learn from historian Josiah Pollock, Puyallup Tribal Sustainability Director Kalicia Bean, and Agroecology Program Coordinator Chris Madden, about the intersections of the Pacific crabapple (the only apple native to the Pacific Northwest) and the introduced varieties that helped make Washington state analogous to this fruit. You can watch the webinar here. Then, on April 18, we gathered at Job Carr Cabin (JCC) to celebrate its 25th anniversary by planting apple and plum trees. JCC Executive Director Marquise Dixon emphasized how trees are a meeting point for the past and present, and help us grow a better future. We were excited to see so many children there to plant the trees and learn about pollinators!

ADVOCACY CORNER

The City of Tacoma is considering new policies related to trees and landscaping in 2026! The potential actions are being called the “urban forest priority action plan,” with new regulations being proposed this year. The Planning Commission will be discussing potential code changes at their May 6 meeting, which can be attended at City Hall or virtually. We encourage folks to follow this process, and we will let you know when the time is right for delivering public comments later in the year.

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