CARTHAGE, Mo. —
A big, big thanks to all who have called, emailed or written to me saying they want to participate in Nature-Joplin (Nurture a Tree-Urban Reforestation Effort-Joplin) to help Joplin recover from the May 22 tornado that scoured the landscape.
Responses have come in not only from Joplin, Carthage and Webb City, but also from places like Grove, Okla., and Columbus, Kan. I even had an email from Cody Walker, born in Joplin and raised in Galena, Kan., and now serving our country in the U.S. Army, stationed in Washington, D.C. He read my column on the Globe’s website.
Cody had emailed the column to everyone on his contact list, encouraging them to participate and pass the information on to their families and friends. He also suggested that growing trees would be a good project for local schools.
The gist of Nature-Joplin is for those of us who have wayward tree seedlings springing up in unwanted places in our yards to dig, pot and nurture them to a suitable size for transplanting in the yards of homeowners who are rebuilding or need to restore their landscapes.
At the appropriate time, the trees will be conveyed, upon the homeowners’ requests, via a databank that will keep track of growers and recipients and match availability with requests. So far, I have had offers of oak, maple, walnut, flowering trees such as redbud, purple leaf sand cherry, and peach, plus shrubs such as crape myrtle and lilac.
Every tree native to the area is a good choice. Dorothy Bay, a botany professor at Missouri Southern State University, recommended elm (Dutch elm disease-resistant), persimmon and linden trees as good species for this location.
John Woods, of Webb City, suggested that perennials like peonies, irises, daffodils and lilies also would be welcomed. He said he has many “legacy” perennials, as well as maple trees, derived from his family in mid-Missouri. Such plants would be especially significant, I believe, to both giver and receiver.
“They mean a lot to me and give me a connection to my home,” Woods said. “I know it will not be the same for residents of Joplin rebuilding, but it might make them feel better about the loss of their entire yards and flower gardens.”
Char Hinman, also of Webb City, said the loss of Joplin’s green canopy distressed her so that she went out and bought two Alberta spruce pines “to care for until someone could use them.” A nice thought that will provide year-round greenery.
Right after I introduced the idea of Nature-Joplin, we were hit with several weeks of a heat wave in which temperatures hovered around 100 degrees and above. Unfortunately, it killed the small oak seedling for which I had such high hopes. I can’t explain why when I kept a large root ball on it and watered it sufficiently.
Oh well, I have plenty of others, and now I’m leaving them all in the ground until they are a bit hardier. Except maybe for the redbuds, which quickly grow tap roots that extend to the center of the Earth and require an excavator to dig them up.
There are many groups and organizations out there with a similar effort to reforest Joplin, and I applaud each one of them. It will take all of us and more to again make the city a beautiful place to live.
If you are one of those who joined our effort, I would like to thank you again and encourage you to keep in touch and tell me of your progress. I will be writing again in about three months with tips on winter care.
New participants are welcome. Call me at 417-359-5966, email me at joellis1@live.com, or write me at 12022 Old 66 Blvd., Carthage, MO 64836.
In closing, I offer Cody Walker’s thoughts: “In my life, I have learned it is the small things that we do that ultimately make the biggest impact on those around us.”
Tornado: Columns
Jo Ellis: Small deeds will make a big impact
- Tornado: Columns
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Susan Redden: McCaskill praises Joplin cooperation
At least two things she saw in Joplin need to be replicated in Washington, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill said during a visit last week.
A strong spirit of cooperation is driving Joplin’s rebuilding, she said. And, the senator said there is a realization “that federal programs have a place.” -
Mark Rohr, guest columnist: Miracle of the human spirit ever-pervasive since tornado
Monday marks 100 days since the worst tornado in our country in the past 70 years tore through our community, leaving lost lives and destroyed property in its wake. As I have said before, that fateful day in late May will be the defining moment in all of our lives whether we want it to be or not.
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Ron Richard, guest columnist: Partnership can spur recovery
The tornado that ravaged Joplin and the flooding affecting Missouri River towns and businesses are both human and economic tragedies.
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Wally Kennedy: Flocks expected for Chick-fil-A opening
The stocking of the Chick-fil-A restaurant at 2127 S. Range Line Road is under way in preparation for a grand reopening on Thursday. The restaurant was among 25 or so eateries on Main Street and Range Line Road that were destroyed by the May 22 tornado.
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Susan Redden: State officials argue about disaster money
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is under fire from two different fronts, both relating to plans for a special legislative session in which the Joplin tornado and its economic impact will most certainly be a topic.
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Wally Kennedy: Walgreen’s to reopen both stores Monday
Monday will be a big day for two of the three stores that Walgreen’s operates in Joplin. The Walgreen’s at 20th and Main streets sustained significant damage on May 22. It was at the north edge of the tornado’s damage zone. It has had a major makeover.
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Roger Nomer: Image a ‘revelation’ for photographer
The sky looked dark, but nothing more unusual than a typical springtime storm.
I was on duty May 22 at the Globe, and had just finished taking photos of Joplin High School’s graduation when the storm sirens started to sound at Missouri Southern State University. -
Jo Ellis: Small deeds will make a big impact
A big, big thanks to all who have called, emailed or written to me saying they want to participate in Nature-Joplin (Nurture a Tree-Urban Reforestation Effort-Joplin) to help Joplin recover from the May 22 tornado that scoured the landscape.
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Andra Bryan Stefanoni: Safe room will always be reminder of May 22
The afternoon of May 22, I emailed a story to my editor from my home office just before the tornado sirens sounded in Pittsburg.
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Sarah Sticklen: Lessons learned: Remain faithful, move forward
As I walked into Missouri Southern’s Leggett & Platt Athletic Center on May 22 for my high school graduation, all I could think was: “I cannot wait until this is all over. Then, I can finally relax.”
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