CANOPY BLOG

The Great Christmas Tree Debate

October 18, 2023

Sustainable Christmas trees: Is there a right answer?

A decade or two ago, the prevailing belief among green-conscious consumers was that an artificial Christmas tree was a better alternative to cutting down a live tree.

Today we know that artificial trees, many […]

Tree Spotlight: Douglas fir

June 4, 2018

Tree Spotlight Series: Follow along in this series as we learn about the fascinating trees that live among us. This series is in partnership with Rhee Lab in the Plant Biology Department of the Carnegie Institution for Science.

Read the first post […]

Black History Month 2025: Reading List

Introducing “Canopy Roots”, a new podcast by Teen Urban Foresters

Meet Michael DeBroeck, Canopy’s Tree Care Coordinator

Oaktober 2024: In Celebration of Oaks

Chris Kao: Bringing trees back to an East Palo Alto neighborhood

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Every tree we plant tells a story — a story of h

Every tree we plant tells a story — a story of hope, collaboration, and a shared commitment to a greener, healthier future. The stories we share with you now – in our Planting Hope: 2024 Canopy Impact Report – celebrate your incredible strength and dedication: our volunteers, partners, supporters, and staff. THANK YOU! Read our 2024 Impact Report at the link in our bio.

In honor of Mountain View’s incoming mayor @mtnv

In honor of Mountain View’s incoming mayor @mtnviewellen Ellen Kamei, we continued a long tradition of planting a tree for each new civic leader — this time, a beautiful Engelmann Oak, symbolizing strength, vision, and a future rooted in service.

And the celebration didn’t stop there. 18 more trees were planted with the help of Canopy volunteers from across the city — people of all ages and backgrounds coming together this weekend to take action and grow something lasting.

Mountain View’s urban forest is a model for many — and it’s no accident. It thrives because of the shared commitment of leaders and neighbors who believe in the power of trees to connect, heal, and transform.

Special thank you to Sup. Margaret Abe-Koba @supervisorabekoga for attending our special day, and congratulations to @mountainviewgov @mvsustainability and the entire community for a hugely successful Earth Day/Arbor Day celebration!

Together, we’re not just planting trees.
We’re planting the future.
We’re planting hope.

#canopyplantinghope #trees

Join us this Saturday at the Mountain View Earth a

Join us this Saturday at the Mountain View Earth and Arbor Day Celebration – where trees bring us together to take action for our planet and one another! With free activities for the whole family, including an arborist-guided tree walk, kids booths, sustainability resources, and giveaways, this joyful community event will be more than a day of sun and fun in the park – it will be a chance to celebrate nature, connect with our friends and neighbors, and show how trees and community can spark a movement for a greener future. Open to all community members, not just Mountain View residents!

🌎 Date: Saturday, April 19
🌎 Time: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
🌎 Location: Mountain View Community Center & Rengstorff Park, 201 South Rengstorff Ave.

Today, we honored Palo Alto Mayor Ed Lauing with

Today, we honored Palo Alto Mayor Ed Lauing with the planting of a Southern Live Oak, a tree known for its strength, resilience, and deep roots — just like this community.

This tree is more than a symbol — it’s a living promise.

It reflects Canopy’s long-standing partnership with the City of Palo Alto and our shared commitment to nurturing a vibrant, healthy urban forest for generations to come.

Since our founding in 1996, we’ve worked hand-in-hand with city leaders, residents, and volunteers to ensure that trees are not just planted, but stewarded and celebrated as essential infrastructure, as sources of shade and sanctuary, and as powerful expressions of hope.

Thanks to the care and vision of this community, Palo Alto’s urban forest is thriving — and it’s the envy of many cities across the region.

But more than that, it’s a testament to what’s possible when a city chooses to grow with intention and heart.

May this tree grow strong and steady — just as Palo Alto does — nurtured by the hands, hearts, and hopes of this incredible community.

Thank you, @electedlauing , for continuing this beautiful tradition with us.

🔎Canopy is seeking a Donor Relations Coordinato

🔎Canopy is seeking a Donor Relations Coordinator!
The Donor Relations Coordinator will work closely with the Deputy Director, whose responsibilities include Canopy’s philanthropic strategy, and the Communications and Marketing Coordinator to expand the organization's donor engagement strategy. This role will focus on creating and nurturing relationships with philanthropic donors, contributing to the "Constituent Journey" through communication, engagement, and outreach. The ideal candidate is organized, entrepreneurial, and collaborative, with excellent relationship-building and communication skills. A commitment to Canopy’s mission is essential!
🌳Schedule: Full-time (40 hours/week)
🌳Location: Hybrid position based in Palo Alto, CA (2 days a week in the office)
🌳Salary: $65,000
Click the link in our bio🔗 or go to canopy.org/jobs to learn more and apply!

Happy Earth Month from Canopy! We're looking forwa

Happy Earth Month from Canopy! We're looking forward to celebrating with you at an upcoming community event:

📚4/1 Read Under the Trees - Join @ravenswoodeduc1, @smclibraries, and Canopy to read under real fruit trees and earn points for Rock n Read!
🐰4/11 Spring Family Hunt - Join @smclibraries, @endtodv, The Little Blue House, and Canopy for a family-friendly outdoor event to celebrate spring time and give away fruit trees. East Palo Alto residents are eligible to receive a FREE fruit tree while supplies last.
🌳4/12 South Palo Alto Neighborhood Planting - Help plant 15 trees in the Ramos Park neighborhood!
🌎4/19 Youth Earth Day Event - NOTE: This event's location and time has changed. Youth volunteers are invited to help plant trees in Mountain View's Rengstorff Park!
🌲4/19 Mountain View Earth & Arbor Day Celebration - Canopy and @mountainviewgov are collaborating to host family-friendly activities to celebrate Earth and Arbor Day, including a fun tree walk and tree planting in Rengstorff Park. Join us!
🍋4/29 Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop & Giveaway - Join Canopy and @smclibraries for a bilingual fruit tree grafting workshop and a FREE fruit tree giveaway for East Palo Alto residents.

Learn more and register for events at canopy.org/events🔗

Today, just days before Cesar Chavez Day, more tha

Today, just days before Cesar Chavez Day, more than 60 community volunteers came together at Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School to plant 17 trees that will bring shade, beauty, and renewal to the campus and the East Palo Alto community.

Cesar Chavez reminded us that “the end of all knowledge should be service to others.” Guided by his words, we planted not just trees but a promise — a promise to serve our community, to care for the land, and to nurture hope for the future.

These trees symbolize more than greenery — they represent justice, healing, and the power of community action. Together, we are honoring his legacy and investing in a brighter, more connected future for generations to come.

A heartfelt thank you to @ravenswoodcsd and everyone who joined us. Your service and dedication embody the values Cesar Chavez championed, reminding us all that by working together, we can create a lasting impact.

Let’s continue to plant hope, honor our roots, and grow something extraordinary— one tree at a time.

Hoy, a solo días del Día de César Chávez, nos unimos en la Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School para plantar 17 árboles que traerán sombra, belleza y renovación al campus y a la comunidad de East Palo Alto.

César Chávez nos recordó que “el fin de toda educación seguramente debe ser el servicio a otros.” Guiados por sus palabras, plantamos no solo árboles, sino también una promesa: una promesa de servir a nuestra comunidad, cuidar la tierra y nutrir la esperanza para el futuro.

Estos árboles simbolizan más que un paisaje verde: representan justicia, sanación y el poder de la acción comunitaria. Juntos, estamos honrando su legado e invirtiendo en un futuro más brillante y conectado para las generaciones venideras.

Un agradecimiento de corazón a todos los que se unieron para cavar, plantar y crecer. Su servicio y dedicación encarnan los valores que Chávez defendió, recordándonos que trabajando juntos podemos crear un impacto duradero.

Sigamos sembrando esperanza, honrando nuestras raíces y cultivando algo extraordinario, un árbol a la vez.

🎉Canopy has been awarded the 2025 Community Val

🎉Canopy has been awarded the 2025 Community Values Youth Award by the YMCA Project Cornerstone @projcornerstone! This award recognizes Canopy's work to amplify youth voices, including environmental K-12 lessons, the Teen Urban Forester Program, and youth participation in Community Forestry School and volunteer work. We are grateful to be nominated by Healthy Living Experience Director Jose Sanchez of the Lewis and Joan Platt Family YMCA in East Palo Alto. Here are some fun photos of Canopy and EPA YMCA staff at the 2025 Project Cornerstone Awards Breakfast🥞

🌳At the awards breakfast, Canopy was also given a commendation from the @countyofsantaclara Board of Supervisors "for our steadfast dedication to growing urban tree canopy in the Midpeninsula for the benefit of all."

💚We wish to thank @projcornerstone for recognizing Canopy as a 2025 Asset Champion and the youth in our community who drive our work forward. Congratulations to all the awardees!

🌳⛅️Tree Walk Recap! On Saturday morning, ar

🌳⛅️Tree Walk Recap!
On Saturday morning, arborist Vera Cordova led us on a bilingual tree walk through East Palo Alto’s Bell Street Park. With a break from the rain, our walk was filled with smiles and great conversation about tree biology, tree care, and tree lore. Thank you to everyone who joined us to connect with our local urban forest and meet new people!

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