On October 25th, 2018, my colleagues and I planted native trees with Openlands to increase the green canopy at what was then called Douglas Park (renamed Douglass Park after Anna and Frederick Douglass). This was a life changing experience for me. I always loved nature in all the places I have traveled, but this felt different. For the first time in my two decades exploring Chicago, I was rooting myself literally.

I think we planted about 40 of the 60 trees that were delivered from a tree nursery, and we ended our volunteer work with a lunch at Mi Tierra located in Little Village at 2528 S Kedzie Avenue. I have been in love with Openlands, connecting with the land and people, and planting healthy trees throughout the Chicagoland region.

The tree I learned about on this day was Quercus bicolor (Swamp White Oak). It has two-toned color leaves, dark and light, green and brown depending on the season. The upper surface of the leaf is glossy, medium green to dark green (brown in fall), and the undersides are tomentose with a silvery white appearance. It’s a great tree to plant in Chicago. The swamp white oak tree is durable and long-living, up to 300 years. It is a member of the Fagaceae or beech family.