Bees and Trees
More than Just Bees
Though the Town of Boone is a designated Bee City USA, that doesn't mean we don't have other pollinators around. In fact, many of our insect residents help keep our flowers, trees, shrubs, and greenery happy and thriving. Butterflies, beetles, moths, wasps, ants, birds, and even bats are all pollinators.
Bee City USA
Boone has been a designated Bee City USA since 2019. In order to be a "Bee City", the Town of Boone committed to conserve native pollinators and to pass a yearly resolution which solidifies our stance on conservation. During the May 25th, 2022 Boone Town Council meeting, Council passed a resolution which declared that the Town of Boone would observe "National Pollinators Week", which falls on the third week of June. Check out the Town of Boone National Pollinators Week 2022 Resolution here.
How Did We Become a Bee City?
In 2019, Town staff committed to help protect our pollinators by becoming a Bee City USA affiliate. In order to become a Bee City, the following must be done:
- The Town must have a Bee City committee, with a designated bee representative from the Town
- The Sustainability Committee acts as the Bee City committee. For more information regarding the Sustainability Committee, click here.
- A Bee City Resolution must be passed by the Boone Town Council
- Please read our Bee City Resolution here.
Pollinator-Friendly Planting
If you've ever driven throughout Boone, you may have noticed the abundance of flowers we have planted. Especially in Downtown Boone, we try to keep Boone as a "pollinator paradise". From hanging baskets to flower gardens and even wildflower areas, Boone is always bright and colorful, and we know our pollinator friends love it.
On June 7th, 2022, students from the Upward Bound program came to the Jones House and planted 40 pollinator-friendly plants on the Jones House lawn. Learn what we planted on the Jones House Lawn Pollinator Planting Guide. In doing so, the Town of Boone helps foster an environment in which our insect friends feel at home. Keep your eye out for our "Pollinator Friendly" sign throughout the town to see our pollinator gardens.
Get Involved
Want to get involved in Bee City events? Contact Laney Pilkington, Communications, to learn more. Additionally, if you want to learn more about other sustainably-focused events the Town is hosting, contact Laney Pilkington, or fill out the Community Events Sign Up Form.
Tree City USA
One of the joys of living in the Blue Ridge Mountains is the abundance of trees surrounding us. In order to embrace the natural beauty of the area we are fortunate to live in, the Town of Boone committed to the guidelines set forth in Tree City USA. For 30 years, the Town of Boone has been recognized as a Tree City!
Being recognized as a Tree City means the Town of Boone recognizes the need for a thriving urban forest in our community. A healthy, thriving urban forest benefits the town by increasing property values, reducing urban sounds, promoting green space for mental & physical health, and of course absorbing CO2 to help mitigate climate change.
How Did We Become a Tree City?
In 1992, Town staff committed to uphold the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains within the Town of Boone. In order to be recognized as a Tree City USA affiliate, we must do the following:
- The Town must spend at least $2 per capita on tree maintenance/planting/planning
- In 2021, we spent $5 per capita!
- We must have a tree board and a tree representative for the Town
- Our tree board is through our Community Appearance Commission. Our tree board helps guide the Town of Boone on any changing tree ordinances, provides advice for updates, and assists the Town with areas of concern where tree growth/plantings may be necessary. To learn more about the Community Appearance Commission, click here.
- We must have a community tree ordinance (Article 31 specifically 31.13 for preservation/maintenance of existing trees)
- The Town of course must celebrate Arbor Day!
- This year, we celebrated Arbor Day during Earth First Friday, a yearly event hosted by our Cultural Resources department. In honor of the Boone 150, a year long celebration which highlight's Boone's 150th birthday, we gave out 150 trees to Boone and Watauga residents.
Maintaining Our Tree City Designation
Our Tree City program is managed by both our Public Works Department and our Planning & Inspections Department. Each department plays a key role in helping manage and grow our Tree City program. Public works features a licensed arborist that performs maintenance on all trees on Town property and oversees large scale tree plantings for the Town. Planning & Inspections performs all landscape inspections for private property including assisting residents with questions regarding trees, organizes all tree city events and distributes information about tree care.
Get Involved
Want to get involved in Tree City events? Contact Brandon Wise, Environmental Planner to learn more. Additionally, if you want to learn more about other sustainably-focused events the Town is hosting, Contact Laney Pilkington, Communications, or fill out the Community Events Sign Up Form.
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Brandon Wise
Environmental Planner
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Laney Pilkington
Administrative Support Specialist/Communications