Dendrophobia: The Fear Of Trees
The definition of a phobia is basically the perceived fear of something. According to Merriam-Webster, it is “an exaggerated usually inexplicable and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation.”
Can people have a genuine fear of trees? Human beings can have a fear of just about anything. Sometimes, it isn’t necessarily about the fear of a particular tree or trees but rather the fear of the cost involved if a tree that is on a homeowner’s property should cause damage due to a storm or natural disaster.
After big storms like Hurricane Sandy, many homeowners cut down all of their trees to prevent potential damage from future storms.
Listen To The Interview
Are we paving paradise? In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Vinnie Drzewucki, Urban Horticulture and Forestry Specialist at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County about The Fear Of Trees. To listen to the interview, click the play button on the video below.
The Benefits of Trees
Most people don’t even consider the myriad of benefits trees offer. In addition to privacy, trees can create a natural sound barrier and are beneficial to wildlife such as birds, bees, etc. There is also an economic benefit as far as reducing energy costs for heating and cooling!
Did you know that trees are an essential part of bird landscaping? The right trees can meet all of birds’ needs for water, food, shelter and nesting sites!
High Tech Tools For Calculating Savings!
National Tree Benefit Calculator:
The National The Tree Benefit Calculator allows anyone to make a simple estimation of the benefits individual street-side trees provide.
In the summer, the Big Leaf Linden tree produces clusters of fragrant yellow flowers that attract bees.
i-Tree
i-Tree is a state-of-the-art, peer-reviewed software suite from the USDA Forest Service that provides urban forestry analysis and benefits assessment tools. The i-Tree Tools help communities of all sizes to strengthen their urban forest management and advocacy efforts by quantifying the structure of community trees and the environmental services that trees provide. To visit their website, click this link for iTree.org.
Get Your Whole Community Involved With Tree City USA!
The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in a partnership with the United States Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. Although Tree City USA is greening communities around the United States, there are many communities that still need to participate. Does your community participate? Find out and also learn what the benefits are by clicking this link for the Tree City USA Program.
Town of Babylon was named a ‘Tree City’ by the Arbor Day Foundation. Photo: Patch.com
Meet Vinnie Drzewucki!
Vinnie Drzewucki is the Urban Horticulture and Forestry Specialist at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County working out the Horticulture Center at East Meadow Farm in East Meadow New York.
Vinnie is an ISA Certified Arborist and is a New York State Senior Certified Nursery and Landscape Professional. His career spans more than 30 year in the field of horticulture, working in management positions at several garden centers and nurseries on Long Island and teaching horticulture and business classes as an adjunct professor at Farmingdale State College. Professional volunteer work includes serving on the boards of the New York State and Long Island Nursery and Landscape Associations. Vinnie is the author of 2 books, Gardening In Deer Country and Flower Beds ad Borders in Deer Country. Vinnie grew up in Floral Park and lives in Freeport New York with his wife Lisa. Vinnie says that he does not do gardening at home because they say you shouldn’t bring your work home with you.