Tree workshop dedicated to Pat Imperato to be held at UT Arboretum

 

A tree workshop at the University of Tennessee Arboretum on Saturday, November 12, will be dedicated to Pat Imperato, a tireless champion of environmental issues, a press release said. Her advocacy was evident in her long history of contributions to the Oak Ridge Environmental Quality Advisory Board and Keep Anderson County Beautiful, the release said.

The workshop will be presented by the Oak Ridge Environmental Quality Advisory Board in partnership with the UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center. It’s scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, November 12, at the UT Arboretum Auditorium, which is at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

Imperato, 69, died in October, but she spent the last several years spearheading work on a “Tree Plan” for Oak Ridge. Imperato was also an outspoken proponent for proper stewardship of city and private lands, and she was interested in community education and outreach, the press release said.

The event planned in her memory is designed for homeowners and business owners interested in the selection, care and maintenance of landscaping. The gate will open at 8 a.m., and light refreshments will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., courtesy of the City of Oak Ridge. Directional signs will be posted along the one-way route up to the Arboretum Auditorium, and UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center staff will be at the site to direct and assist with parking.

The workshop will feature two sessions, with attendees choosing between three topics of interest, the press release said. The first session will include Kasey Krouse, a Knoxville arborist, describing how to select the right tree for a particular location; David Vandergriff, a Knox County extension agent, demonstrating how to properly prune your trees; and Jerome Grant, a UT entomologist, discussing how to control the Emerald Ash Borer, a devastating infestation that is wiping out the ash trees in our area.

The second session features Tom Simpson, regional urban forester, and Thomas Jennings, of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, discussing a Canopy Study and Forest Management Plan for the City of Oak Ridge; Jamie Herold, an Oak Ridge National Laboratory ecologist, discussing what to plant to encourage pollinators; and Greg Byrd, ORNL Reservation forester, on how to control invasive plants and pests. Speakers will give their presentations in the Arboretum’s Auditorium, the Program Shelter, and a large outdoor tent. Workshops conclude at noon and will take place rain or shine.

The Oak Ridge Stormwater Management program also shares in Pat Imperato’s community outreach goals, the press release said. Stormwater Management representatives will be on site with educational information for workshop attendees. Upon registration, attendees will have the opportunity to sign up on an email list to receive the Oak Ridge Tree Plan as soon as it becomes available.

The workshop will be opened by Kevin Hoyt, director of the UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center, and will conclude with a guided tour of the Harold Elmore Holly Collection. More information about this event can be found on the city’s website at http://www.oakridgetn.gov/ or the UT Arboretum website at http://forestry.tennessee.edu/.

The Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014, is one of 10 outdoor laboratories located throughout the state as part of the UT AgResearch system. AgResearch is a division of the UT Institute of Agriculture. The Institute of Agriculture also provides instruction, research, and public service through the UT College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, the UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch, and UT Extension offices, with locations in every county in the state.

See a workshop brochure here: workshop-brochure-final.