About Us

Our beginning

During the first part of 2006, Ronit Bryant and Jana Dilley founded our group and began forming a steering committee. We are a community organization which has now gained 501(c)(3) non-profit status under a fiscal sponsorship with Canopy of Palo Alto. We are also a member of California ReLeaf and have received our first grant.

We are inspired by the Greek proverb "A society grows great when people plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in."

What programs and services do we provide?

Tree Plantings

On January 27, 2007, we planted eight Chinese Pistache on Bryant Street between Mercy St. and California Ave., an area identified by City staff with a large number of missing trees.

On November 10, 2007, we planted ten trees of various species in Cuesta Park.

We planted ten trees at our second anniversary planting at the Whisman Sports Center at Crittenden Middle School at 1500 Middlefield Road on January 26, 2008.

Then on March 29, 2008, we teamed up with volunteers from Friends of Stevens Creek Trail to plant 16 more big, beautiful trees to fill in along the trail.

Tree Surveys

Our first project was based on a critical needs assessment identified in discussions with City staff. Many trees die in the first five years of life but staff only monitor trees during the first years after planting so our first project was to survey trees that were three years old. Volunteers checked for several measure such as watering, staking, and pruning. A total of 166 trees were surveyed by volunteers who then spoke with the homeowner or left information on how to care for the tree. All the survey results were sent to city staff for action. In our second year, we surveyed one section of town for the city to determine if a designated site was conducive to the planting of a street tree and that information was relayed to the city staff.

Summer Watering Campaign

During the summer of 2006 and 2007, Mountain View Trees educated residents about the need to water their young trees and street trees. Information was provided to and published by The Voice each summer. Also, articles were sent to neighborhood newsletters and email lists and flyers were distributed.

Tree Walks and Workshops

Our first tree walk was in spring 2007 when we invited the public to join us in Old Mountain View looking at the trees on the Bush Street Tree Walk. In August 2007, we hosted a workshop on Tree Pruning in Pioneer Park. Then in May 2008, we developed a new tree walk in the Castro City - Mi Pueblo - Neighborhood and 20 friends and neighbors joined us for the tour.

Farmers’ Market Table

We talk to people, share written information about trees, hand out Buttons and Tree Watering reminders, take names to join Mountain View Trees and accept donations.

Arbor Day Celebration

Each year, we have a table display at the City's celebration. Like our activities at the Farmers' Market, we talk to people, share written information about trees, hand out Buttons and Tree Watering reminders, take names to join Mountain View Trees and accept donations.Watch the Video!