When the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) Director, Sara Hensley, addressed a concerned crowd on April 20th, she said: “We are not going to cut down any tree until we have fully vetted this out.” Since then, the community, Save Our Springs, the city arborist, and PARD have collected additional data. Don Gardener, an independent arborist, performed a tree assessment and published his report. PARD conducted tree tours for the public. And, on June 2nd, the Parks Department, issued an update, writing that: “Root analysis is being conducted utilizing different methodology on selected trees in order to have a thorough data set on which to base recommendations for tree care.” Now, according to the Austin American Statesman, Hensley “thinks only six to eight trees need to be cut down.” more ›

• Texas A&M scientists are starting the zombie invasion. Texas ranchers are actually excited about this.
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• An 11 year-old Lakeway boy is among the people protesting the removal of trees at Barton Springs Pool. He even has a website and an online petition!

Wednesday afternoon, under a Barton Springs pecan tree wrapped in a pink ribbon, about 50 people gathered for a tree walk sponsored by Save Our Springs (SOS). They came to inspect some of the 28 trees selected for removal and listen to Don Gardner, an arborist retained by SOS to write an independent report. “Once you start looking at a whole bunch of trees,” Gardner told the crowd, “guess what folks, you’re going to find some that should just not be standing any longer.” Though he did not agree with all the recommendations, he praised Austin’s Urban Forestry Program Manager, Walter Passmore, for performing the first comprehensive inspection in one of the region’s most beloved areas. Gardner then delivered the good news/bad news: “My list says 4-6 trees pretty soon, right away, yesterday, and 5 or 6 others that may have to be taken down once we’ve done some more investigating. more ›