Acorns
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When this site started, the simple premise was to provide additional information for context and understanding beyond what the initial reporting on the threat to this old tree could offer. People wanted more information, and for many, seeing it in a local paper was the first time they learned the City had a tree older…
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There is a lot to consider regarding the fate of the Sterling Oak and the issues surrounding the development of the surrounding property. It isn’t a unique story to our area – an old tree vs. it being in the way of some other objective. Sometimes the priorities align or a compromise is made, and…
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Below is a brief update on the current status of our favorite oak tree. It remains alive and well, and this season’s acorns are visible on a lot of branches. The photo here, with the sun illuminating through its canopy represents how full of life it is. It has been a bit over a year…
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The US is fortunate to have a group of ten federal agencies, called Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics (MRLC) Consortium, that coordinate land cover information and imagery provided by the Landsat 5 and Landsat 7 satellites. They collaborate to create the National Land Cover Database (NLCD), where the primary objective is stated as: The primary objective of…
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Sterling Heights ARPA Riverland Park Property development for Chaldean Community Foundation Development LLC apartments is examined.
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The following article appears in the Spring 2025 newsletter of the Michigan Botanical Society Southeastern Chapter about the Sterling Oak, published June 02, 2025. It is also being republished with permission here. The Story of the Sterling Oak Becoming part of the MBS Big Tree Program submitted by Mark Graf In 1799, William Blake wrote…
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Thanks to thousands of residents of Sterling Heights and beyond, our historic tree has many voices behind it. Centuries-old trees should not be considered disposable. They are irreplaceable. (Wordcloud created to represent the keywords of your petition comments, feel free to copy/share) The voices are growing louder everyday! Please keep spreading the word. Thank you!
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Planting trees isn’t just about adding beauty — it’s an investment in the future of our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Michael Taylor, in a separate statement. “Tree-lined streets make our community more vibrant, improve air quality and provide a cooling effect. They even help slow traffic for enhanced neighborhood safety. Every tree we plant today helps…
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Today is Arbor Day, so it seems appropriate to post a selfie taken today. As you can see, my spring buds are beginning to pop and erupt into full canopy mode. I wish there were more than two centuries of selfies to share. Wouldn’t that be something? Of course, the fact that I am here…
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It matters not if you are religious, not religious, a person of faith of any kind, or somewhere in between; there can be no denying Pope Francis’ influence on and importance to millions of people and organizations worldwide. Notably, he recognized the worldwide problem we face with the ongoing destruction of nature, the courage it…
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The story of the Sterling Oak attracted the attention of a local TV reporter for WXYZ Channel 7 with comments from residents. Watch the piece below: The website story appears here: Sterling Heights Residents Hope To Save 250 Year-Old Tree From Being Cut Down (archive) Sterling Heights repeats 8-acre preservation falsehood It is one thing…
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As our cherished oak gathers energy from the longer days of sunshine to prepare for spring buds, our timeline has been updated with some events from the past few weeks. They highlight the continuing long, curvy road in our efforts to preserve it, even as obstacles are thrown our way. These events have been added…
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This is the final post of our three-part series exploring other Chinkapin Oaks around Michigan. As you’ve seen, the Sterling Heights Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) on Van Dyke has massive relatives and has earned its place in this family over centuries. It’s important because it requires a shift in our thinking, valuations, and decision-making regarding…
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The large Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) in Sterling Heights on Van Dyke has some giant cousins in Southern Michigan – all here long before the cities, development projects, and coming and going of government officials and numerous administrations. All in all, they have endured despite the continued threats against them because somebody, somewhere, prioritized their…
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In an earlier post, we shared James Vukelich’s lessons from the Ojibwe people and their language on how to speak about trees, learning the Ojibwe word ‘Mitig.‘ He discussed how the word is an animate noun used in a context similar to referring to a relative. This grammatical pattern is central to the workings of…