Heat-storing paved surfaces, lack of vegetation, urban canyons/geometry and waste heat from cars and air conditioners cause urban heat islands in which highly developed urban areas can be 15-20 degrees hotter than surrounding vegetated areas in the mid-afternoon. https://heat.gov/urban-heat-islands/ We are blessed in our neighborhood to have many mature trees, like our stately pecans. Even our strongest shade trees, however, are suffering from the cumulative effects of persistent drought, “unprecedented” freezes, fire weather, a recent microburst and other climate change events. We all need to do our part to shade our streets, both by maintaining existing and planting new vegetation.
Our neighborhood is participating in this year’s Austin EcoFest (hosted by the Windsor Park Neighborhood Association) on Saturday, November 1, from 10am-1pm at Bartholomew Park near the splash pad. https://www.windsorpark.info/get-free-trees-at-ecofest/ TreeFolks will be giving away 500 drought resistant trees during this event, during which there will also be tree-planting demonstrations and free mulch. The trees are first-come, first-served with a limit of two per household (maximum one fruit or small-stature tree). https://www.treefolks.org/events/neighborwoods-tree-adoption-25-11-01/Interested neighbors are asked to consult their “Right Tree Right Place” guidelines considering mature tree size and distance from utilities/home/sidewalk to ensure greatest success. https://www.treefolks.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/right-tree-right-place.pdf
The tree whose trunk is being appreciated by a Texas Spiny Lizard in this month’s photo is a Desert Willow that was provided–for free–by the TreeFolks NeighborWoods program approximately ten years ago. Even if you cannot attend EcoFest, you can apply now for this season’s home delivery program: https://app.treefolks.org/signup?event=75
North Loop Neighborhood Association 