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Tinker recognized as Tree City

  • Published
  • By Brion Ockenfels
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Twenty-two volunteers from the Rose State College Civic student group along with base natural resource officials celebrated Arbor Day at Tinker's Fam Camp March 30.

The Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Tinker as Tree City USA for the 19th year running. Rose State volunteers planted 35 trees of four different species. Each species was selected for their hardiness, specific qualities chosen for placement, growth potential, soil and moisture dynamics.

The Cedar Elm is drought-tolerant once established but also tolerates wet soil well. The Eastern Red Bud is the Oklahoma State tree. The Red Bud is a small and sturdy tree presenting very showy pink colored flowers that cluster along the branches in March to May before the leaves.

The Bur Oak is one of the slowest growing oaks, but also one of the most massive, growing to 100 feet and living to 400 years. This stately tree is adaptable and can grow in wide range of soil types and it is drought tolerant. The Eastern Red Cedar is the only evergreen tree native to central Oklahoma and therefore performs very well, said Tinker's Natural Resource Manager John Krupovage.

Although these trees can become a nuisance in natural and unmaintained areas, in controlled urban settings they do have their place serving as screens and providing wildlife cover and food. As part of Tinker's land management practice, more than 2,300 were removed from the base in 2011. Mr. Krupovage said the Eastern Red Cedars are a much better choice than the non-native pines which experienced huge die-offs in 2010 and 2011.