Press Release 5/21/08
On Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 4:00 pm, acclaimed photographer and American elm advocate Tom Zetterstrom will present an illustrated lecture on "Community Forestry and The Historic Streetscape" in the Community Room of the new Simsbury Library at 725 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, CT. 06070.
Mr. Zetterstrom will integrate a look at the past and present treescape in Simsbury with his broad knowledge of the historic forest. His unique artistic view coupled with his working knowledge of the dynamic treescape will be interesting and enlightening.
In 1999 Tom Zetterstrom founded Elm Watch, an organization established to preserve and restore the American elm in the community forest. Zetterstom will illustrate the rich cultural history of the American elm, followed by its rapid decimation over the past half century due to the introduction of Dutch elm disease. Zetterstrom's talk will describe treatments to protect the few surviving heritage elms modeled in the organization's 'Adopt-an-Elm' initiative. In 2001 National Arboretum test results allowed Elm Watch to begin reliable reintroduction of large canopy American elms in town centers and historic public spaces. Since then, Zetterstrom has worked with numerous towns to develop sustainable treescape designs using the American elm as the keystone tree in a diverse species mix. He encourages civic involvement in comprehensive tree care, bringing together various community groups to enhance green infrastructure through park, campus, street and roadside planting.
Zetterstrom has been a student of trees in the natural landscape for more than three decades, documenting and preserving them in his "Portraits of American Trees" photographic portfolio. These black and white photographs are represented in the collections of three-dozen museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, Library of Congress, Yale University Art Gallery and the J. Paul Getty Museum.
As a community forester, Zetterstrom has studied the history of 'village improvement' tree plantings in New England and the science of best current planting practices. Zetterstrom's fine arts background informs his passion and interest in the beauty of trees in the community forest and he now applies both disciplines to sustainable streetscape tree design. He has planted and designed more than 300 public trees in dozens of communities. In 2000 he received the Community Urban Forestry Award from the Connecticut Urban Forestry Council.
The talk is free and open to the public. No tickets or reservations are required but space will likely be limited. For more information on this lecture please call Hiram Peck at the Simsbury Department of Community Planning and Development at (860) 658-3245.