As our name might suggest, trees are the primary focus of Tree Musketeers’ environmental programs. Our work is with city trees, and that is called urban forestry. We mobilize community volunteers tall and small for youth led events to plant and care for trees in a variety of projects. However, we have ongoing responsibility for two large areas of trees–Memory Row and Millennium Row.

Memory Row

Marcie the Marvelous Tree was planted in a desolate strip of land between El Segundo and Los Angeles International Airport in 1987 as the beginning of a green pollution barrier. The area is now populated with 295 Memory Trees and has come to be known as Memory Row which is a beautiful, passive park.

While standing as living tributes to special people or events, these trees are on the front line in the war against air, noise, and smell pollution. Memory Trees bring joy to the people who plant and care for them, and the community forest grows at no expense to the city.

Here’s how it works. Memory Tree plantings are held three times per year in November, January and March on the grassy strip between Imperial Hwy. in Los Angeles and Imperial Ave. in El Segundo. Orphan trees on Memory Row that are available for adoption during an event in July. Citizens submit a reservation form which requires that someone commits to becoming the tree’s guardian, make a tax deductible contribution to Tree Musketeers that covers the expenses, and all the arrangements are made for them. An experienced youth supervisor oversees the planting of each tree and a customized dedication ceremony.

Though Memory Trees are often planted as memorials to people who are no longer with us, many are for pets, a way to say thank you, or are gifts to celebrate births and weddings. Check for planting dates and reservation deadlines on the volunteer calendar.

Call or email questions to trees@treemusketeers.org

Millennium Row

Among the original goals of the eight-year-old founders of Tree Musketeers was beautifying the entrances to El Segundo with trees. Though perhaps most blighted, the West Grand Ave. gateway was also the most elusive since the street is actually in the City of Los Angeles and under control of its Department of Water and Power. An unprecedented spirit of cooperation between officials in the two cities created an opportunity for Tree Musketeers to tree-line the barren, industrial street on January 29, 2000.

The Millennium Tree Planting event was dubbed BEST (Beautify El Segundo Together) Day, and was coordinated in partnership with El Segundo Rotary Club. 330 tall and small volunteers celebrated the new millennium by planting 104 melaleuca trees that served several goals:

• Enhance facilities for the City of Los Angeles
• Mitigate air pollution from surrounding industry
• Break up the heat island effect on Grand Ave.
• Create shade and otherwise make the Grand Ave. beach walkway more pleasant
• Reduce blowing sand and erosion by rain
• Beautify the ocean drive along Vista Del Mar
• Empower local youth as environmental leaders
• Enhance economic vitality by complimenting downtown revitalization efforts with an inviting gateway to El Segundo

If you’d like to help maintain Millennium Row, check the volunteer calendar for monthly tree care parties.

Call or email to arrange a service project for your group.