Monday, November 8, 2010

TreeCo Big Tree Gallery - November 2010













 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Support Global Wheeling - A Truly Innovative Cause!

This October Rudi and Leske were honoured to assist the Global Wheeling Foundation by sponsoring 100 trees toward their ‘Plant a Tree’ program, which is just one of the various environmental protection and empowerment initiatives that the Global Wheeling Foundation is actively involved in promoting.

Our trees were planted in a disadvantaged community within the Helderberg municipality at an inaugural ceremony which was also attended by our mayor.  

“TreeCo were so positive and willing to assist us and they will be continuing to support us with trees as much as possible in the coming months. Rudi and Leske have been absolutely terrific – really great”! Kerry Kleinhans – Global Wheeling.

What is the Global Wheeling Foundation?

The Global Wheeling Foundation is a South African based non profit organisation, working to uplift youths in disadvantaged communities through environmental education and the provision of used bicycles from European donors.

The bicycle is an eco-friendly alternative to motorised transport and by assisting those less fortunate through the donation of bicycles, the DISCOUNT CODE TSMD 0060 Global Wheeling Foundation aims to create a new generation of environmentally aware South Africans that will be able to help themselves by pedalling out of poverty.

The Global Wheeling Foundation has 4 exciting initiatives in place to ensure that they achieve their goal.

Global Bike Ride

Kayden Kleinhans (founder) is currently on an environmental pilgrimage through 40 countries to highlight the bike as a positive tool for change. Every km that Kayden rides can be sponsored, and all donations will be used towards empowerment and environmental initiatives.

Bums on Bikes


This initiative rewards youths for their environmental efforts through empowering them by providing them with a bicycle to use as transport.

Recycle a Bike

Those in more affluent countries (primarily Europe and the Americas) are encouraged to fill a container with second hand bikes. These bikes will be shipped to the Global Wheeling Foundation in Africa and distributed to disadvantaged communities.

Plant a Tree

The Global Wheeling Foundation is planting 2010 trees to commemorate the World Cup coming to Africa and put a long term measure in place that will assist to absorb carbon emissions.

They are in the process of planting fruit trees and indigenous trees in parks and at schools in disadvantaged areas in and around Cape Town.

In conjunction with the Global Bike Ride, every carbon free km sponsored will enable the team at Global Wheeling, working with Cape Town based NGO’s, to plant a tree. 10 carbon free km’s = 10 trees.

In addition, through this program, the Global Wheeling Foundation has created a platform to empower local street artists by employing them to design and make a wire tree which will be sent to those donors who have enabled the Global Wheeling Foundation to plant at least 10 trees.

Join the Cause and Support your Community!

At TreeCo we will continue to donate trees to this worthy cause and encourage all of you to join us in doing the same, so that together we can help to preserve our environment, while making a positive impact on the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves.

For more information on the Global Wheeling Foundation, go to www.globalwheeling.org

Crazy year end specials!

During November, TreeCo will be giving away a selection of our trees at ridiculous prices!

Contact Rudi or Leske today to find out more about our totally crazy year end specials – we promise that you’ll be blown away!

Rudi – 082 829 5543
Leske – 072 385 0270

Spectacular Monthly Tree - Olea africana

Our Olea africana are looking fantastic with strong stems that don’t need staking. This attractive small evergreen tree with a short crooked trunk and dense, rounded crown is extremely hardy and can be grown anywhere. The sharply pointed leaves are dark green above and silvery grey underneath. The insignificant flowers are sweetly scented and are followed by berry-like fruit that are edible but not very tasty. The Wild olive is an excellent decorative garden subject for any area where conditions are really challenging, as it is drought and wind resistant, as well as frost tolerant.
 
Botanical NameOlea africana
Common Name                Wild olive               
Bag Size 50 lt
Quantity Available 150
Average Tree Height
& Trunk Thickness
2.2m 
3cm 
 
 
 
 
 
Should you require any further information, such as pricing details or should you wish to place an order, please contact Rudi on 082 829 5543 or Leske on 072 385 0270. Alternatively you are welcome to email us with your enquiry at info@treeco.co.za.
 
Looking Good List for November 2010

TreeCo provides our readers with a downloadable, updated Looking Good List every month. 

Please note that should you not find the tree that you are looking for on this list, TreeCo will readily source what you require, on your behalf. Rudi and Leske Neethling personally ensure that all trees supplied by TreeCo, conform to our high quality standards.
 
Please CLICK HERE to download our latest Looking Good List.
 
This document is available as a PDF document and will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader loaded on your computer, please click on the link below which will allow you to download this free program quickly and easily.
 
 

Celtis africana (White Stinkwood)

The lovely Celtis africana is undoubtedly one of our most popular and successful indigenous trees as is testified by it’s extensive use in parks and gardens. This beautiful deciduous, medium sized tree has a single straight trunk and forms a fine, dense canopy making it an effective and sought after shade tree. In spring, the White stinkwood looks absolutely lovely when the tender new, light green leaves contrast beautifully with the attractive pale bark. A willing grower, this rewarding tree needs little care and even does well in areas that experience frost.
 
 BASIC TREE DETAILS
Botanical Name
Celtis africana
Common Name
White stinkwood
Genus
Ulmaceae
RSA National Tree No’
39
 LANDSCAPING USES
Celtis africana is a perfect choice for any area where a fast growing and very attractive shade tree is required. In a large garden, plant the lovely White stinkwood on the North West side of the house where it will provide cooling shade in summer while letting the sun through to warm the house in winter. This is an excellent subject for planting in a large tub in a courtyard garden adding interest throughout the year. As Celtis africana is so fast and easy to grow it is ideal for areas where quick shade is required, making it popular for hot parking areas and street planting as well as for parks and other public areas. The flowers of the White stinkwood attract bees to the garden in spring while the berry-like fruit provide food for a large variety of fruit-eating birds.
 TREE SPECIFICATIONS
Height
10m – 12m
Spread
3m – 5 m
Deciduous/Evergreen
Deciduous
Growth Habit
Celtis Africana is found in extremely diverse habitats including dense forest, bushveld and open grassland, mountain slopes, rocky outcrops and kloofs as well as river banks and coastal dunes.
Bark
On younger trees the bark is smooth, pale grey to white while on older trees the bark is loosely peeling, occasionally with horizontal ridges.
Foliage
The dull green leaves 15-100 x 10-50mm, are sparsely or densely covered with hairs and are simple, alternate and triangular with 3 distinct veins from the base. The upper 2/3rd of the margin is toothed. 
Flowers
The inconspicuous, star shaped greenish flowers appear in spring. The male and female flowers appear on the same tree, the male flowers appearing at the base of the leaves while the female or bisexual flowers appear in the leaf axils.
Fruit
 The masses of berry-like fruit on 13mm stalks,  follows the flowers from October to February and, as the fruit ripens, changes colour from yellow to brown and then to black.
Seed
The round seeds are brown and are usually distributed by birds that feed on the berries..
 GROWING REQUIREMENTS
Growing regions
The popular White stinkwood is widespread throughout South Africa and Africa and occurs from the Cape Peninsula and North through Africa to Ethiopia.
Growing conditions
The versatile Celtis africana will do well in almost any soil type and when planted in warm areas will do extremely well with the addition of compost or well rotted manure and sufficient water.
Best season
 Summer
Hardiness
This useful tree is frost resistant and fairly drought resistant.
Propagation
White stinkwood seeds germinate very successfully and the seedlings grow rapidly.
Growth rate
 Fast, young trees can grow between 1 – 2m per year.
 INTERESTING FEATURES
The White stinkwood is not related to the true stinkwood (Ocotea bullata) but derived it’s name from the lightly coloured wood and the unpleasant smell of the freshly cut parts of the tree. The yellowish to white wood is of medium hardness, strong and polishes well. It is used for shelving, yokes, tent bows and furniture. Indigenous peoples have long used Celtis africana for a variety of household objects and believe that it has magical properties.
  
                  C.africana Bark                        C.africana Fruit                   C.afrcana Leaves