Let’s talk about trees (and more): Humboldt In Harmony speaker series begins tonight

Humboldt Park Friends (HPF) has a long-standing tradition of preserving the natural elements that make the Bay View park special.

Over the last decade and a half, Milwaukee has encountered many problems concerning tree canopies, resulting in the loss of thousands of trees. Humboldt Park Friends responded to the loss of more than 80 trees by starting a #100ForHumboldt initiative, raising funds to plant 100 trees these past five years. That’s in addition to annual community outreach programs like Park Clean Up Day, twice-a-year cattail pulls, and neighborhood favorite Tree Day. Tonight, November 12, starts a new wave of community-centered education with the Humboldt In Harmony speaker series.

Tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Humboldt Park Pavilion, local forestry experts will sit and chat with HPF board member Henry Szymanski about the life cycle of our forests. Titled “From Seed To Shade,” the event includes City Forester Jason Cram, Johnson Nursery’s Rob Dummert, and arborist Dennis Fermenich (whom readers might recognize from my April article on the City of Greenfield). The talk is a chance for locals to understand the ins and outs of the city’s forestry plan, and it’s just one of many talks Milwaukeeans can expect from HPF.

The Humboldt In Harmony Series will continue in 2025 with a January 14 talk with Milwaukee history guru John Gurda. His talk will center on the highs and lows of Milwaukee’s impressive park system. February 11 and March 11 will feature discussions on the importance of rain and prioritizing natives when gardening. It’s the start of a series that HPF intends to host year-round at the pavilion. The series provides a great opportunity for the community to learn about the many facets that make our urban ecosystem flourish.

Humboldt In Harmony is the friends group’s latest multi-faceted initiative that looks to build on past projects while giving the community the tools it needs to become a steward of the environment. In addition to the speaker series, HPF will continue to preserve its tree canopy, while adding native plantings and stewardship of its iconic lagoon to its tasks in the years ahead.

As a member of the group’s board, I’m a bit biased, but I say this with all sincerity: If you’re looking to get involved in community projects, now is a great time to join the Humboldt Park Friends, or to jump onboard your local park friends group. It’s no secret that in recent years city funding for our parks has been a struggle. Yet our parks have long been a point of pride for the city. The best way for us to preserve these natural spaces is to become people who engage with community conservation.