“Save the Green”

By

Gerry Niskern

Take a good look around the next time you are driving anywhere in the valley. Do you notice anything missing? Wasn’t there a stand of Tamarisk trees on that corner just yesterday? What happened to that stately old Cottonwood out on Northern?

Development has rapidly cut a wide swath in all directions in our valley and too many of our living treasures have fallen in the name of growth. Groups of Tamarisk windbreaks grew everywhere at one time. The gray-green trees made great climbing trees for kids. High in the secluded branches, children shared their space with starlings, doves and an occasional baby lizard. The majority of kids today have to exercise their climbing skills on man made play equipment.

Sunlight ricocheting off branches of green leaves marked the old Cottonwood trees. The giant landmarks grew along the canals and irrigation ditches from the beginning of settlement here. Kids climbed the crevices etched into the ancient trunks and dropped into the cool water of irrigation ditches in the summertime.  Most of those old friends have been cut down. Streets were widened to accommodate more cars. At one time residents here were told the cottonwoods had to go because they used too much water from the canals. Yeah, sure they did!

Today we build entire communities and golf courses around a series of man-made lakes. We also zone land for high-tech manufacturing facilities that take millions of gallons of water a day.

Do you remember the sweet smell of citrus blossoms in the springtime on your way home from work? Have you ever picked a peachy red pomegranate. The sweet tart fruit-covered seeds are great for snacking. At one time Pomegranate hedges lined streets and railroad tracks around Phoenix. Streets turned into expressways to help move the expanding population and the hedge rows disappeared from our valley.

Condos stand on the land in the west valley that our kids thought would be “strawberry fields forever”. At the end of berry season, the Japanese farmers opened their fields to the public for picking. Parents and kids usually ate more of the luscious fruit than they brought home as they worked their way up and down the rows. How long since you have had a strawberry that was actually allowed to ripen on the plant before picking?

Many stately old elms originally surrounded the Arizona State capitol building. S Most of the trees and lawn too was sacrificed to make room for more state buildings. Again, making room for Arizona’s growth.

Date groves were prolific here. Christmas wasn’t complete without dates stuffed with creamy homemade fondant. One large date farm was out on Lafayette Boulevard. It is just one of many gone to make room for more homes and condos.

Here in the valley we have always welcomed newcomers. It wouldn’t be realistic to think we could stop the growth, but we must see that our community leaders and city planners make provisions for more parks as we grow. We also need to be diligent about the perimeters of our existing oasis, large and small. Green areas valley wide for the young and old to replenish themselves spiritually should be mandatory for developers.

Some of our earliest residents planted trees and watered them with water they carted in barrels from the Salt River. You and I both know, with our modern facilities, we can do much better in this fast changing world. We need to replant and nurture our green oasis. That would be genuine growth.