Tree of the Week: Winterberry holly

By: Mark Halpin, Forestry Manager Fall color has finally departed, and the few leaves that remain clinging to the trees are for the most part withered and pale, and so […]

Tree of the Week: Sweetgum

The redheaded stepchild of the urban forest, Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is, based on my experience fielding complaints from the public, the most hated tree in our region. Even ecologically destructive […]

Tree of the Week: Common Witch Hazel

By: Mark Halpin, Forestry Manager It’s not unusual to see spring flowering woody plants push out a few blooms in late summer or even further into fall – crabapples, cherries […]

Tree of the Week: Red Maple

By: Mark Halpin, Forestry Manager Acer rubrum, Red Maple, has become a very fashionable tree to dislike in the arboricultural world, because it has been so criminally over-planted. Like dwarf […]

Tree of the Week: Sugar Maple

By: Mark Halpin, Forestry Manager Acer saccharum, Sugar Maple, along with the Giant Sequoia, the White Oak and the White Pine, is one of the great arboreal icons of North […]

Jess Underwood
Finance & Operations Director

After 17 years in the non-profit and public sector, Jess remains committed to mission-driven work that tackles the challenges facing our communities. Their career began with a year of service as an Americorps St. Louis Emergency Response team member, responding to natural disasters and performing conservation projects. That foundation of service led to roles supporting the arts, affordable housing, mental health, and grassroots housing advocacy in St. Louis. During this journey Jess has worked to center the value “nothing about us, without us.” They do their best to ensure that the voices of people who have been marginalized guide the strategy and execution of work that honors their lived experiences. When they aren’t working, Jess is out paddling, hiking, working in their garden, or building something.