Celebrate Your Favorite Trees

Welcome to Iowa Tree Stories, a community-powered map celebrating the trees that shape the University of Iowa campus and the broader Iowa City and Johnson County community.

We invite students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community members to add their favorite trees and their stories to the map.

Where’s your favorite tree? What does it look like throughout the seasons? What memories are rooted there? Maybe it’s the spot where you study between classes, meet up with friends, take a quiet walk, or simply pause for a breath of fresh air.

Tell us what makes your tree special. Share a story, a photo, or even a letter to your tree. You can write from your own perspective or imagine the tree telling its story in its own voice.

Together, these submissions will grow into a living archive of place and connection. Iowa Tree Stories highlights how trees are woven into daily routines, campus traditions, neighborhood life, and meaningful moments across our community.

Add your tree. Share your story. Help us grow the map.

Submit A Tree

Add your favorite tree(s) to the map!

Add My Tree
Mascot Herky the Hawk hugging a tree with the Iowa River in the background
A screenshot of a satellite map of Iowa City with location icons marking favorite tree spots on the map

Canopy Conversations

Below is a collection of stories and letters written by community members.  They include personal memories, reflections, and messages about their trees. Some are letters written to their trees, while others are written from the trees. 

Want to read more?  Explore the full collection on the IOWA Tree Stories map.

Letters To Our Trees

What would you say to your favorite tree?

Letters From Our Trees

If your tree could speak, what would it say?

Photo of a large black walnut tree in the foreground and Macbride Hall in the background

Dear Big Old Elm Tree,

I love to sit under your shade in the summer and watch people walk by along Clinton Street.  I met my best friend under your branches.  You will always hold a special place in my heart!

Sincerely,
Herky

Students walking up the steps of a red brick building with a large pine tree stretching taller than the building

Dear Spruce,

You are one of the most beautiful trees I've ever laid eyes on. Your long drooping branches are like open arms, reaching out to welcome anyone who needs a little break from the world. Stepping under your canopy feels like entering a portal to a new world. Thank you for being you.

Cheers to you,
Joy

Graduates walking along the sidewalk framed by trees

Dear Bird Whisperer,

My dog always knows when we’re close to you. His pace changes, the leash softens in my hand, and I look up—just in time to catch the movement you’re keeping. Birds lift and settle in your branches like breath.

You’re not remarkable in the ways people usually mean, but day after day you offer something steady: a place where life gathers. I’ve watched the seasons announce themselves through you, and once—unexpected and bright—you held a bird I’d only ever seen in books. It stayed just long enough to be real.

Thank you for being ordinary in the best way, and for giving me something to notice when the days feel too full.

Gratefully,
A neighbor on foot

Tree with white flower blossoms and students sitting below

Dear Herky,

I have seen thousands of people walk under my branches.  Each one here for a brief moment while I have stood here for decades.  I've watched generations of children gro and may have brought their children and grandchildren back to visit me.  They enjoy my shade and I enjoy their company.

With deep roots,
Leafy Giant

Students walking under a large ginkgo tree that has turned bright yellow for the fall

Gratitude

To the squirrels that live in my branches, I just wanted to say how much I enjoy having you as my lively little neighbors. Your chatter keeps me company, and your acrobatics on my branches? Truly impressive. I’ve seen you leap from limb to limb like tiny forest trapeze artists, and I can’t help but feel proud that my long, drooping arms give you the perfect stage. I know you love hiding your treasures in my nooks and crannies. Don’t worry, I’ll keep them safe through the winter. Just remember where you put them! (I’ve seen more than a few forgotten acorns turn into saplings—your little surprises for the future.) Thank you for bringing so much life to my quiet days. When the wind blows and the snow falls, your rustling and scurrying remind me that even in stillness, the world is full of joy.

Forever Grateful,
NS

Most Valuable Trees (MVT)

Some trees make a particularly strong impression.  Use the Iowa Tree Stories form to nominate your tree for any of the 2026 MVTrees (Most Valuable Trees) categories below.

  • Most Beloved Tree – A tree many people feel connected to
  • Most Striking Tree – Noted for its shape, size, or seasonal beauty
  • Best Shade Provider – A favorite place to pause, rest, or gather
  • Most Resilient Tree – A tree that has endured change or challenge
  • Hidden Gem – A lesser‑known tree with a devoted following

The UI Tree Campus USA committee will review submissions and select the winners.

OR---------------------------------------------

The UI Tree Campus USA Committee will select a group of finalists for MVTrees (Most Valuable Trees) and community members will then be invited to vote for the MVTree winners in each category.

TIMELINE????

Nominate Your Tree
Tree with white flower blossoms and students sitting below The top of the Old Capitol Building in the distance framed by tree leaves Students walking to class with a building in the background framed by tree leaves
Close up photo of tree bark and branches of a Kentucky Coffee Tree Campus Arborist Andy Dahl and others planting the Anne Frank tree on the Pentacrest A small garden of conifer trees and plants tucked between a building and parking garage

This is a collaborative project coordinated by the Office of Sustainability and the Environment, UI Facilities Management, Iowa Dance, and the LENA Project, and is part of our community Promise to the Planet.