The Sugar Pine Foundation plans to plant 15,000 young sugar pines and other native tree seedlings throughout the Lake Tahoe region now through November. During this time, the soil is naturally moistened from rainfall and conditions are ideal for giving young seedlings a good start.

On the South Shore, there will be two community plantings. The first is Oct. 22 from 10am to noon at the U.S. Forest Service’s Dreyfus Estates property. The site is located off of Highway 50 between Zephyr Cove beach and Skyland. South Lake Tahoe Rotary will be assisting in the planting, but more volunteers are needed. SPF plans to put 1,200 trees in the ground at this site.

The second planting is Oct. 29 in the Glenbrook community – also from 10am to noon – and volunteers are needed. Glenbrook Homeowners Association, the Forest Service and Nevada State Parks are also hosting planting events with South Tahoe Middle School students throughout the fall. All sixth-graders from South Tahoe Middle School will plant trees and learn about forest and fire ecology, watershed health and acquire basic orienteering skills on their field trips to Glenbrook, the Dreyfus Estates and Van Sickle Bi-state Park.

The sugar pines SPF is planting need all the help that they can get because they are the progeny of white pine blister rust resistant sugar pines. White pine blister rust is a nonnative, invasive fungus that is killing sugar pines, Western white pines, and whitebark pines in the Tahoe area. Between 3 and 5 percent of sugar pines are genetically resistant to the fungus. The goal of the SPF is to help save Tahoe’s sugar pines by planting blister rust-resistant seedlings throughout the basin and surrounding areas.

Fall 2011 planting schedule:

Oct. 16, 9am-1pm: Truckee River Day Planting. Park at Glenshire/Devonshire Clubhouse at 15726 Glenshire Drive — sign up with Truckee River Watershed Council.

Oct. 22, 10am-noon: Community Planting at Dreyfus Estates. Park along Highway 50 between Zephyr Cove Beach and Skyland.

Oct. 29, 10am-noon: Glenbrook Community Planting. Get directions to China Gardens at the gate.

Nov. 5, 11am-1pm: Waddle Ranch Community Planting. Meet at Truckee Airport to carpool or 4WD needed.

For more information, go online or email admin@sugarpinefoundation.org.