In partnership with the City of Phoenix’s Office of Heat Response and Mitigation, I’m creating a public archive that tells the story of Phoenix trees. Titled “Treasured Trees,” I’ll craft selected stories into Augmented Reality (AR) experiences and a unique, hand-drawn map. Much like the Phoenix Cactus Map told the story of the cacti we see every day, Treasured Trees will celebrate shade, shelter and leaves (no matter how small).
- Currently seeking submissions from City of Phoenix residents. Submit your story via this Google Form (en Espanol)
- Anyone will be able to view the AR experiences through the app Hoverlay
- By Summer 2026, a paper map of tree stories, QR codes to the AR experiences and info on trees will be available
Trees and the shade they provide can be lifesavers in the Valley of the Sun. Even without realizing it, many of us have an affiliation with a tree that shaped our lives in some small way. As the City of Phoenix’s Office of Heat Response and Mitigation continues to plant thousands of native and desert-adapted trees in the least-shaded neighborhoods, we want to learn more about your relationship with trees in Phoenix.
What’s Your Phoenix Tree Story?
Do you have a favorite tree from the past or the present? Is it one that shaded you at the bus stop or that you used to climb with your friends? Was it a tree your grandmother planted or one you used to sit by to have some peace and quiet? Did it shower you in yellow petals or provide beans to make nutritious flour? Your tree could be big or small, still standing or long-gone, native or non-native. They don’t have to be perfect, but they should be perfectly wonderful to you!
We will accept submissions of Phoenix tree stories through this Google Form into early 2026. Using this archive, I’ll craft unique AR experiences that bring these special stories to life along with a hand-drawn map.