The Tree Number Story

Tree Numbers is a participatory experience that offers a unique opportunity to create a personal connection between participants and individual trees. The project takes advantage of the fact that arborists at UTD have mapped most of the trees and tagged them with numbers to categorize their types and locations. Participants are encouraged to choose their favorite tree and identify the tree’s number tag. They are then asked to articulate why a particular tree is meaningful to them. What follows is often a conversation about a personal memory that, were it not for a tree, might not have happened. The experience shifts each of us into deeper conversations and more thoughtful relationships with our local environment. In the first iteration of this project, participants receive mementos such as their portraits taken with their favorite tree. A website catalogues the stories, along with a map of the area where these interactions take place. The project will subsequently be shared with the UT Dallas social media team and made available for wider engagement with students and faculty on Arbor Day, Friday, April 25, 2025. 

Click on the map below to discover our trees, their numbers and where they grow.

neng and 924

One of the stories gathered from a UT Dallas participant by the name of Neng was a result of following him along his path to the lot where he parks his car. While discussing the trees he passes daily, he pointed to a crepe myrtle that was situated at the edge of the curb. The tree was beautiful, crepe myrtle trees are ornamental, after all. There were others in the vicinity, but this one was the first tree to the right of Neng’s path and therefore a landmark on his way to and from class. We identified the number tag attached to the tree as 924. When prompted to tell me what made this tree meaningful, Neng shared a recollection about his son. The tree reminded him of his five-year-old son (who is now a young adult) and a tree sapling he brought home from school one day. Together, Neng and his son planted it in the front yard of their home. Fourteen years later, the tree became a beautiful crepe myrtle tree, just like the one Neng encounters to and from class at UTD. Were it not for the memory triggered by Tree Number 924, Neng’s beautiful story about fatherhood and tree planting wouldn’t have had a reason to be shared

rebecca and 342

Rebecca chose a Chaste tree that resides on the corner of the ATEC building at the UTD campus. What attracted her to this specific tree was its unusual shape. The tree reminds her of the beautiful bonzai trees she grew up seeing in China. She regularly walks past 342 on her way to classes.

yuki and 3659

The tree Yuki connected with is near a grouping of trees on the south entrance to the campus. What brought her to choose this tree over others was the unique, stubby shape. “It’s fat,” she laughs, lovingly. She loves the feeling she gets when she looks at 3659. “It’s lonely but strong.”

juliana and 1778

When prompted to identify what tree she found meaningful and why, Juliana shared a story about her life prior to coming to America. Years ago, her family was temporarily living near a park in Tehran, Iran. The situation was stressful because they were anxiously waiting to receive documents required for emigration to the United States. While waiting, Juliana would frequently visit the park to take her mind off her family’s predicament. The beautiful tree-filled gardens were lined with geometric walkways separated by pools of water. Regular visits to the park became a refuge before her family finally received approval to emigrate. The stretch of Magnolia trees in the central part of the UT Dallas campus today reminds Juliana of the park in Tehran. Tree number 1778 symbolizes the serenity that helped her overcome her anxieties while waiting to start a better life

stephany and 764

Stephany passes by 764 often on her way to classes in the ATEC building. The tree is popular with squirrels because of the many acorns it produces. She loves seeing all the squirrels.

kristen and 202387

This is Kristen’s favorite tree because she finds it simply beautiful and elegant. The Japanese Maple impresses many with a fantastic display of colored leaves every fall.

lily and 1918

Lily grew up with a Magnolia tree in the front yard of her childhood home. When she was a little girl, she loved climbing on it. Not surprisingly, her favorite type of tree on the UTD campus today is also a Magnolia. 1918 reminds Lily of how excited she was visiting UTD for the first time as a Freshman over four years ago.

olga and 908

908 is a Bald Cypress that resides on the eastern side of the UTD campus. The reason Olga chose this tree is because she feels it leads a very happy life in a vibrant little grove near a creek. Knowing that 908 is happy makes her happy, too. The tree is surrounded by other trees and shrubs, so it’s never lonely. Its roots intermingle with the roots of others, which means it shares all sorts of nutrients, and personal information. Trees do that. They have a very active social life underground. 908 is very engaged with its community.

belinda’s tree

Area to be filled in with Belinda’s story.

professor burrough’s tree

Area to be filled in with Professor Burrough’s story.

a squirrel’s tree

Area to be filled in with squirrel’s story.