One Friday morning, warm with the last vestiges of summer, Josh Meyer stood in his pale blue polo shirt emblazoned with the Zoo New England logo, excited to let the patrons of the Roxbury Crossing farmers market in on something special: “We’re giving away free plants.”

Those plants surrounded Meyer — little saplings of witch-hazel, American sweetgum, silky dogwood, winterberry holly, black chokeberry — all urban-tolerant, native trees and shrubs to be distributed to Roxbury and Dorchester residents.

And people responded to his call, picking up plants — alongside fresh vegetables and other hauls from the market — to plant in their yards or pot in their homes. Meyer said he hopes that excitement can help bring a better tree canopy — and reduced summer temperatures — to the neighborhoods.

See Full Page