H20150318-0015Quercus agrifoliaBerkeley

Description:

Quercus agrifoliacoast live oak. Twenty or so years ago I was pulling weeds near my property when I spied a small seedling near a rotting stump. On the spur of the moment I decided to give the seedling a chance. It has now grown into a lovely small tree that I hope will shade people after I'm gone. I say "I hope" because about three years ago a neighbor hacked away at this tree and a small one near by because he said it ruined his "view". The smaller tree was so hacked up that it died but this one survived. To make matters worse, It just so happens that the "view" the neighbor wished to protect is of a nondescript Berkeley street. I have no idea what will happen to my tree in the future even if it survives Sudden Oak Death syndrome for it is on a public right-of-way where decisions will be made by bureaucrats. The tree has been producing acorns for a few years now. This year it has a particularly large amount of catkins. Photographed in Berkeley, CA.