In my tree essays so far, I’ve rather tiptoed around the outskirts of our dendrological life, picking off the minor and adjunct species. But no more: coast live oak is the heart of our woodlands.
Trees
Minor Trees Part II: Small Trees and Shrubs
Today I’ll tell you about our two most important small trees not yet profiled – hazel and blue elderberry – and while I’m here dealing with woody plants of modest dimensions, I’ll also give a brief glance to three of our most common and notable shrubs: coyote bush, coffeeberry, and huckleberry.
Minor Trees Part I: Riparian
I’ve been covering our most notable trees at arguably excessive length. Here, I’ll quickly take care of a swathe of less common local trees, focusing on our riparian – or streamside – species.
Valley Oak
The valley oak is the monarch of all western oaks, and perhaps of all the oaks of North America. Even in their grandest individuals, few other species attain the vast, sweeping spread that Quercus lobata regularly achieves. Here in Novato, we are fortunate to have some class A, first-rate, top-shelf valley oak habitat. While more coastal parts of the county do excel us in conifer forests, our relatively drier inland climate offers the ample consolation of the noble valley oak savanna.
Black Oak
As Aldo Leopold was in love with pines, I am in love with oaks. In California, this is fortunately not a rare sentiment. And for whatever accumulation of reasons and indefinite impulses of affection, no species of the genus draws me more forcefully than the California black oak.
California Buckeye
The California buckeye is distinctive, easily recognized, and easily loved. More than a few novice tree lovers pick it out early on in their dendrological lives as somehow meriting a special affection. My own experience was no different.
Toyon
Toyon is one of the least assuming citizens in our woodland communities. It is not large, abundant, or imbued with any special grace or idiosyncrasy of form. But like even the humblest of persons, toyon has its moment when it swells with pride, puts forth an unexpected effort, and says I alone can do this. When?