SF Bay Area TreesSF Bay Area TreesThe purpose of this page is to provide a framework for collecting pictures and descriptions of the trees I've seen on my hikes in 1995. The source: Native Trees of the San Francisco Bay Region.
Trees were the first thing I learned about the SF Bay Area ecology. I took my son Chris, who was about 8 at the time, out on a hike. He asked me "What kind of tree is that Dad?" Of course, coming from Connecticut, I didn't have a clue! So I went out and bought a couple of "tree finder" books. No luck. I was in Golden Gate Park or the Presidio and there were just too many ornamentals. Then I stumbled on to Trees of the West. At least half the time I was able to follow the decision tree and find out what I was looking at. The other half of the time I thought I was looking at some tree that only grows in Alaska! But by following the Native Trees book Chris and I started hiking in places where the trees grew. This helped me learn about "microbiotic communities" that are named by the kind of trees that grow there. And I started being able to identify the trees. Now they're old friends that help me learn more about birds, mushrooms and wildflowers. To learn more about the microbiotic communities read An Island Called California. It'll explain why one side of a hill is covered in grass and why another has trees. Or why Bay trees along the ocean look sculptured.
55 Aesculus californica (California Buckeye)
I'd value your comments. Email me at mike@thoma.com
Last updated 07 September, 2000.