CA friends...I AM SO SAD!!!!!

KC. you're right on about how they (city workers and/or state workers ) sneak in and do a surprise attack for things like tree removal or hacking. I refuse to call it trimming, because they just come in with a chain saw and chop the daylights out of things.

ecrane, I'll have to check. An NAI friend told me that they were called wild tobacco bushes. I'll have to do some checking and get back to you on that.
KC, thanks, I've been trying to hide that eyesore for years, with limited success as you can see from the dead plants around it. The Silk Tassel tree is really pretty, I hope it grows well and strong for you!
Well, Rob, with any luck by this time next year, most of the scars will be gone, and you will have a whole new view of the slope!
Walk In Beauty!
SW

Without seeing the flowers I can't be sure, but your description sounds a lot like Nicotiana glauca, and I know it's considered invasive in SoCal so popping up out of nowhere in your yard and reseeding readily seems to fit how it would behave! http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=5860 It's also the only Nicotiana species that I'm aware of that occurs in the wild in CA that is shrubby, the others are all smaller annuals/perennials so I think it's likely this is what you have.

Yep, that looks like the photo SW posted this morning near the bottom of this thread:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/954218/

Oh, guess I missed that one. Definitely Nicotiana glauca.

SW, Elderberries, were right a the top 10 plants for wildlife at Las Pilitas!

This weekend my son and I went to the top and the hill and sowed a quarter pound of CA wildflowers all over the area. I know they won't block the view but at least if they grow nicely it will cheer us up! : )

Oh good job - hey do you have to climb up there ? I remember you said you had a hard time getting back down?

haha, yes, how embarassing, everyone already knows that story huh? The first time I went up there, I had to climb, which was no big deal for this strong body...BUT.....on the way down...oh Lord! I couldn't even DARE looking down! I was stuck! I was in tears! You see, I am terribly affraid of heights! I ended up walking through cacti and prickly weeds until I came down 3 houses down the street and still had to climb a couple of fences...EMBARASSING!

The only good thing these SDG&E folks brought about is they showed me there is actually a trail from a side street to get up there...DEUGH! so now no more climbing! LOL!

I was going to say, maybe you could kinda do a switch back trail. I always attack our hills at an angle when they isn't a game trail to follow.
You sound like you have it covered now, and at least something good came from it.
I have no idea how to propagate the elderberry or even how to collect the seed, but if someone else knows, I'll give it a try for you, Rob. The wildflowers are going to be gorgeous. Take photos! Please!?!
WIB,
SW

rob, as I was pruning on on Saturday that's on a friend's property, I was wondering if one of the varieties of Coyote Brush might work as a screen for your slope? Looking at plantfiles it appears there are some that don't get too tall, and they certainly do well around here with no more than rainfall. They provide nice cover for the birds, and I believe the blooms are forage for the bees.

This letter appeared today on the 'Opinion' page of the Fallbrook/ Bonsall Village News:

Having Trouble With SDG&E cutting your trees?
I was wondering if anyone in the Fallbrook / Bonsall area was having trouble with Chris Thompson of SDG&E and the invasion of property cutting cutting down any and all trees close to their power lines.
There are certain laws discussing the distance of trees to power lines and it appears SDG&E is overlooking any and all laws and cutting down anything in sight. Could this be an overreaction to the many law suits they received?
Anyone having problems with SDG&E, let me know, as a lawsuit is being prepared on the actions of their area forester. Contact me at jeff.lassle@sbcglobal.net.

wow, good catch gypsy - I'm still disgusted every time I think about this.

Boy, I'll be keeping an eye out, too.

Ditto!
WIB!
SW

That is heart breaking. My friends had a similar issue in a really upscale neighborhood in El Cajon, where there was a tropical jungle behind their house, that had some rare Eagle or something nesting in it and the people bought in the area they were promised that the church behind them, which is this big church and school on a hill, would be blocked out by the quasi, greenbelt area of this grove, well low and behold they built dorms or something on the other side of it and needed the tree area to comply with parking or something. The neighbors fought it and lost the battle somehow. They were so upset and they had the coolest back yard that felt like you were in Hawaii, the poor birds and the critters had been evicted. Sad for you.

The good thing is I was able to fight and win to save ONE tree. And I saw a hawk up there yesterday! I also planted 3 15 gallon Acacias they delivered to me. Although they're still baby trees, I saw a bird up one of them the other day...I almost cried with joy! : )

The bigger birds (hawks/ eagles) have definitely been deprived, but the smaller birds seem to be doing ok, I have plenty of trees and palm trees in my garden AND NO ONE IS TOUCHING THESE, EVER!!! : ))

I am so happy for you that the hawk came back. There will be more. I'm still trying to figure out how to get you some of my elderberry seed. I don't know if I can, but I'm going to try. I'm glad you're feeling better today too.
Don't worry, it will take time, but it will heal.
WIB,
SW

Hummingbirds love my Hong Kong Orchid Trees(scientific name Buahinia), which also have a heavenly scent! They are diciduous, whenever they feel like it and after the first year require little to no additional water. Another thought for color and height are various salvias. Some grow to six feet. Also I have'nt goten a reply to my e-mails that I sent you yesterday, offerring you some cuttings and Iris starts. Marty

Robcorreia,

I absolutely feel so good to hear from someone who loves trees bec I seem to be the exception in our neighborhood.

I also live in San Diego, Scripps Ranch , which is built around trees. In fact our community even has a eucalyptus tree on our Welcome" sign. People who have moved here in the last few years want the trees gone. Still wondering why they moved to a place where trees are abundunt. .

We have a hillside of 26-year old trees, some of them very tall with large trunks. My husband "manages" his little forest very diligently. We only water a couple of times a year and he keeps it composted and trimmed.

The sadness here is we are being sued by the owner behind us up to the tune of $25,00 bec he claims our trees are hanging over his property too high for him to top. The arborist said our trees are safe with well anchored trunks and that topping them off would make the limbs weak and horizontal. Neighbor wants 10 of our speciman trees cut down. We have kept our trees trimmed. Not only do they provide bird shelter but they provide shade for both my roses and our home which doesn't need air conditioning. The sad thing also is that the "owner" doesn't even live there. There is also a huge privacy factor.

We've heard the argument about the fires and the so-called gasoline trees also known as "weeds" from our neighbor. We have a pic of a cul de sac here in which every house burned except the trees which were behind every house.

Sorry for the long rant, but you've hit a raw nerve. The trial is in Aug if we get that far. Hey, maybe you could get on the jury!

So we are in the midst of depositions as I water my roses and pray for a positive outcome. I completely know how you feel. Whenever I hear the sound of a chainsaw i wince.

Thanks for loving trees and sharing your experience even tho it was a bad situation

I don't get how can he sue you if the trees don't represent a hazard? Well obviously he can since he is but I guess I'm wondering what makes his lawyer think they have a case if there's no hazard involved. Doesn't make any sense to me--hopefully it'll get figured out before it gets all the way to trial.

It's kinda like with pit bulls----eucs have gotten such a bad rap in the press that everyone thinks every tree is a fire hazard. I had to take my euc and willow down because of two neighbors. The trees were there before their houses were even built. The only time they ever spoke to us was to complain about the trees. At least now they don't speak to us at all.

It sounds like your eucs are very well-mannered and well cared-for. I hope you win.

I also have 26 year old eucs that were planted before anyone ever even thought of building a house next door. We've kept the ones that are alongside their swimming pool (the one they put in under the eucs) topped and just two days ago we took those down to the ground and will keep the forthcoming branches cut to mulch. The rest of my trees I won't touch. I know there are people who hate eucs...I've also spoken to people to learn that there are people who hate trees, period. As much as I love them for their sheltering protectiveness, there are people who can't stand trees, or overhanging eaves, anything they feel closes them in.....I can try to understand, but I do know that they cannot move into an area with trees and want to take all of the trees down. The same type of people who build next to a mushroom farm that's been here for years and then keep harassing them with lawsuits to force them to shut down.

Seawatch, there is no way your neighbor could win if the trees don't represent a hazard. "too much shade" is no reason to sue someone. The problem with our law system is it allows lawers to work on a contingency basis (you only pay if you win). This makes it very easy for people to carry frivolous law suits. There is no way they can win without any REAL argument except "I don't like your trees"!

And yes, your arborist is right - topping off a tree will deform it, make it sick, and potentially kill it!!! Argh!!!

SW, would love some elderberyy seed, whenever you get any. Thanks again for your awesome generosity!

Well, just to show there are all kinds...I don't like eucs, either, but would never recommend cutting them down unless they really are a danger to someone. Mainly, I don't like them because they crowd out native species, they're messy and there are just too dang many of them. OTOH, I would rather have them than no trees at all. And, I do NOT understand how anyone can have a case from removing anything that was there before them just...because! grrrr

Sure hope their case gets dropped, Seawatch. I also hate the fact that our court system is clogged with nuisance lawsuits like this. Gee, maybe we should tell them to get rid of Highway 76 because we've decided it's too noisy!

That's right!

I'm a tree hugger. Proud of it. My absolute favorite is the California Live Oak. We have several living with us here on our property that all have names. Since we grow Christmas trees for the choose and cut market, we always are happy to find a new oak, even when it is growing with the Christmas trees. Guess which ones get sacrificed? I wish that they werent' so hard to transplant.
The visitors to our farm always have to go and visit Grandmother Oak. She has a group of dedicated people who have put her up for historical tree status, which will help prevent shortsighted people from chopping her down. You know this tree may have been alive when Columbus landed in the Americas. We only know of one other that is bigger than Grandmother. Her name is the Great Oak, and she is on Pechanga Tribal Lands. Beautiful trees, provide habitat for all kinds of birds.
Sending a photo I took recently of younger oaks growing in amongst the pines.
Will send one of Grandmother too.
WIB,
SW

Here is one view of Grandmother. That is a six foot long bench in front of her. I'll try to find the one from the open which shows the canopy.
WIB,
SW

Here is the one from the entrance to Grandmother. This was taken last Saturday, after the Cub Scouts had their Activity Day here.
When you walk under her branches you feel her embrace. She is that kind of tree.
WIB,
SW

SW, what a glorious tree. I got goosebumps, don't know why! Maybe because of the way you describe Her. Walk in beauty! : )
Rob

There is something very primal about Live Oaks. Wish I wasn't so allergic. :-( Another one of those questions I'm going to ask my maker.

We are looking for a house right now and when we look at one with a mature beautiful tree in it i just think this must be worth something, funny, not to everyone. You have to wait 30 years for a some large, beautiful trees to grow. There aren't many things you can't get instant gratification with anymore, but trees are one of the thing you have to wait part of a lifetime for.

she's beautiful SW -the kind of tree you dream about playing under when you're a kid.

She is beautiful----and I love that you share her with the Scouts so they can learn to appreciate trees, too!

Red, the kids who visit call her the tree house.
KC are you allergic to them all the time, or only when they are flowering?
Rob, we have some very small seedlings that are only going to get crushed, if you would like to try to transplant one or two. They are slow growers. The ones in the field with the pines are about 10 years old. I think they are taller than they normally would be, because their lower limbs have been trimmed off, and they get deep soaked irrigation from the drip lines.
Wonderearth, mature trees do have or add value to a house or property. Lots of lawsuits on the books that prove just that. You'd think the developers would take the tree people into account with their planning. You just can't move a mature oak because their tap root goes so deep.
DH has a friend who spent thousands of dollars to landscape his new home in SD county with mature oaks. After a year, few of them had new shoots starting from the roots. The most magnificent was deader than a doorbell. I cried. I did suggest that because it had such good bones that they grow vines on it. I haven't seen it for a few years. I wonder what he did with them.
Visits to Grandmother can be arranged.
WIB,
SW

I know I'm allergic to the pollen and also the smoke. We have friends with a horse ranch in Warner Springs and we were there once when they were blooming and once when they burned the wood in the fireplace. I got migraines both times and it was AWful. Had a reaction to pines in North Carolina, but the pines here don't seem to bother me. Would love to see Grandmother, though.

As a former Native Californian....48 years in San Francisco (where my heart resides)
Let me get this straight....
A Blue state that prides itself in conservation, Green values, saving meadows to favor moths instead of golf courses, no drilling for oil off of the coast, and so on and so on...... cuts down riparian habitats... for what reason? Do you all know how ludicrous this looks to someone like me? To us? To you, obviously? A little hypocritical, as regards popular "policy". I need a drink. Where's the Kool-Aid?

KC, it can be arranged. We don't burn the oak. We save it for the sweat lodges or ceremony. We usually burn eucalyptus wood at home.
Aguane, Honey you are preaching to the choir. I'd need something stronger than kool aid. A coke, or if I could drink w/o worrying about drug interactions, a rum & coke!
We are obviously not politically correct on this subject, but we do share a common bond of nurturing our Mother Earth.
How in bog's name did a San Franciscan end up in the desert in AZ? What a drastic change for you!
Rob, will save you some bunches of the berries. They will dry up and look like tiny raisens. The seeds are even smaller than those of the strawberry tree. We could try cuttings too if you are game. I'm not experienced with rooting cuttings. I could try though. LMK. Photo of elderberry tree on side of the old cabin.
WIB,
SW

Thanks for your tree responses everyone. My spirits have been raised.

Singingwolf, I got a very small cutting of a strawberry tree from Annie's Annuals a couple of years ago. I had to baby it thru the winter but now it is finally getting to resemble a plant. I have it in a huge pot where it is staked. It is very different from anything I've seen. Is this going to be a tree or a bush? Also how fast does it grow. Can you tell me your experience with it. If the seeds are that small maybe that is why mine has taken so long to grow. Also can it take some shade?

The first time I ever saw live oaks was the day I moved to Newhall (now Santa Clarita) a while ago. There were all these dry brown hills with these oaks scattered around. They were beautiful. I've heard they had to cut some to make way for some housing developments. However now we can visit a local sanctuary with beautiful oaks along a creek.

KC, I am allergic to Acacia tree pollen. We have 3 trees on the side of our yard loaded with those little yellow balls, pretty to look at, messy, and not so pretty after they drop. The trees slid under the neighbor's fence as volunteers and we kind of ignored them but they grow very fast!

Do you know the name of the strawberry tree you got from Annie's? I don't recall ever seeing any Arbutus species there so I'm not sure which one you have, and depending on the cultivar there's quite a range of sizes.

Since I've never seen them carry Arbutus though I wonder if yours isn't a different plant...like this one maybe? http://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/plant_display.asp?prodid=2859&account=none It's not currently in production but I know they had it a couple years ago.

That's what I dislike about common names. If only some of the Latin names weren't so darn hard to remember! And we all have so many plants, they take up a lot of room in the old memory bank. LOL