When offered a chance to tour West Hollywood’s newly designated Heritage Trees, WeHoNews snapped it up – what a great day o’ photos, we thought!
 A squirrel (lower right) using a Heritage Tree for its intended purpose, a place of nourishment and rest. Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
Besides, ever since breaking a wrist in a fall from a “Monkey Tree” in the public park, we’ve held trees in awe (mostly because the guilty monkey tree failed to succumb to my punishments, standing in utter disregard for our well-being to this very day).
What we discovered, when we joined school teacher Geoff Buck, who happens to own two of the newly-designated trees, were the true unsung treasures of our city, the real gems that have grown gracefully old in a glamour as great as the Sunset Strip’s.
Heritage Tree 6 awed us, being one hundred years old makes it an adolescent when the then-Hancock Rancho was pumping oil out from under the ground just to the south.
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“This tree is a survivor of redevelopment. This entire area at the time would have been covered with oak trees of this type,” remarked our tour guide, Geoff Buck, who is also a member of the West Hollywood Tree Preservation Society, the group responsible for steering the city into making a “Heritage Tree” designation to begin with.
 Geoff Buck in front of his Cedrus Deodar. Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
The trees we visited together had all been nominated in 2007 and designated in a February 11 meeting of the Public Facilities Commission.
Heritage Trees are to fulfill a certain criterion, including being of remarkable age or size, historical importance or having been planted as a memorial, among others.
“We are so glad the city has helped us design this program,” Mr. Buck said. “Especially extending the financial benefits of the program to the tree owners.”
The designated trees receive care from the city if any health or emergency need arises, as well as pruning/trimming every four years by the city’s arborist – all at no charge, a savings in the thousands.
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David Gardner, who led the recent Arbor Day Tree Planting of a dozen trees along La Jolla and Harper just south of Santa Monica Boulevard, expressed excitement about the program because of the interest in trees it engenders.
“We love that program, and hope people will nominate their favorite trees as Heritage Trees.” (a nomination form is available by clicking here)
 A view of Mr. Buck’s trees from a half block behind his home. Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
The program’s introduction, however, warns against attempts to abuse the designation to stop or slow development, a codicil added by a council member to keep designations from impeding progress.
“The Program is not intended to be a means to obstruct or stop the development of private or public property and the protection of a Heritage Tree shall not be a factor in preventing development on property that is contiguous to or near to the tree’s location.”
Geoff Buck said that the practical value to owning a lot on which a “protected Heritage Tree,” which differs from a mere Heritage Tree, “comes from the pruning and trimming and care, as well as the increase in property value it should bring.”
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He could not, however, say how much value a Heritage Tree designation might add.
The City lists the following criterion for Heritage Tree nominations:
* Must be architecturally sound, true to its genetic form, and not
topped or badly pruned.
 Two majestic jacarandas grace a craftsman home’s front yard in a quiet neighborhood – for more of these splendid trees, see below. Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
* Must have full potential to reach mature size and form, taking into
consideration site constraints such as adjacent buildings,
roadways, utilities, etc.
* Must be visible from publicly accessible location(s).
Upon meeting the above three criteria, any tree or shrub being considered for nomination as a Heritage Tree then must meet a minimum of two of the following four numbered criteria:
1. Any tree or shrub that has historical significance, including but not limited to a specimen that is or was planted:
a. As a commemorative, memorial, or tribute; or
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b. During an historical era significant to the Southern California
Region, and recognized as characteristic of the landscaping of that era.
2. Any tree or shrub that has horticultural significance, including but not limited to a specimen that is:
 One magic of Southern California climate is the blending of different tree species all co-existing, quite well. Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
a. Distinctive in size, beauty, structure, or age, as compared to other individuals of the same species in the City; or
b. An unusual species for the West Hollywood area and/or seldom found growing in southern California urban areas;
or
c. Identified as playing a significant role in the landscape or architecture of a specific location.
3. Any tree from the “Southern California Native Tree List”1 that has a diameter at standard height (DSH) of at least 8 inches, as measured at 4.5 feet above grade. Trees with multiple trunks will be measured below the lowest crotch (point where tree forks into two or more trunks), at the location giving the smallest diameter.
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4. Any tree NOT on the Southern California Native Tree List” that is at least 24 inches in diameter at DSH. Trees with multiple trunks will be measured below the lowest crotch (point where tree forks into two or more trunks), at the location giving the smallest diameter.
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Heritage Trees 1 and 2
1007 N. Sierra Bonita Avenue
Tree specie: cedrus deodar (2) | Age: approx. 85 years | Height: both 60 feet | Crown Width: 35 feet | Trunk Diameters: 24 inches (measured 4.5 feet from the ground)
.jpg) Tree specie: cedrus deodar (2) | Age: approx. 85 years | Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
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These 2 private trees make a beautiful pair and represent a great example of the species due to their height, age and location. There are not many of this species in West Hollywood.
 Tree specie: cedrus deodar (2) | Age: approx. 85 years | Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
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Heritage Tree 3
947 N Harper Avenue
Tree specie: ficus msorensis | Age: 80 years | Height: 50 feet | Crown Width: 50 feet
.jpg) Tree specie: ficus msorensis | Age: 80 years | Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
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This private tree is native to Mysore, south India and was introduced to the United States in January 1924 at the Golden State Park, San Francisco, California. This is a rare tree due to its aesthetic beauty and in the spring is home to a flock of migrating parrots.
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Heritage Trees 4 and 5
7512 Hampton Avenue
Tree specie: Jacaranda Mimosifolia | Age: 95 – 100 years | Height: both 50 – 75 feet | Crown Width: both 50 – 75 feet | Trunk Diameters: 25 and 20 inches (measured 4.5 feet from the ground)
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.jpg) Tree specie: Jacaranda Mimosifolia | Age: 95 – 100 years | Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
These 2 city trees are beautifully matched to this 1914 Craftsman home. This street was probably once lined with them. Now there are few original houses and fewer original trees. The age of theses jacarandas make them the area’s oldest surviving examples. Jacarandas were not introduced until the turn of the century by botanist Kate Sessions.
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.jpg) Tree specie: Jacaranda Mimosifolia | Age: 95 – 100 years | Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
The apparent age of these trees put them within 10 years of their emergence in the southern California region. The colossal crown height of these trees create the effect of a gigantic building size purple ball in the sky when they bloom twice a year. Their 30 plus inch trunk diameters are quite impressive.
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Heritage Tree 6
1000 Kings Road (Kings Road Park)
.jpg) Tree specie: Quercus Ilex, Holly Oak | Age: est. 100 plus years. Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
Tree specie: Quercus Ilex, Holly Oak | Age: est. 100 plus years | Height: Approx. 45 feet | Crown Width: Approx. 45 feet | Trunk Diameter: 29 inches (measured 4.5 feet from the ground)
This city tree is located in a public park and is an unusual species for West Hollywood particularly for its age. This oak tree is a true survivor of Southern California development.
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.jpg) Tree specie: Quercus Ilex, Holly Oak | Age: est. 100 plus years. Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
It is, as are all old mature oak trees, distinctive in its character size and beauty. Growing almost in the dead center of Kings Road Park, the Oak is clearly a centerpiece and focal point commanding attention. Quercus Ilex are native to the Mediterranean area, Turkey and Northern Africa.
Click here to Nominate a Tree and/or to learn more about Heritage Trees.