Spring Treehugger Post: Gimme a double

May 1, 2023

Happy May Day everyone. It feels like it has been a long time coming. I happen to be in Tahoe and there is still a 6-foot snowbank next to my walkway! Spring skiing has been excellent with enough sunscreen on. We have a double shot of tree hugging this Spring– something old and something new. First up, my brand-new street tree. The old sycamore had reached its time and the city tagged it for removal and replacement. It was a smooth operation. Mark all the utilities which are numerous and very colorfully marked. Cut it down one day, grind the stump another and plant a new one another day. We paid the fee to get a larger tree. Hard to tell from the photo, but my neighbor also got a replacement–standard, no charge size and there is a difference.

The second photo is a lovely apple blossom from my really, really, old Gravenstein apple tree. A family of squirrels has taken up residence in the trunk, but that has not affected the blossoming thus far.

New Sycamore

Apple blossom

Posted in Climate, Streets of Burlingame, Trees

5 responses to “Spring Treehugger Post: Gimme a double”

hollyroller@ gmail.com

May 1, 2023

Very Nice photos. I can almost smell the scene…
I can tell by the way “your” New Tree was planted that The COB did the work. COB has been Planting Trees regularly at least 30 years now. Thousands of Trees have been planted thanks to the foresight of past COB Elders. Please all. never take for granted this “urban reforestation” and the “funds” that are needed to continue. Thank You COB Elders. There really are “obvious” Long Term Goals to maintain our Tree City.
I believe Park Superintendent Rich Quadry, and COB Manager Jim Nantell found the Funds/Grants for Urban Forestry at little or No Cost.
Joe

May 2, 2023

Thanks holy. I’m just guessing but doesn’t the COB do all of the planting in the median strips since it’s their property? In any case, as I said, I am pleased with how it all progressed. The only thing that could be better is if we got a green water bag with the tree. The instructions call for 5-10 gallons of water once a week. Wouldn’t it be better if I put 10 gallons in the bag and it dripped it out to the tree over the week?
Joe

May 2, 2023

P.S. As we pulled in from Tahoe at 3pm, it was hailing in B’game! Hope our young seedlings enjoyed that.
hollyroller@ gmail.com

May 3, 2023

Bob Disco was an advocate for “tree water bags.” I believe the intension was that the homeowner/ tenant would be able to spend 3 minutes every 10 days to water their tree.
Unfortunately, 92.8% of Burlingame Residents don’t even know if they have a tree or not in their Front Yard or not. Yet the COB Tree Dept. keeps replanting. Great Work Mr. Pedro!
Joe

May 3, 2023

My thoughts were about what is best for the tree. I certainly appreciate things happening quickly–like pumping 18 gallons of gas into my car in 3 minutes verses plugging it in for an hour and a half or two–but is quicker better for the tree?
I’m no expert, but it seems to me that a steady drip for 10 days would be preferable to a 5-10 gallon flood. Inquiring minds…..
Maybe Park & Rec can weight in?

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