Street Tree Observations!

In this project, I was able to take observations and identify 5 trees around my neighborhood in Mountain View, California (Bay Area). I was able to walk around my apartment complex and see different species of trees within just a 5 minute walk of each another. The most interesting one I was able to key out was the Ginkgo tree, and ultimately the one I would use as toilet paper (if the circumstances called for such drastic measures). It was incredibly smooth to touch and easy to handle. The aesthetic of such trees adds an extra layer of leisure around the neighborhood. It also attracts many insects and animals, that promotes its own mini biological community. Such greenery and blossoming brings me joy and happiness, as I am sure does for the other inhabitants in my apartment complex. Non of the trees I observed in this project were native to the area and instead were planted by humans (I am assuming the gardening team in charge). It was engaging to see such variety of species that I otherwise would probably have never came into contact with, but also thought provoking. I wonder if bringing so many non-native species of trees limits the space of native species as well as shifts the biological community for the native species that are sharing the space. Nevertheless, the keying process, observations, and journaling about these street tress was a new process that I am very happy with.

Mediterranean Cypress -
Key to groups: 1’, 2’, 3, 4. - Group 2

Group: 2 - 1’, 4, 5’

Species and book page: Cupressus sempervirens (Italian Cypress), location 1097 (Kindle)

Pine -
Key to groups: 1’, 2’, 3, 4’ - Group 3

Group: 3 - 1’, 3

Species and book page: Pinus (spp.), location 1245 (Kindle)

Ginkgo -
Key to groups: 1’, 2’, 3’, 5’, 8’, 9, 10

Group: N/A

Species and book page: Ginkgo biloba, location 1122 (Kindle)

Ashes -
Key to groups: 1’, 2’, 3’, 5, 6’, 7 - Group 5

Group: 5 - 1’, 3’, 5

Species and book page: Ashes (Fraxinus spp.), location 2634 (Kindle)

Crape-Myrtles -
Key to groups: 1’, 2’, 3’, 5’, 8’, 9’, 13 - Group 8

Group: 8 - 1’, 3’, 4’, 16’, 18’, 19’, 23’, 24’, 27’, 29’, 30’, 31’, 32’, 33’, 34’, 35

Species and book page: Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.), location 2905 (Kindle)

Posted on May 7, 2020 05:53 AM by