Treasures in Our Midst: A Treasure Hunt of Special Trees at ZSFG
Anile Woods, Head Gardener at ZSFG, wrote about the special trees at ZSFG to help others learn about and appreciate some of the treasures in our midst. Her article first appeared in ZSFG Newsletter A Moment to Pause, Issue #30: Treasures in Our Midst, Part II: Trees (June 1, 2021). The ZSFG Tree Scavenger Hunt is available with printable PDF. Below is an excerpt from the article.
During the first decade of the 1900's, when SFGH was first built on its current grounds, a very creative landscaper planted an interesting selection of conifers, evergreens, palms and shrubs, a cut flower garden, and vegetables. There was a crew of 12 gardeners to take care of it all! A few original trees remain and an eclectic assortment of species have been added during subsequent years.
Today gardeners focus on a plan to promote diversity of species and address climate change issues, planting trees for the future. This year, we planted several interesting young trees around Buildings 9/30/40, an area of campus we call our "mini arboretum." Keep an eye out for more trees, less common and diverse, to be planted around the campus in the upcoming year.
"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit."
- Nelson Henderson
Atlas Cedar
Cedrus atlantica
Cabbage Tree
Cordyline australis
California Nutmeg
Torreya california
Thornless Chilean Mesquite
Prosopis chilensis
Italian Stone Pine
Pinus pinea
Cork Oak
Quercus suber
Coastal Live Oaks
Quercus agrifolia
Podocarp Icee Blue**
Podocarpus elongatus
Irish Yew
Taxus baccata
Chinese Wingnut Tree
Pterocarya stenoptera
Wollemi Pine*
Wollemia nobelis
* Wollemi Pine is located in the Resilience Garden at ZSFG
** When the steel structure of the new UCSF Research and Academic Building at ZSFG reached its full height, the community celebrated with a 'Topping Out Event' on April 22, 2021. During the ceremony, the final beam, signed by key project participants, was hoisted to the top to complete the steel structure. Following tradition, attached to the beam was a flag and a small, evergreen tree. The tree, a Podocarupus Icee Blue (left), is now planted permanently on the hill between the Research and Academic Building and Building 5.