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I really like big trees. I grew up in Sonoma County and one of my best friends’ dads was the park ranger at Armstrong Redwood Forest outside of Guerneville; so I spent a lot of time running in pathways and creekbeds under some of the largest and oldest tree specimens in California.

Lately, I’ve seen several of large London Elms (I think that’s their name?) cut down in my neighborhood and I’m sad every time I see a fresh stump 4 feet in diameter. I know they have a lifespan and I know they get hazardous but its still sad for me.

However, I do take comfort from the fact that Sacramento has great organizations like the Tree Foundation who is actively working to advance our urban forest. I also take comfort from the number of giants that are still out there. Three months ago, I stumbled on one of them: a walnut on 17th, about a block north of Broadway. Its magnificent. I just stood there, jaw open for about two minutes. Since then, I’ve taken several people over there just to look at it. Everyone has the same reaction: WOW!

Then, a few weeks ago, my wife and I went to Capitol Park for a stroll with our girls. We spent about an hour looking around at all the trees and were amazed at the variety–some stately, some delicate, and some just plain weird-looking. I’m looking forward to going back with a tree map sometime.

And speaking of tree tours, there’s a bicycle tree tour on November 12th sponsored by The Tree Foundation and the Co-Op. Its from 1-3pm and they are meeting on the west steps of Capitol Park, then touring Sacramento’s “most beautiful and historic trees” and finishing at the Co-Op learning center for refreshments. Sounds quite fun and its free! Hope they do it again when my 18-month old can handle a longer ride.

I’m always scouting for new tree finds, so if any of you have favorites (big or small), let me know where they are.

Jason