Our Piedmont Recreation Department's Walking on Wednesdays group had a sunny, mild morning this Wednesday, perfect for a walk with some elevation. A strong turnout of 50 walkers and three K-9 best friends were on hand at the Exedra ready for it.
Lois P and Sherry J reminded everyone that we are going to walk together in Piedmont's 4th of July Parade. They also showed off their new Walking on Wednesdays' parade banner. A picture of it from Brenda F is attached.
Earlier in June, Nancy Kent, the City's Parks & Project Manager, made a presentation to the Recreation Commission on the City's new Reforestation Project. The City has completed a public tree inventory to catalog the many different species of trees in Piedmont. Dozens of trees were identified that are either failing or have died because of the increasingly harsher climate. The Piedmont Beautification Foundation (PBF) has begun a campaign to support replacing these trees with species that are native, or compatible to California, and more likely to thrive.
The Reforestation Project started in Dracena Park with the removal of over 30 dead trees. The City's arborist thinks they died because of the prolonged drought, warmer summers with less fog, and changing climate conditions. The project also included replacing an old friend, the tall Sequoia in the Mountain-Bellevue circle.
We hadn't been to the circle for a while and decided to see what had changed. We could continue up Mountain Avenue for a good climb and see the views. Anyone who didn't want to climb "the Mountain" could continue on to Sea View Avenue, and return to the city center via Crocker Avenue.
We headed off going through Piedmont Park, and stopped by the Tea House to look at a redwood that is clearly not in good health. It may be suffering from the same conditions that doomed the Sequoia.
We went up Sierra Avenue to a hidden path between 17 and 29 that took us to Mountain and the circle where more information was shared. PBF Advisor Cameron W, Jr. had written that the Sequoia stood high in this intersection for generations, even serving as Piedmont's first holiday tree during the 20s and 30s, but this was stopped by the onset of World War II. Last fall there was an immediate danger of the tree toppling and it was quickly removed.
During its March meeting the Park Commission approved the City staff's recommendation, which was supported by PBF, to replace the Sequoia with an Island Oak. This species is native to California, especially the Channel Islands. The tree is likely to thrive in this small traffic island that has no regular source of water. PBF raised over $8,000 from neighbors, and it was planted in the circle on June 10th with PBF's Karen S and others on hand. These funds will also cover additional planting, and care for the tree for at least two years. We took the attached group photo with the new oak behind us.
Some walkers went down Sea View, but the rest of us continued up the steep Mountain Avenue. We enjoyed the beautiful homes along the way, and crossed Blair Avenue to see the wonderful view of San Francisco from Bell Avenue. Peggy S, who lives on Bell, said the street was once the continuation of Mountain Avenue, but someone named Bell wanted the road's name changed.
In the middle of the street, Jack F said he had been told a home there was the highest residence in Piedmont. A phone elevation check said the house is 650 feet above the Bay below.
We continued on to and down Scenic Avenue. Between 354 and 350 we found the longest path/stairs in Piedmont. It is 281 feet long with 149 steeps (Nancy D knew, and Phil W counted them), thankfully with a railing, and emerges on Blair Avenue. We went up Blair, and then down it, past the house where Jack London wrote The Call of the Wild. Jack F and I checked and that K-9 best friend's name was Buck.
Going up Hardwick Avenue took us to Oakland Avenue and then back to Highland Avenue and the Exedra. It was a two mile walk with trees, elevation, hidden paths, history, views, fun, and friends.
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