On a gorgeous Fall afternoon, a group of Piedmont Beautification Foundation representatives and neighbors gathered at the Mountain/Bellevue Circle to place a plaque to commemorate the planting of an Island Oak (Quercus tomentella). The tree itself was planted in June of 2024.
The Island Oak has big shoes to fill as its predecessor was a Sequoia gigantea that had served as Piedmont’s first Holiday Tree. Sequoias are generally found in the Sierra Nevada mountains at an elevation of at least 5,000 ft. Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove is probably the best-known place to view the giant trees. Somehow the Mountain/Bellevue specimen enjoyed a remarkably long life in Piedmont, the highlight of which was its service during the holiday season beginning in the early 1930s and continuing until the outbreak of WWII.
Climate change and the shrinkage of water and land around its base ultimately doomed the tree to removal before it could fall. The Piedmont Beautification Foundation, under the leadership of then President Karen Sullivan, adopted the project of finding a suitable replacement. It was decided to involve the neighbors, and Sullivan, joined by Cameron Wolfe, walked door to door raising funds for a suitable replacement and the creation of a maintenance arrangement to assure the tree survives its first two years.
Extensive research was undertaken to determine the most appropriate species of tree. This project was overseen by Nancy Kent, Piedmont’s Parks and Projects Manager, with significant input from PBF. Ultimately the decision to plant an Island Oak was made by the Park Commission. Early indications are that the choice was good. The tree has already doubled its height in its first 18 months, and it appears to be thriving.
It was a happy group of neighbors and representatives of PBF who gathered at the Mountain/Bellevue Circle to place a beautiful bronze plaque which commemorates the history of the magnificent predecessor tree and the successful teamwork of PBF and the Piedmont neighbors who have the most to gain from the planting of this very special tree.