The Cherry Trees of Trinidad by Mary Wilbur

Written by Mary Wilbur of the Patrick’s Point Garden Club, reprinted with permission.

It is fourteen years since Patrick’s Point Garden Club planted
cherry trees on the streets of Trinidad.  Then young striplings 5
feet tall, they are now mature trees of 20 feet.

Thanks to the Small Business Administration and California Re-
Leaf, which is a National Urban Forestry program geared to
community tree planting and maintenance, grants were obtained to
make the project possible.  In January 1995 the club planted twenty-
five flowering cherries, Prunus ‘Sekiyama’ (syn P.Kwanzan).

It was not easy selecting trees that met the misgivings of some of
the City Fathers. They should not obstruct views (everyone’s prime
concern along this scenic shore), obscure traffic sight lines, push
up the sidewalk, have poisonous berries or leaves, break in the
wind, go brown in the salty air, or offend those who favor native
plants (although native trees have no great record of success on
urban streets).  We wanted trees that would cheer us with spring
flowers following a rainy winter and provide a bright contrast with
the dark evergreen trees so prevalent in this region.

The cherries were tenderly looked after by community volunteers – The Trinidad Tree Tenders. Each member weeded their
chosen tree, would test it for moisture in the soil, and report
damage and the presence of insects that seemed to threaten the trees
health. Routine watering was paid for, but on one holiday week-end
when the official tree waterer had unexpectedly taken off, residents
were treated to the sight of Tree Tenders lugging pails of water
through the streets determined that their trees would not suffer.
Now the trees are self sufficient and just need annual pruning.

Because of the cooperation of Glen Saunders – an old time resident
who knew the city well,  and who walked the city streets with us -
we were able to make sure the trees were planted on city property.
One error was revealed by a later survey and that tree is lost to us
although it is still there. The tree in question has been deformed
by inept pruning which weakens the tree and will eventually cause
its death. I turn my head away when I pass it.

Patrick’s Point Garden Club has planted other trees in the city’s
less frequented streets as well as landscaping around the historic
marker on Edwards St,. which was previously a piece of waste land
pocked with gopher mounds and hazardous with dog droppings, and the
marker itself obscured by a mass of weeds.

The cherry trees, however, are a recurring joy. Soon to be heavy
with pink blossoms in the spring and later red with color in the
fall, they seem to be enjoyed by most citizens. The response of a
resident to whom I was introduced for the first time was, “Oh!
you’re the tree lady”. What nicer reward could I hope for?

Thanks to Mary Wilbur of the Patrick’s Point Garden Club for this article.