In a fitting end to 2021, a huge protected native California Black Walnut Tree, growing on the Lake View Ave side of the Red Car Property, fell victim to this week's deluge. As the species evolved to do, it survived decades of the drought/deluge pattern of Southern California weather. It was likely too much rain, too fast, on a steep slope, combined with run-off from the built hillside environment, to keep the beloved tree upright.
Oddly, I have admired the tree for three decades, but have surprisingly few photos of just this large tree. The Red Car Property is not a park, it just looks like one.
The native tree was so large and among a long row of large trees, it was often difficult to single out just one tree.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, 2010. The healthy Black Walnut thrived behind a home at one of the lowest points of elevation of Lake View Ave. It took advantage of significant hillside run-off. It was couple of houses north of Rose Scharlin Nursery School.
A previous owner of the Lake View Ave house told me, the tree was a big reason they bought the house. Despite knowing the tree was on the Red Car Property, they took care of it. They even hired a certified arborist/tree trimmer to maintain it, because the tree brought value to not only their home, but their lives.
Upon seeing today's photos, several neighbors had the same reaction as I did, "Noooooo!"
The native Black Walnut towered over the trail on the Red Car Property.
The Red Car Property is not a park, it just looks like one. We mourn the loss of another iconic native tree.
