Jorge Ochoa, horticulturalist with the city of Los Angeles and lecturer, will present a talk on the unusual trees of Los Angeles at the first meeting of the Palisades Garden Club on Monday, October 1, at 7:30 p.m. at the Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford. In 1994, Ochoa spearheaded a Department of Recreation and Parks inventory of the estimated one million trees in city parks, that provides information on each species, characteristics in relation to active and passive recreation, cooling/shading effects and the ecological and financial benefits of each. Using Global Positioning System (GPS), the department identified each park tree and its location in the park. Ochoa said the species are divided into five categories, which are intended to help the laymen discover the rich variety of trees in city parks. The categories include dedicated trees, such as the pine in Griffith Park named for Beatle George Harrison; L.A. ordinance native oaks, of which there are an estimated 670 in city parks; trees with horticultural significance, such as the giant dioon cycad’the largest in the city’in Rustic Canyon Park; historic trees, such as the eucalyptus grove in Rustic Canyon and special habitat trees. Ochoa will also identify some of the heritage trees and their location. These individual trees of any size or species are specially designated because of their historical, commemorative or horticultural significance. Several of these species are growing in the Palisades, including the spider gum (Eucalyptus lehmanii) at Palisades Recreation Center. Unlike other eucalyptus trees, the spider gum flowers are fused together forming a large inflorescence, resembling a powder puff brush. In its native Australia, the flowers are pollinated by many species of honeyeaters. To assist these birds in sipping the nectar, the tree produces along the stem or on woody branches to provide the thirsty birds with a land platform to perch while they sip. Ochoa is currently involved in the city’s million-tree initiative; launched by Mayor Villaragoisa last year to help cool down the cityscape and set in motion other environmental changes. Ochoa is selecting appropriate trees for each of the designated public areas. For example, to plant around a play area, Ochoa chooses evergreen trees with strong branch attachment for their low-maintenance and safety. Choices may include the strawberry tree (arbutus), Catalina ironwood, fruitless olive, and the New Zealand chaste tree.
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