Oakland, as its name suggests, was once covered with beautiful oaks as far as the eye could see. Today you can still find many of these beautiful and iconic trees in the bay area. This natural landscape was once home to the Ohlone people who relied heavily on the oak tree and it’s acorn as a staple of the Native American diet. It was also a main food source for the squirrels, birds, deer and grizzly bears that roamed the hills and marshlands. The Spanish arrival to SF Bay during the 18th century followed by the Gold Rush of the 19th century brought immense population growth, resulting in the imminent change to the landscape. Today, renewed efforts are in place to bring back native greenery to the urban landscape and the Coast Live Oak is considered a protected tree by the City of Oakland.
By Brent Couchman — brentcouchman.com