Since incorporation in December 1991, the City Council of the City of Lake Forest has supported an on-going landscape improvement program, which we hope you agree is helping to make the City of Lake Forest increasingly attractive. Now, a new program has been instituted by the City Council called "Expand the Forest". This plan will encourage citizen participation in tree planting and provide an opportunity for urban forest enhancement while minimizing the financial responsibility of the City. The part you get to play works like this:
Decide to sponsor a street tree to be planted in public parks, open space or other City-maintained areas;
Contact the The Public Works Department and request information about the City Council selected tree palette of approved trees, or access an information sheet here: Expand The Forest Information Sheet
The $70.00 purchase cost includes: tree, location study, staking, fertilization and root barriers, as needed.
Mail your applicaiton and $70.00 check to:
The City of Lake Forest Expand the Tree Program 25550 Commercentre Drive, Ste. 100 Lake Forest, CA 92630 Attn: Glorianne Hesse
All future maintenance deemed necessary regarding Expand the Forest trees, will be performed by the Public Works Department. Citizen sponsors will receive a formal Certificate of Acknowledgment, signed by our City Council. Names of sponsors, trees selected, planting location and any pertinent dedication information will be published in the City's "Leaflet" magazine each quarter.
What a great way to honor a parent on Father's or Mother's Day! How about a tree for your Valentine? Sponsor a tree to celebrate a new baby, a significant birthday, or to congratulate a graduating student. Wouldn't a beautiful tree be a loving, living memorial for a deceased friend or relative? Use your imagination and make a commitment to "Expand the Forest"!
If you should have questions regarding tree section or planting locations please call Glorianne Hesse at (949) 461-3493.
See information listed below regarding three of the five available sponsored trees : (Sponsored trees are Sycamore, Liquid Amber, Tristania, Coast Live Oak, Magnolia) CALIFORNIA SYCAMORE (Platanus racemosa)
Species Characteristics
Form - Deciduous. Fast growth to robust 50 - 100' in height. Smooth branches, often gracefully twisted and contorted.
Trunk - Main trunk often grows at an angle, rather than straight up and may branch low to form secondary trunks. Attractive bark is patchy, buff and white.
Foliage - Large leaves, similar to Maple, to 9" long. Yellowish green, turning dusty brown in fall. Brown leaves may remain until new growth begins.
Flowers / fruit - Seed clusters are small, brown balls hanging in clumps of 3 to 7 along a single stalk.
Site Suitability
Sunset zones 4 through 24. Native along streams in California foothills/Coastal range.
For native or wild gardens or large, informal spaces.
Cultural Considerations
Somewhat drought tolerant, but prefer deep summer watering. Able to withstand much heat and wind. Leaves should be raked and discarded.
MAGNOLIA GRANDIFLORA (Magnoliaceae)
Species Characteristics:
Form - Evergreen. Formal, dense, broadly pyramidal tree, slow growing to 60' tall, spreading to 40' wide.
Trunk - Smooth when young, maturing to dark brownish black platelets.
Foliage - Glossy, stiff and leathery leaves are deep green, rusty brown-backed and variable by cultivar. They are ovate, 3 - 10" long and 2 - 4" wide, with edges that are entire and occasionally wavy. The reddish young branches and pointed brownish-green buds are both pubescent.
Flowers / fruit - Large, showy, scented 6 - 10" cup-shaped flowers have fleshy light yellow to ivory petals. Trees begin flowering at 15 years and then bloom throughout the summer. Fall fruits are 3 - 4" cone-shaped pods, which split open to reveal shiny bright red seeds. Very showy during flowering and fruiting.
Cultivars - Numerous cultivars covering a broad range of shapes and sizes, some reaching no more than 20', as well as some with variations in leaf, flower, and growth characteristics.
No significant pest problems.
Site Suitability:
Sunset zones 4 through 12 and 14 through 24
Clearances - Suitable for 8 - 12' parkways or 10 - 20' medians. Smaller cultivars are suitable under utility lines and in smaller planting sites.
Good for street sides, medians, parks, and lawns.
Culture Considerations:
Tolerant of heat and damp soil. Somewhat drought tolerant. Must have good drainage. Litter problems.
COAST LIVE OAK (Quercus Agrifolia)
Species Characteristics:
Form - Evergreen, rounded head, wide-spreading tree, 20 to 70 feet high, often with greater spread.
Trunk - Short, stout trunk, many large crooked spreading branches; broad, rounded crown, sometimes shrubby.
Foliage - Dark green holly-like leaves, 1" to 3" long, and ½ to 1 ½" wide; slightly glossy on the upper surface. Leaves are oblong or elliptical, short-pointed or rounded at both ends, with edges turned under and bearing spiny teeth; thick and leathery. Shiny dark green above, yellow-green and often hairy beneath.
Flowers / fruit - Acorns are 1" to 1 ½" long; narrowly egg-shaped, 1/3 enclosed by a deep thin cup with many brownish, finely hairy scales outside and silky hairs inside, or a few together; stalkless; maturing first year.
Attractive green all year unless hit by oak moth larvae.
Site Suitability:
Sunset zones 5 and 7 through 24. This is the common oak of the California coast and foothills, forming parklike groves that often appear in the scenery of motion pictures made in Hollywood.
It's a handsome and worthwhile shade tree or street tree.
Culture Considerations:
Oaks native to the western United States, or to the Mediterranean region, need no watering after they are established (but water them through the first or second dry season).
