In the Works - Community Newsletter In the Works September 2017 | Page 11

Francisco,” Buck says, and admits that wind and fog exposure must be considered when deciding which species his team can plant. “In the Mission, we can plant over 100,” he says. “In the avenues, we’re looking at probably five.” Buck uses the analogy of automobiles when identifying trees. “When you see the angle of a car at a red light, you know right away it’s a Lexus. When I see a tree from a distance, I know it’s a Monterey Cyprus,” Buck says. But when it comes to his favorite, the tulip tree, Buck reverts back to poetry, recalling Walt Whitman, who coined it, “Apollo of the woods.” Buck estimates that, of San Francisco’s nearly 125,000 street trees, most have been planted within the past 50 years. Unfortunately, many were planted on sidewalks that would prove to be too narrow for the species or conflict with stop signs and utilities. Today, Buck says, “We study that stuff really closely and are always looking at changing and improving the selection of species – the right tree in the right place.” Proposition E, which was approved by San Francisco voters in November 2016 and implemented in July of this year, has transferred the maintenance of all street trees to the City. This means that the Bureau of Urban Forestry, overseen by Public Works’ Superintendent Carla Short, has been exceptionally busy. In August, Short and Buck’s team – with help from more than 600 volunteers – planted 500 trees in District 11 in a matter of hours. “With Prop E, we’re up for the challenge,” says Buck. “We don’t plant 20 trees and hope that five make it. We plant 20 trees with the goal of having 20 healthy trees 20 years from now.” He adds, “We want to focus on tree protection. We’re finally managing trees from start to finish throughout a tree’s life cycle: planting, structured pruning, routine maintenance, sidewalk repair and, when necessary, removal.” For some, that may sound like hard work. For Buck, it’s pure poetry. September 2017 - San Francisco Public Works Newsletter