Tree brainstorming

[hrj]

So I've started filling out my official City of Oakland Application for Permission to Remove a Protected Tree. (A "protected tree" includes any tree with a trunk diameter over 9 inches at chest height ... unless it's a nuissance species like eucalyptus.) I'm probably over-explaining my reasons for wanting to remove the fig; I could probably get away with "look, I currently have 6 full size mature trees and 4 semi-dwarf or young trees in a 1500 square foot back yard, could I pretty please take one out so I can have some sun too?" Annoyingly, I have to pay a fee for this application -- and the same fee covers up to 10 tree removals. No discounts for single trees. (I'm also taking out the damaged apple, but the trunk is under the limit so it doesn't need a permit.)

While the fig removal is (at least in part) to open up some space, I intend to replace the apple with something. Any suggestions of what? Currently my tree inventory covers almond, bay, plum, cherry, lemon, and lime (plus non-food trees). Since my micro-climate clearly supports apples, another apple might be good, but I can get as good apples at the store as I'd be able to grow. I'd rather grow something (like the plum) where straight-off-the-tree makes a big difference. Or something too obscure to get at the store (although that's pretty obscure around here). I'd be tempted to try apricots, but the next door neighbor had a peach with curl not to many years ago and I don't have the energy for that particular heartbreak. The climate is basic bay-side, with a few (but very few) frosty days in winter and a few (but very few) exceedingly hot days in summer. The sunlight is not all that it could be, largely because the back yard is to the east of the house, and the next neighbor to the east has tall trees as well.

The painting is moving along at a startling rate of speed. They expect to finish the various woodwork repairs this weekend and then start priming. I remember it being a much more leisurely process the last time we painted ... but I also remember it basically being "two guys and a ladder" last time, whereas this time I'm getting a succession of specialty crews for the various stages of the process.

Comments

[blaurentnv.livejournal.com]

Olives? Many olive trees have been replaced with grapevines. It takes quite a while for an olive tree to be productive, but I think you're going to be there a while.

[roswtr.livejournal.com]

Wardens, perhaps? You've got a quince, don't you?

[wulfsdottir.livejournal.com]

Avocado, perhaps, or walnut. Both are messy, though. I also note a lack of pears in your list. I find pears from the tree to be far superior to pears from the market. If they aren't picked too early for sturdiness in shipping, and flavorless as a result, then they're picked too late, and are bruised off-flavor mush by the time they get home. Generally, where you can grow both apples and plums, you can grow pears.

[(Anonymous)]

We had a macadamia nut tree in San Diego and it was just starting to produce a fair-sized crop when we moved away. It had been there about five years, I think. Mom

[helblonde.livejournal.com]

Pippin Apples. They're oh so tasty, and Gramma JIMR tells me that some stock is tracable to medieval trees.

[kaththeamac.livejournal.com]

I second the pears.

[naadhira.livejournal.com]

Dunno if you're warm enough for apricots, but you simply cannot get good 'cots anywhere but off a tree.

Or, if you want something more obscure, check out www.onegreenworld.com. I love those guys...

[j-i-m-r.livejournal.com]

Medlars. They are nearly impossible to get in this country unless you have a tree in your yard. My yard isn't suitable for fruit trees of any size, so I keep trying to get someone I know to grow a medlar. I'll even buy you the tree, just let me have a share of the fruit. The fruit tastes like really good apple sauce with cinnamon.