December is the perfect time to think about trees. In fact, the United Kingdom has the first week of December as National Tree Week to celebrate the beginning of the best time to plant trees. This is a much better time for folks living in California then the Arbor Day time of late April. The ground is just wet enough to make it easy to dig and the winter rains will help to establish the roots. While we\u2019re thinking about trees let\u2019s consider how trees impact the wildlife in our urban setting. Trees play a huge role in providing habitat for bees, birds, and butterflies. The Pollinator Partnership is an international organization whose mission is to promote the health of pollinators, critical to food and ecosystems, through conservation, education, and research. In 2016, their annual poster used for outreach and education shall focus on the many benefits that trees provide to pollinators, such as:<\/p>\n
Examples of trees that are locally adapted and create excellent habitat for wildlife are listed below. Select trees that are an appropriate size for your yard and meet the water, sun, and soil conditions that you have and they will give you and wildlife many years of beauty and enjoyment.<\/p>\n
Trees as host plants for butterflies (a host plant is one that a butterfly can lay its eggs on because it is the only or one of the only plants its caterpillars can eat to complete its life cycle): <\/strong><\/p>\n Salix spp<\/em>. Willow<\/p>\n Aesculus californica<\/em> California Buckeye<\/p>\n Platanus racemosa<\/em> California Sycamore<\/p>\n Populus<\/em> Cottonwoods, Poplars<\/p>\n Betula<\/em> Birch<\/p>\n Prunus ilicifolia<\/em> Cherry<\/p>\n Arctostaphylos manzanita \u2018Dr. Hurd\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n Trees as a source of nectar\/pollen for butterflies:<\/strong><\/p>\n Aesculus californica<\/em> California Buckeye<\/p>\n Trees as a source of nectar for hummingbirds:<\/strong><\/p>\n Arctostaphylos manzanita <\/em>\u2018Dr. Hurd\u2019<\/p>\n Chilopsis linearis<\/em> Desert Willow<\/p>\n Salix spp.<\/em> Willow<\/p>\n Ceanothus<\/em> \u2018Ray Hartman\u2019<\/p>\n Arbutus mensiesii<\/em> Pacific Madrone<\/p>\n Platanus racemosa<\/em> Western Sycamore<\/p>\n Sambucus<\/em> Mexicana Blue Elderberry<\/p>\n Heteromeles arbutifolia<\/em> Toyon<\/p>\n Aesculus californica<\/em> California Buckeye<\/p>\n Trees as a source of fruit\/seeds for birds:<\/strong><\/p>\n Trees as a source of nectar\/pollen for bees:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>The links below provide further descriptions of these trees and the benefits they provide to wildlife<\/strong><\/p>\n http:\/\/homeguides.sfgate.com\/trees-nectar-pollen-honeybees-65869.html<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.gardeners.com\/how-to\/attracting-butterflies-hummingbirds\/7265.html<\/a><\/p>\n www.helpabee.org<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/nipomonativegarden.org\/plantinfo\/trees.shtml<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.redbud-cnps.org\/Hummingbird%20Plants%20short.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/nababutterfly.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/ca_bayarea.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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