Meet the island oak (Quercus tomentella), a rare beauty found only on California’s Channel Islands. These majestic trees are a vital part of our coastal ecosystems, offering food and shelter to countless species while telling the story of California’s unique natural history. But their future is uncertain. Habitat loss and climate change threaten these oaks, which is why the Garden’s Living Collections Curator Christina Varnava is helping protect and study them. By planting native trees, supporti

This was the first year I tried growing some oaks (Quercus) and hickories (Carya) in an air-pruned raised bed, originally inspired by friend Nick at Living Soil Tree Farm. This is a super efficient way to grow lots of saplings in a small amount of space. You just have to make sure to protect them adequately from squirrels, mice, and chipmunks. This year, I grew swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor), chestnut oak (Q. montana), southern red oak (Q. falcata), and mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa). Ve