Consultant records Carlsbad's noteworthy trees

By: BARBARA HENRY - Staff Writer
First "heritage" tree list up for City Council approval next month | Sunday, January 13, 2008 9:47 PM PST ∞

CARLSBAD ---- Hunting through history books and peeking into city parks, landscape consultant Mark Wisniewski is on a mission to create a record of Carlsbad's most significant trees.

With the help of the city's library staff, he's documented about 100 trees in the city's historical "Village" area downtown that might be worth preserving, city Public Works Superintendent Kyle Lancaster said last week.

A draft version of that heritage tree preservation list will be up for City Council approval in February.

Now, Wisniewski is investigating other parts of the town.

His second list, which is slated to be out in draft form this summer, will cover most of northern Carlsbad down to Agua Hedionda Lagoon.

It includes many stately species of interest to schoolchildren and city history lovers, Wisniewski said.

"I think one of the most interesting trees is at the Marron Adobe, because I believe it's the oldest non-native tree in the community based on information I've received from (adobe owner Shelley Hayes Caron)," he said.

Dating back to the 1850s, when northern Carlsbad was part of a Mexican land grant, the pepper tree probably grew from seeds provided by the San Luis Rey Mission, Wisniewski said.

The mission, which is believed to have the oldest pepper tree in the state, got its seeds from a Peruvian traveler.

The Carlsbad tree, which is next to the Marron Adobe just south of Highway 78, may have provided shelter for a pregnant Indian woman as she gave birth ---- or at least that's the legend Wisniewski has been told.

Separating the facts from the stories isn't easy, he added. It takes detective work ---- examining old photographs, reviewing records and talking to property owners.

Proving the age of Marron Adobe tree isn't too difficult ---- part of the tree can be spotted in old pictures, Wisniewski said.

Photos also provide evidence that a huge eucalyptus in Stagecoach Park dates from the days when the park was a stagecoach stop.

There are even old nails and bits of barbed wire still attached to the trunk, Wisniewski said.

"I know it's the same one because of the architecture of the branching ... and the location in relation to the stagecoach stop," he said as he discussed the photographic evidence.

Meanwhile, Magnolia Elementary's namesake tree predates the school, which is approaching its 50-year anniversary.

Records indicate that contractors moved a mature magnolia tree onto the site before the school opened to students, Wisniewski said.

Other potential city heritage trees that might interest history buffs and botanists include two "dragon trees" planted by former movie star Leo Carrillo at his old ranch, which is now a city park, Wisniewski added.

The two slow-growing trees, which have swordlike leaves, are among many interesting specimens at the ranch, he said.

"The reason they're called dragon trees is because the sap looks red," he added.

In order to make the city's heritage list, the trees must have "notable historical interest" or be "an unusual species or size," the city's municipal code states.

They also must be in areas that the public can view ---- parklands, roadway right-of-ways and private property that can be viewed from a public street, alley or sidewalk.

The city will be collecting comments on the draft version of the downtown heritage tree report until Jan. 28.

People can view copies of the document at City Hall, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive; the Georgina Cole Library, 1250 Carlsbad Village Drive; and the Carlsbad City Library, 1775 Dove Lane. The document also can be reviewed online at www.carlsbadca.gov/index.html.

The second report is forecast to be out by the time Carlsbad starts its new fiscal year in July.

Contact staff writer Barbara Henry at (760) 901-4072 or bhenry@nctimes.com.

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