Self-guided tree walks

Jason Dewees (left), Mike Sullivan (center, with chalk) and Richard Turner (right) with a purple smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’)

Thanks to the efforts of three local tree experts, you can enjoy more than a dozen self-guided walking tree tours in various San Francisco neighborhoods.

Since April, Mike Sullivan, former FUF board member and author of Trees of San Francisco; Jason Dewees, author of Designing with Palms; and Richard Turner, retired editor of Pacific Horticulture have used chalk to write tree descriptions and -> directional arrows -> on sidewalks to create each #covidtreetour. Fans of the project have occasionally refreshed the chalk markings, but of course chalk fades, so fortunately Mike has also posted details about the tours on his blog.

With this info you can learn the names and origins of the interesting and beautiful tree species planted on San Francisco’s streets while also getting exercise and fresh air.