With replacement, Two Trees will live on above Ventura
On a day dedicated to Mother Nature and her inhabitants, one of Ventura's favorite landmarks became whole.
High on the Ventura County hillside overlooking the city, a 15-foot-tall Tasmanian blue gum eucalyptus tree was planted. It means Two Trees will remain Two Trees, perhaps long after it's Three Trees.
More than 100 people were on hand to witness Saturday's Earth Day planting, hosted by the Rancho San Buenaventura Conservation Trust. Longtime property manager Rich Atmore, one of the founders of the land trust, called the new tree a "beacon" that would be protected, along with the rest of the property, other plants and critters.
"We did it because we love the land, but the view of the tree belongs to everybody," Atmore said.
- In the Ventura hillsides, a land donation creates buzz
- In Ventura, Two Trees will grow to Three Trees, at least for a time
- 752 scenic acres saved from development
The tree is located on 860 acres Lloyd Properties donated to the trust last September. The land, along with an additional 752 acres the trust is acquiring, will stay permanently undeveloped, trust founders Rich and Bonnie Atmore have said.
Two Trees, as it's been known for decades, has been made up of one living and one dead tree for some time. Rich Atmore said last year the tree on his property finally succumbed to drought, vandalism and old age; it was planted in 1898. Plans have been in the works for some time to put in a new one.
In five years or so, Atmore said, the new tree should be close to the size of the other one. If the dead tree hasn't fallen naturally by then, they'll consider whether to take it down or keep it as Three Trees.
Atmore said he might leave that up to the community.
Ventura City Council member Matt LaVere, who attended the event, said he joked to Atmore: “I've been coming up here my whole life. This is the first time legally."
The city native called the trees “quintessential Ventura. It’s a symbol that everybody recognized,” he said.
LaVere said watching his 3-year-old daughter shovel dirt into the planting isn’t something he will forget. In 50 or 60 years, LaVere said, she can look up high on the hillside and know she was there the day it was planted.
Because so much of the hillsides are privately owned, LaVere said he is looking forward to when the trust will open up Two Trees for hikes and other recreation.
"I think opening up Two Trees is going to be the first step," he said, toward getting more hiking trails in and around the city, a goal of his.
For the next several months, Atmore said, the plan is to water the tree once a week. They dug six feet down and put in a deep watering system, he said. The new tree is roughly 40 feet west of the dead tree. Performance Landscape designed the system for the tree, which was donated by Baron Brothers Nursery, Atmore said.
During the event, numerous people talked about how important the trees were and how significant it was the land would remain open, Atmore said.
"I was overwhelmed by the gratitude I felt," he said.
Did you know?
The other of Two Trees is owned by Mariano Ranch LLC.