The Oak Project

Ancient giant: Oak Project founder Jim Crouch got a chance to see this massive coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) out at Pechanga Reservation last week. #trees

It’s cold now, but warm weather earlier this winter threw off a lot of fruit trees in San Diego County. Many have leafed out & bloomed way early, like the pomegranate pictured. TSD arborist Kurt Peacock says low yields on many fruit trees are likely because of the lack of cold nights. #trees

Coast live oak

Catkins, the pollen-producing male flowers of oak trees, are appearing early this year on many coast live oaks. In most years, the catkins usually bloom in March in San Diego County. #oaks

A lovely day to learn: Join Tree San Diego's Tree Trek Saturday at Chula Vista Memorial Park, where we’ll explore local tree species, talk about the benefits they provide, and enjoy a relaxed walk through this beautiful green space. It's from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at 373 Park Way, 91910. #trees

Looking for a career in urban forestry? Join Tree San Diego's Treejectory. The program runs March 7 to 28. You'll take part in tree-planting instruction and fieldwork and learn from ISA-certified arborists. To learn how to apply and for more information, go to: www.treesandiego.org/treejectory

Jim Crouch spoke about the Oak Project and showed about 20 people how to plant and raise seedlings Saturday at the Pamo Valley Winery tasting room in Ramona on Saturday. Seedlings of several species were available - for free. Some attendees also used provided soil to pot their own. #trees #oaks

Living near trees may protect the heart in ways grass does not — Earth.com Cities often feel crowded, noisy, and stressful. Concrete roads and tall buildings dominate daily surroundings. Green areas offer relief and help people feel calmer and healthier.

Trees help your heart, too! A study, led by the University of California, Davis, showed that urban neighborhoods with more visible trees had lower rates of cardiovascular disease. #trees

apple.news/A4mPWaAMCQNW...

We’re proud to share that TSD distributed 2,504 trees to San Diego County residents in 2025 through our Leafing Our Legacy program & partner-supported events. The trees are helping to grow a cooler, greener, & more climate-resilient urban forest. We strive to distribute more trees in 2026. #trees

Tree San Diego Executive Director Elektra Fike-Data has been named one of San Diego Magazine's "50 People to Watch"! The publication hails Elektra's & TSD's efforts to plant trees, educate volunteers & community members, and create workforce development programs. #trees (Photo Credit: Matt Furman)

What a benefit for city or countryside

Branching out: Residents of Aguanga in Riverside County have asked for help from The Oak Project. And founder Jim Crouch did a demonstration on Saturday at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, where dozens of people potted sprouting acorns and learned about our oak restoration efforts. #trees #oaks

San Diego County has had plenty of rain this winter, which is great for most trees. What it hasn't had much of is cold, & that can have negative impacts on fruit production. Many stone fruits may not meet their minimum number of "chill hours" (with temps between 32° & 45°) for good yields. #trees

Snow and hoarfrost covered English Oak in south #Cheshire, England for #ThickTrunkTuesday.

A #Kodachrome from the early 1980s.

#EastCoastKin #PhotoHour #photography #landscape #winter

Current Newspaper - Kindness Happens Here CURRENT ISSUE January 2026

Jim Crouch's oak propagation efforts are featured in the new publication "Kindness Happens Here." kindnesshappenshere.org/current-news...

Us too! 3500 threatened Engelmann Oak seedlings were planted these last two years. You go Nature!

Thanks to the support of individual donors and corporate partners, we have distributed over 3,500 trees across San Diego in just two years! Your donation can help us get more trees in the ground where they’re needed most. Visit www.treesandiego.org to contribute to the cause. #trees

A recent acorn-gathering venture took The Oak Project out to a beautiful area near Ramona. The focus has shifted to finding suitable homes and stewards for the approximately 10,000 seedlings we're raising for distribution in 2026. #oaks #trees

An invitation from Ashley and Chaz Campbell last Saturday to visit an oak woodland at DT Nursery west of Temecula yielded 682 viable coast live oak acorns. The Oak Project is on pace to propagate 10,000 oak seedlings (left) for distribution in 2026. #oaks #trees

Fall colors come later in San Diego County, often in December. At left is a crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia), known as much for its colorful blooms in summer as its fall foliage. At right is a liquidambar (Liquidambar styraciflua) or sweetgum, whose leaves are shaped like maple leaves. #trees

We know there and many, many worthy causes on this Giving Tuesday, a day for people to give back to their communities. That's what Tree San Diego is all about. We strive to make our neighborhoods cleaner, cooler, healthier and more beautiful. Donate at: www.treesandiego.org/donate . #trees

“When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds, and diamonds are made under pressure.” - Peter Marshall
Happy Thanksgiving, from The Oak Project #oaks #trees

The Oak Project is in high gear! Soil for 1,000 pots has just been delivered. Another 4,000 pots will have soil soon. Roughly 6,600 pots will be ready for acorn planting within weeks. Potentially 12,000 seedlings from multiple oak species will be set for distribution in early 2026. #oaks #trees

TSD Plant-A-Thon 2025 YouTube video by Tree San Diego

We’re on a mission to plant and distribute 1,000 trees across San Diego County by the end of the year. Check out our Plant-A-Thon Kick-Off recap video to learn more - and join us in the field for our next event! #trees www.youtube.com/watch?v=S79n...

The "radicle" is the first root to emerge from a germinating acorn. It penetrates the soil, pulls in nutrients and anchors the seedling. #oaks #trees

Scrub oaks, both dumosa and Berberdifolia, have dark green jagged edged leaves and tend to be smaller. Experts often ID these three white oaks incorrectly. They often hybridize. It’s hard to find any of these three 100% one species.

Englemann oaks are classified as threatened because of habitat loss. Restoring Englemanns, which are native to just a small section of Southern California and northern Baja, is part of The Oak Project’s focus. Seedlings being raised in pots now will be ready for distribution in early 2026. #oaks

Another successful harvest on the outskirts of Jamul on Monday yielded hundreds of Englemann and scrub oak acorns. Thousands of seedlings from multiple oak species should be ready for distribution by the spring. #trees #oaks