NEXT GENERAL MEETING: Right Tree, Right Place, Right Fire Zone: A Look at San Diego’s Trees and Their Future, With Tony Gurnoe, June 20, In-Person, Oasis, Rancho Bernardo, 1:30p -3:30p
- Jun 1
- 3 min read
Native trees are all the rage, with municipalities such as Encinitas passing regulations that require new landscape development projects to include native species. Which trees count as native? Are they good choices for your yard? How do native trees relate to fire and California's new zone 0 regulations? We'll talk about all of these things while profiling some of San Diego's unique and often underappreciated local trees.
Tony Gurnoe has conducted research related to native tree species in 7 different southwestern states for agencies including the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the State of California and institutions including San Diego State University. Tony also spent several years collaborating with university researchers in Baja California, particularly focused on the taxonomy and conservation of rare oaks. Prior to all that, Tony led horticulture, science, and conservation departments at the San Diego Botanic Garden. In 2022, he founded Treehugger Care & Consulting, a company focused on proactive approaches to preserving trees throughout our region. He is an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist, a Certified Urban Forest Professional, and maintains Tree Risk Assessment Qualifications. Tony also serves as the chairman of the City of Encinitas' Urban Forest Advisory Committee. He has extensive and unique experience cultivating and studying trees from San Diego or the surrounding region and looks forward to sharing some of the most important things he has learned along the way.
Right Tree, Right Place, Right Fire Zone: A Look at San Diego’s Trees and Their Future, With Tony Gurnoe, June 20, In-Person, Oasis, Rancho Bernardo, 1:30p -3:30p
This meeting is in-person at San Diego Oasis, Rancho Bernardo, CA.
Online registration required
SD Hort Member (and their guest) registration is FREE
Non-member registration is $15
The Plant Forum has returned! So please bring some of your plants to share with members...
All you have to do is:
1) Bring a cutting or a potted plant to a meeting.
2) BEFORE you leave home, take a minute to print out a slip of paper with the common and scientific name of the plant, where it is native to (if you know that), what city it is growing in, your name, and a couple of sentences about your experience with the plant.
MEETING LOCATION:
San Diego Oasis
In the Innovation Center room downstairs
17170 Bernardo Center Dr
San Diego, CA 92128
Looking Ahead: Upcoming General Meeting - July 18, 2026 - 1:30p-3:30p In-person Oasis R.B.
Kevin Alison presents Saving Rare Plants: Advanced Horticulture on the California Islands
The islands of California are biological hotspots for uniquely rare and endangered species. But, what do you do if traditional methods of propagation fail or are unreliable? This presentation will cover advanced horticultural techniques to overcome challenges and prevent extinction.
Kevin Alison serves as the Native Plant Manager for Catalina Island, where he leverages his expertise in conservation, restoration, and horticulture to prevent extinction. Kevin specializes in advanced propagation techniques such as plant tissue culture to conserve rare, endangered, and challenging-to-grow plants. Kevin grew up in Corona del Mar before graduating from the University of Hawaii and the University of California, Irvine.
