Geocaching the Trees of Larkey Park

Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity in which participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) to find specific locations indicated by latitude and longitude coordinates. Fortunately, most mobile devices have a built in GPS and can be used to geocache. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Instructions

California Black Oak

Instructions

  1. Choose a tree you would like to find from the list below.
  2. Open your favorite mapping application on your mobile device and enter the coordinates into the search bar (don’t forget the minus sign).
  3. Follow the map on your device to the destination.

Safety

Monterey Pine
  1. Stay safe, keep your head up, and be aware of your surroundings.
  2. Don’t trespass onto a resident’s property. Trees on this list are within Larkey Park.
  3. Respect the environment. Do not pick leaves, nuts, or flowers from the trees.

Locations

Toyon

Trees Naturally Found in California (Native): Coordinates

  1. Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) 37.922537, -122.075478
  2. Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) 37.922217, -122.076559
  3. Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) 37.922336, -122.077237
  4. California Black Oak (Quercus kelloggii) ??.??????, -???.??????
  5. Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) 37.923895, -122.075594

 

 

Valley Oak

 

Trees Unique to California (Endemic): Coordinates

  1. Valley Oak (Quercus lobata) 37.922597, -122.075966
  2. Gray Pine (Pinus sabiniana) 37.923266, -122.075562
  3. Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) 37.923079, -122.074579

 

Gingko

Trees not Naturally Found in California (Non-Native): Coordinates

  1. Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii) 37.922709, -122.074548
  2. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) 37.923224, -122.074834

Tree Descriptions

Coast Redwood

Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia): Also known as Christmas berry and California holly (due to its bright red berries), this shrub is where Hollywood gets its name. Its elongated leaves are around 2-5 inches long with sharp teeth around the edges (but not prickly). In early summer it has clusters of small, white flowers that turn into bright, red berries in the fall and last well into the winter. The fruits are eaten by California quail, native band-tailed pigeons, and many songbirds; as well as coyotes and black bears.

Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia): This tree is iconic to the golden East Bay Area hills, and its acorns were widely used by native people as a food crop. Its 1-4 inch long leaves are tough and often prickly, as well as highly convex–shaped-like an umbrella. The spring flowers are rather unremarkable, although the male flowers hang in long 2-4 inch catkins bursts. The acorns are about 1-1.5 inches long and cone-shaped. California quail, mule deer, and other species eat the acorns.

Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens): The tallest trees on earth are coast redwoods, regularly reaching 250 feet, but they have been depleted by irresponsible lumbering practices. These coniferous trees are immediately recognizable by their fibrous, red bark and happy sprays of flat needle-shaped leaves. Being conifers, they don’t produce flowers, but small 1-inch round cones can often be found on the ground around the trunk. These trees are so large that an individual tree can support an entire ecosystem in its branches including things like earthworm laden soil in the treetops!