Foothill Boulevard is a shade emptier following the removal last month of four deceased redwoods in the medians of the busiest street in La Cañada Flintridge.
“Yes, sad as it was to see, the majestic redwoods slowly died from lack of water; the last four of eight were removed,” said Gonzalo Venegas, LCF’s facilities and maintenance superintendent, in an email.
The trees were victims of California’s ongoing drought, Venegas said, noting that redwoods require approximately 35-40 inches of rainwater per year.
He said they were monitored for months before city arborists confirmed they were dead, at which point removals were approved, nearby businesses were notified and, on Oct. 24, the trees were felled.
“The city had been monitoring them for months, hoping for the best, seeing a glimpse of green, staying the obvious, which we knew would happen,” Venegas said.
Going into winter, the city will continue to monitor its remaining trees, he said.
Those Foothill medians won’t appear bare for long, though, he said: “The city, in coordination with the Chamber (of Commerce), has started to prep all Foothill median trees with Christmas lights for the holiday next month.”
