Salix lasiolepis - Arroyo Willow

The Arroyo willow is the most common willow in central California and especially around here. They seem to be everywhere and then no where, meaning they just blend in. Growing rapidly to 20-30 feet tall and wide with a rounded or spreading canopy, usually in wet spots or shall I say, wetter spots. Rarely do you see one tree, they seem to establish in groups. Generally growing as a multi-stemmed tree.

Leaves are deciduous, simple, alternate, simple, oblanceolate to lanceolate, 3-4" long, about 3/4" wide, serrated margins, medium green upper surface, lower whitish color, at least early in the season. Stipules often present.

Flowers are dioecious, in clusters, or catkins, males are yellowish and mostly stamens,  coming out slightly before the foliage.

Females also in catkins, but held upright. These have already been pollinated but you can see the remnants of the style.

Fruit are narrow cone shaped capsules, as seen above, releasing a few seed that look like cotton, same family as the cottonwoods.

Stems are yellow brown, flower buds larger that vegetative buds. Bark can be rough or smooth.

Misidentification:
Other willows. Can't say this is my favorite group, so I don't know them all that well.

Location:
Aptos
Mar Vista Dr. On the right hand side of the street before you reach the trailer park. You might find some at the nursery at the end of the street.

Carya ovata - Shagbark Hickory

The shagbark hickory tree is not common around here. I have only seen them in two location. Hoping this one survives its location in parking lot M at Cabrillo. (It did not survive the solar panel insulation.)

In its native habitat they grow quite large, references suggest 70-90' and several on Poplar St in SC have to be 50 or more.

Here is a shot from somewhere in the midwest, most likely Illinois. As you can see from the photo, the lower branches have an upward start but quickly weep down creating an interesting view from below. 

Leaves are deciduous, alternate, 8-14" long, pinnately compound with 5 (or sometimes 7) leaflets. Leaflets are light green in color, the terminal leaflet much larger than the laterals. Leaflets are 3-8" long broadly lanceolate to elliptical leaflets with finely serrated margins. There is quite of bit of coppery pubescence on the stems and leaves just as they emerge from the bud, missed that shot. Leaves turn yellowing brown in the fall.

Stems stout, brown, with rounded buds.

Flowers are monoecious, in mid spring, forming male catkins and small almost invisible females.

Male catkins 3-4" long, yellowish green, emerging with the foliage.

Females. You can see the ridges typical of hickories.

Fruit is a hickory. The husk is ridged. These are still young. Its only June.

In October.

Not hard to figure out how they ended up with the common name.

Misidentification:
You might think its a walnut. They have compound leaves and the same type of flowers and fruit. Our typical walnut with so few leaflets would be the english walnut but those have much larger leaflets.

Location:
Aptos
Cabrillo College parking lot M. (Gone)

Santa Cruz
Poplar Ave across from the Branciforte Middle School. One in front, one in back.