Looking up to the mighty oak

RE “A California Essential” [Sept. 8] by Emily Green: I was interested to read about the oak trees because we recently moved from Cheviot Hills, with towering liquidambar trees, to Bel-Air, with two massive California oak trees in the backyard. We are putting a pool in the back, and the very first day of construction we were met by a city inspector who informed us that it was against the law to touch the two California oaks in order to accommodate the construction of the swimming pool. He informed us that they are a protected species here and it was illegal to do anything to them other than general pruning and maintenance.

Green’s suggestion that “homeowners should build respectfully around an existing tree” should be taken seriously by anyone with an oak tree and, indeed, people should check with the city before entertaining the idea of uprooting an oak.

MICHELE ADASHEK

Los Angeles

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GREAT article, but I wish you had mentioned the oak titmouse, an endearing resident bird species that crucially depends on oaks for survival here in Southern California (and which is on the watch list, due to its dwindling numbers). You might also have mentioned Montecito’s pro-oak policy and its resultant abundant oak woodlands.

MARIA GRITSCH

Los Angeles