About this Event
Why do tree canopies move in the wind? How do trees repair damage to their branches? Where do tree roots grow? Why are tree trunks thick? Is your tree strong?
Don your festive attire and join us on this winter walk along the Arroyo Seco with Los Angeles consulting arborist Alison Lancaster as she draws on the biomechanics research of German physicist Claus Mattheck to answer these and other questions about the structure of trees.
By reading the “body language” of trees, we can understand how and why trees grow the way they do, see how trees respond to their environment, and appreciate how trees manage the wounds that accumulate during their long lives.
At the end of the class, you will feel wonder and inspiration at nature’s genius design, and awaken to a new perspective that your tree’s structure is not to be feared and controlled – but admired and cultivated.
This walk-and-talk will take us along a one-mile trail. The first hour will lay the conceptual basis for the next two hours of observation-driven discussion. We recommend that you leave your pens and notebooks behind, and instead come prepared to immerse yourself in “reading” the trees.
**Closed-toe, comfortable walking shoes, warm layers, and water bottles are strongly recommended. In the spirit of the season, we encourage participants to bring winter attire that celebrates the holidays that matter to them. From simple or traditional, to funny and over-the-top. All are welcome!
Alison Lancaster has been a consulting arborist in Southern California since 2016. She focuses her work on helping Angelenos act as thoughtful and responsible stewards of their trees. She has an AS in Wildland Resources and Forestry from Citrus College and a BA in Political Science from UC Irvine. She began her career as an intern at City of Pasadena Urban Forestry, then transitioned to training and working as a consultant for five years before opening her own business. Since then she has earned her Registered Consulting Arborist qualification, was elected to the Western Chapter ISA Board of Directors, and received the 2019 WCISA Young Professional Award. Find her at alca-llc.com
Credentials
ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist #770
ISA Board Certified Master Arborist WE-12464B
AS in Wildland Resources and Forestry, Citrus College
BA in Political Science, UC Irvine
Resources
The Body Language of Trees: A Handbook for Failure Analysis – Claus Mattheck and Helge Breloer
International Society of Arboriculture – www.isa-arbor.com
American Society of Consulting Arborists – www.asca-consultants.org
Trees are Good – www.treesaregood.org
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
JPL Riparian Zone, Explorer Road, Altadena, United States
USD 28.52 to USD 39.19
