'Dramatically changed': Tuesday's storm leaves widespread damage at UC Botanical Garden in Berkeley

ByCornell Barnard KGO logo

Sunday, March 26, 2023

Storm leaves UC Berkeley Botanical Garden 'dramatically changed'

Two historic trees and over 50 rare plants were damaged after Tuesday's wind storm, according to officials at the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley.

BERKELEY, Calif. (KGO) -- Storm damage from Tuesday's epic bomb cyclone is still being tallied.

In the East Bay, a massive cleanup is planned after several beloved ancient trees and dozens of plants were destroyed at the UC Botanical Garden.

Two historic trees were damaged after Tuesday's wind storm, according to officials.

Officials say a Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and California Buckeye (Aesculus californica) were damaged.

Botanical Garden officials say the damage occurred around 4:30 p.m. on March 21 when staff heard a loud crash during the high wind event.

"People on this side of the garden heard a cracking sound," said Lew Feldman, director of the UC Botanical Garden.

Feldman showed us what Tuesday's bomb cyclone storm left behind inside the garden in the Berkeley Hills. The scope of the damage is extensive.

University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley

"It's really massive, it dramatically changed this portion of the garden," said Feldman.

Fierce winds toppled a beloved giant redwood tree inside the Asian plant section of the garden. It took out a picnic table and portions of the bamboo grove.

"When it snapped off, it took out that section over there bamboo grove," Feldman said.

In a statement to ABC7 News, it wrote in part:

"...decades of care and nurturing of some of the Garden's treasures had been destroyed. Not only had one entire leader sheared off the tree, but the top of one of the others had blown out, landing a considerable distance away, towards Strawberry Creek, knocking the timber bamboo askew."

Feldman says more than 50 rare plants were also destroyed.

One of the biggest losses was a rare California Buckeye tree planted 150 years ago, crushed by the redwood and nearly impossible to replace.

Staff members held a memorial this week to honor the fallen trees and drink a toast.

"The garden has dramatically changed, we had to close it to the public because it's unsafe," Feldman said.

Feldman says the redwood was one of three trees with one trunk.

"The tree is probably so dangerous we're going to have to take the whole tree down," he said

The cleanup bill could top $50,000 Feldman doesn't expect the University of California to pay, so donations from the public may be the only way move forward to repair and restore this gem in the East Bay.

"It's an opportunity it's not an end. It's a pause, we will redevelop it," Feldman.