A hybrid scrub oak that looks like a tall, overgrown shrub in a Salt Lake City historical park is a rare and ancient tree from a time when Utah and the Great Basin were warmer and wetter.

The stricter native tree ordinance, which went into effect April 23, covers all oaks (except the scrub oak), the California bay laurel, the Southern California black walnut and the Western sycamore.

If you live in the foothills, you probably have Gambel oak, aka scrub oak (Quercus gambelii), in your landscape. This native tree has some great attributes and some big management challenges.

The scrub oaks were leafed out and blooming. The black locusts were not only sprouting leaves, but also starting to bloom! Had I taken my own advice, and waited to bring out the tomatoes until after ...

Scrub oak cutting at Tunnel 4 a flashpoint for Del Mar Mesa Preserve ... The main attraction of the Del Mar Mesa Preserve is a large concentration of scrub oak trees.

This stunts the tree but thrills the moths, because new scrub oak leaves are their favorite food — tender, high in nutritious nitrogen and low in bitter tannin. A Buck moth. (Courtesy Mike Nelson) ...

Replace Dr. Suess’ classic Truffula Trees with the familiar Utah scrub oak tree and we have a modern case of the proverbial Hatfields vs. the McCoys, and it is all happening in my neck of the woods.