Save Newport Real News in Newport Beach
At 3:35 pm Friday, Newport Beach lost an icon. The largest of the last two remaining “Wedge Trees” succumbed to the heaviest rains Newport has seen in 20 years, with 60mph gusts. I am unable to find much history about these icons, as it seems they were just “always there”, but they were always reliable: Wishing the Wedge visitors their hellos and goodbyes, and providing the only natural shade on the beach– tourists unprepared for the summer heat always seemed to be its best friends.
It seemed to stand for the impossible, thriving greenery in a sea of sand and salt, and it always provided photographs with unmatched character.
In the past, there were at least four “Wedge Trees” which seem to be juniper trees (I’m sure I’ll be corrected if I am wrong!), but over the years, nature has taken them out one-by-one.
The tree will be removed shortly, leaving only the smallest of the four still remaining. Right now, there is no information about it being replaced– but planting a tree there would take 40 or 50 years to grow to its size, and transplanting big trees of the same size is a logistical and ecological impossibility. Perhaps, though, someone could figure out how to transplant a juvenile tree of the same variety, restoring our Wedge “greeter”… but it will have some big roots to fill!
If you have any history or photos of this tree, please do comment below!
Here are some photos of the tree– special thanks to Kurt Thayer, Alan Buchanan, Taylor Amick, Shayde Cee Stover, Ron Lade Hazelwood, and Ian Dow for the photos below:
