This map shows the likelihood of liquefaction in Northern Santa Clara County during a magnitude 7.8 earthquake on the northernmost segments of the San Andreas Fault. This earthquake is similar to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. At each location, the map predicts the approximate probability that shallow wet sands will liquefy and cause surface manifestations of liquefaction such as sand …

Quercus lobata, the valley oak, grows into the largest of North American oaks. It is only found in California, growing in the hot interior valleys and foothills. Mature specimens may attain an age of up to 600 years. This deciduous oak requires year-round access to groundwater. Sunnyvale still has several prominent and venerable valley oaks. The Spanish gave it the …

If you come across a noisy, hyperactive little bird with bold white eyebrows, flicking its long tail as it hops from branch to branch, you may have spotted a Bewick’s Wren. These master vocalists belt out a string of short whistles, warbles, burrs, and trills to attract mates and defend their territory, or scold visitors with raspy calls. Bewick’s Wrens …

Built in 1881 by the Collins brothers, the Collins-Scott Winery is the oldest brick building in Sunnyvale. In 1889 a private railroad spur was built on the property and more than 300 gallons of wine were shipped daily. In 1927 all of the buildings except the brick distillery were destroyed by fire. In 1965, the present owers, the Duane Heinlen …

Spring in the Olson cherry orchard. Before it was Silicon Valley, it was the Valley of Heart’s Delight. Ten million fruit trees in 1910, most of them prunes. The Olson family and their orchards are a link to the family farms of the past century. The Olson’s were Swedish immigrants who settled in 1899 in Sunnyvale, before it was a …

The male House Finch (aka Rose Finch) has a attractive red crown and throat. It is larger than the goldfinches and has a heavier beak for cracking seeds. While goldfinches prefer the small nyger seeds, the rose finch can eat sunflower seeds and other larger birdfeed.

This pair of sycamores (Plantanus Acerfola) were planted on either side of the entry to Lester E. Bocks’ farm and fruit orchard in 1927. The ornamental trees were purchased from a San Jose nursery, as nothing like them were available in Sunnyvale at the time. The original 50 acre tract from 1850 owned by C. O. Bocks was the largest …

This is a large Coast Live Oak. It started growing over 250 years ago: Before Silicon Valley, before the Valley of Hearts Delight. The first name of Sunnyvale, Encinal, was from the spanish word for the coast live oak. Quercus agrifolia, the coast live oak, is an evergreen oak. It grows west of the Sierra Nevada from Mendocino County, California, …

This is a large Coast Live Oak with two massive trunks. It started growing over 250 years ago: Before Silicon Valley, before the Valley of Hearts Delight. The first name of Sunnyvale, Encinal, was from the spanish word for the coast live oak. Quercus agrifolia, the coast live oak, is an evergreen oak. It grows west of the Sierra Nevada …

The Ptilotus Joey, also known as the Ptilotus exaltatus or Mulla Mulla, is a perennial plant with large, conical spikes of feathery flowers that are well-suited for gardens and mixed containers: Flowers: The flowers are long-lasting and start out silver before maturing to a neon pink color near the tips. Leaves: The plant has thick, green leaves with a silver …