Napans have a love-hate relationship with trees. We love these majestic living towers with their canopies of green leaves, fragrant flowers in season, colorful autumn leaves and berries. But we hate the broken sidewalks and stopped-up drains caused by their roots, and we really hate the power outages and property damage caused by fallen limbs and trees uprooted by the wind.

     Of course we are not alone in our ambivalence. Wherever people and trees live in proximity, we can observe this love-hate syndrome.

     A major part of my life’s work has been the care and maintenance of trees. I am now retired, but during my career, I was in charge of the street-tree programs of South San Francisco, Pacifica and Burlingame. I remember many occasions when homeowners in older neighborhoods shaded by mature magnolias, maples and other ornamental trees, which greatly enhanced property values, complained bitterly because tree roots were causing minor damage to their sidewalks or driveways.

     Some of the most controversial trees were the blue gum and manna gum eucalyptus, which were towering centenarians when I worked there in the 1970s. El Camino Real was lined on both sides by these giants, reputedly planted by John McLaren. Before he became superintendent of Golden Gate Park, he landscaped the extensive estates of wealthy Peninsula residents.

     Eucalyptus seems to generate a lot of strong feelings, pro and con. Remember the huge controversy that erupted over the proposal to cut down some of Napa’s eucalyptus? Eventually, the warring sides reached a reasonable compromise, with some trees removed and others dramatically pruned.

     Personally, I appreciate the majesty of the old eucalyptus, epitomized by the lone manna gum in the median island halfway between Napa and Yountville. It has striking white bark and a stately presence, set off by several large blue gums standing at a respectful distance south of it. I have admired this tree for years. Part of its charm is its location as it has adequate room to grow and display its beauty.

     Napa has a good record of tree preservation, with an outstanding collection of diverse tree species in Fuller Park and adjoining residential properties. The city has a fine street-tree program and plantings of old and rare species on the grounds of Napa State Hospital and the Yountville Veterans’ Home.

     The existence of these trees shows that we Napans really do appreciate them, but perhaps only in a superficial way. Many of us may not think about the benefits they provide to our community.

      The International Society of Arbor Culture (I.S.A.) believes that shade and ornamental trees enhance our lives in several identifiable ways.

     Social benefits: Trees provide beauty and a feeling of serenity because of their stature, strength and endurance. They inspire personal attachment and are often planted as memorials for loved ones.

     Community benefits: Trees serve many architectural and engineering functions. They provide privacy, screen out undesirable views, reduce glare, direct pedestrian traffic, and provide landscape enhancement for buildings, parking lots and other projects.

     Environmental benefits: Trees improve air quality and provide wind protection, shade and summer cooling. The green leaves take carbon dioxide out of the air and put oxygen back into the air by photosynthesis. Trees also attract birds and other wildlife.

     Economic benefits: If properly located around houses, trees can reduce our heating and air conditioning costs. And the right trees in the right locations can significantly enhance property values.

     If you are planning to plant a tree and want advice and recommendations, contact the Napa County Master Gardener office (see below). Or purchase Trees of Napa Valley, published by the Napa County Master Gardeners and available from the office or web site (http://groups.ucanr.org/mgnapa/Books/ . Plant the right tree in the right place and the two of you will have a long and loving relationship.