In the autumn season a canopy of color is created by the flame ash trees which line the arterial 35th Ave NE in Wedgwood.   The trees extend from NE 84th Street in the Wedgwood shopping district, northward through Meadowbrook to where 35th Ave NE merges with Lake City Way NE at NE 137th Street.

Street trees in Wedgwood’s business district on 35th Ave NE.  Photo by Valarie.

These flame ash street trees were planted circa 1971 in a citywide program which put different species along different arterials.  Along 35th Ave NE, the flame ash trees have grown very tall.  After fifty years’ growth, some of the trees have begun to lean or deteriorate so that, in recent years, some of the flame ash trees have had to be removed.

A storm with unusual wind direction

On the night of November 19, 2024, an unusual storm struck the Seattle area with winds coming from the east rather than from the west which would be more typical for Seattle’s weather patterns.   Trees on the east side of 35th Ave NE began to fall.  On 35th Ave NE close to the northeast corner of NE 95th Street, a street tree fell on a bus.

Storm damage on 35th Ave NE nearest to NE 95th Street. No one was injured. Photo by Karen Ducey, courtesy of The Seattle Times newspaper.

Damaged sidewalk where a street tree’s roots came up and the tree fell on a bus near the corner of NE 95th Street. Photo by Valarie.

During the storm, ten flame ash street trees fell along the east side of 35th Ave NE, most especially on the steep hillside between NE 100th to NE 105th Streets.  Buffeted by the unusual east winds of cyclone strength, these trees fell westward straight across the roadway of 35th Ave NE.  After the trees were cleared from the roadway, it could be seen that there was major sidewalk damage.   As the trees fell, roots and all, the sidewalks were pulled up and broken.

Storm damage at NE 103rd Street, looking northward on 35th Ave NE. Photo by Valarie.

New varieties of street trees

It can be seen along this segment of 35th Ave NE that newer street trees of the small pin oak variety did not fall in the storm.  All living things have a lifespan and over the next few years we are likely to see the demise of more of the tall flame ash trees, to be replaced by smaller varieties like the pin oak.

Pin oak tree on the northeast corner of NE 100th Street, showing adjacent damage to the sidewalk where flame ash trees fell during the storm on November 19, 2024. Photo by Valarie.

With storm damage all over Seattle as of November 19, 2024, we may wonder if the City of Seattle will be able put in new trees along 35th Ave NE to replace the fallen flame ash trees.  As of January 2025, work was being done to repair the sidewalks, most especially between NE 100th to 105th Streets where most of the damage occurred.  Some trees “tipped over” causing breakup of the sidewalk and deep pits.  For now, the City of Seattle street department is filling and paving the broken areas of sidewalks to make them usable again, without planting new street trees.

Street work in January 2025 to repair sidewalks. The sidewalks on 35th Ave NE between NE 100th to 105th Streets were made impassable due to damage when tree roots pulled up the sidewalks as the trees fell during the storm on November 19, 2024.  Photo courtesy of JRV.

In wintertime, January 2025, pin oak trees which were planted in past years, stand out because of their rust-red leaves.  Pin oak trees retain their leaves until spring when new growth will push out the old leaves.  The pin oak trees on 35th Ave NE are a smaller variety of tree which will line the arterial with color but will not grow as tall as the flame ash trees.

Pin oak trees in the 11500 block of 35th Ave NE stand out in wintertime with their rust-red leaves. Photo by Valarie.

As of January 2025, sidewalk repair was underway along 35th Ave NE between NE 95th and 105th Streets.  Stumps and roots of fallen trees were also being removed in order for the sidewalks to be level and smooth.

Sidewalk repairs along 35th Ave NE as of January 2025. Photo courtesy of JRV.

Source info:

In 1970 the City of Seattle began a street trees program under the Arterial Development Fund.  Documents from that time (records kept in the Seattle Municipal Archives) show the kinds of trees, the locations around the city, and the success of the program.    News articles also tracked the progress of tree-planting and that it was considered to be a success.

A Seattle Times newspaper article of June 1971 describes the street tree program.

A Seattle Times article of March 1974 says that 778 flame ash trees were planted along 35th Ave NE.

Documents describing the street tree program of the early 1970s are in the Seattle Municipal Archives, Series 1801-92.