Wilbur (Will) G. Beittel was born in 1913 in Columbia, Pennsylvania, USA. After
attending New York University and Oberlin College, he began a music
career in 1936 as composer and arranger for radio's "Lucky Strike Hit
Parade" and "CBS Swing Session". He also orchestrated for various
motion picture studios until he abandoned music for horticulture around
1955 after attending Pierce Agricultural College. Beittel moved to
Santa Barbara, California and became the City Arborist until 1963, when
he became the Senior Nurseryman at The University of California, Santa
Barbara. He continued growing unusual exotic species which he planted
around the campus grounds, many which are still there today. Books he
authored include: "Santa Barbara's Street and Park Trees", "Santa
Barbara's Trees", and "Dr. F. Franceschi, Pioneer Plantsman". He
co-wrote "Trees of Santa Barbara" with Katherine Muller and Richard
Broder.
