Tall timber

Part of the Corte Madera bike path is lined with some tall timber - eucalyptus trees.

Several eucalypts are among the tallest trees in the world. Eucalyptus regnans, the Australian Mountain Ash, is the tallest of all flowering plants (Angiosperms); today, the tallest measured specimen named Centurion is over 326 feet tall. Only Coast Redwood is taller and Coast Douglas-fir about the same; they are conifers (Gymnosperm). Six other eucalypt species exceed 260 feet in height.

California. In the 1850s, Eucalyptus trees were introduced to California by Australians during the California Gold Rush. Much of California has a similar climate to parts of Australia. By the early 1900s, thousands of acres of eucalypts were planted with the encouragement of the state government. It was hoped that they would provide a renewable source of timber for construction, furniture making and railroad ties. It was soon found that for the latter purpose eucalyptus was particularly unsuitable, as the ties made from eucalyptus had a tendency to twist while drying, and the dried ties were so tough that it was nearly impossible to hammer rail spikes into them.

"They went on to note that the promise of eucalyptus in California was based on the old virgin forests of Australia. This was a mistake as the young trees being harvested in California could not compare in
quality to the centuries-old eucalyptus timber of Australia. It reacted differently to harvest. The older trees didn't split or warp as the infant California crop did. There was a vast difference between the two, and this would doom the California eucalyptus industry."

One way in which the eucalyptus, mainly the blue gum E. globulus, proved valuable in California was in providing windbreaks for highways, orange groves, and other farms in the mostly treeless central part of the state. They are also admired as shade and ornamental trees in many cities and gardens. Eucalyptus forests in California have been criticized because they compete with native plants and do not support native animals. Fire is also a problem. The 1991 Oakland Hills firestorm which destroyed almost 3,000 homes and killed 25 people was partly fueled by large numbers of eucalypts close to the houses. In some parts of California, eucalypt forests are being removed and native trees and plants restored.

Personally, I like them, but then I don't have any to clean up after or to worry about falling on my house or burning!

Pyracantha berries

In California the most common winter red berry is the Pyracantha, a member of the rose family, as is yesterday's Toyon.  Both of these plants grow on the road to The Ponds.

In spring the Pyracanthas begin an exceptional white flower display. While individual flowers are small, they typically cover the plant. Flowers are borne outside the dark evergreen foliage, so they stand out like white sparklers. Plants tend to flower even when young, and mature plants bloom very heavily as long as they are in a good site. Like several other plants of the rose family (Rosaceae), the flowers do not have a pleasant odor.

Later those thousands of small white flowers turn into brilliant orange to red pea-sized fruits. The fruit display, like the flower display, is exceptional and typically lasts until late winter when they are eaten by birds. In California we see drunken robins that have eaten the fermented berries.

Adapted from University of Arkansas Dept of Agriculture

Red earth

In some spots in the foothills the earth is very red.

Golden State

California is called The Golden State for more than one reason.  First of course, is that gold was discovered here in 1849 causing the famous Gold Rush.  Second is the color of our rolling hills during most of the year - golden!

Big scoop

Wouldn't you like every ice cream scoop you got to be this big? Dessert at Jason's Restaurant in Greenbrae, California. My monthly lunch group MMR (Muriel, Margie & Rick) rates the food at our lunches and we gave Jason's a 4 on a scale of 1 to 4 (and not just because of the dessert!). Highly recommended!