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As a recent first time visitor to California, from Australia, the abundant eucalyptus and jacarandas were a major surprise. Of course the palm-lined strips in S
by JacobAldridge 10y ago
As a recent first time visitor to California, from Australia, the abundant eucalyptus and jacarandas were a major surprise. Of course the palm-lined strips in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles were expected, though still impressive - I hadn't thought to lump those in with the other immigrants.
Thankfully we also got up to Muir Woods (just north of San Francisco) for a taste of the pre-European flora. Looks to be an interesting book, weaving the history of the state through the botanical angle.
- fit2rule 10y agoI'm Australian, lived in LA for a decade or so .. and my trips around the Griffith Park area always led me to a particular grove of eucalypts and jacaranda that always reminded me, very much, of home. There are parts of that park that could be Australia, imho .. minus the snakes, but plus coyotes and cougars ..
- ZanyProgrammer 10y ago"Thankfully we also got up to Muir Woods (just north of San Francisco) for a taste of the pre-European flora" -Its not like the entire ecosystem of California is palm trees. The way you make it sound, it sounds pretentious.
- danieltillett 10y agoJacarandas are actually from Brazil - I do love them though :)
- JacobAldridge 10y agoMany years ago I worked on a book about the riverfront homes of Brisbane - I was surprised to learn that the two most conspicuously flowering trees (the other being the Poinciana, from Madagascar) were just as imported as the design of the 'Queenslander' style house (which arose in colonial India).
- danieltillett 10y agoThe true Australian whole flowering tree is the Illawarra Flame tree - these are rather spectacular when in full bloom [1]. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachychiton_acerifolius https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachychiton_acerifolius