The Eucalyptus Is At It Again
Every year at this time, the once-supple, moist, outer bark of the eucalyptus begins to parch and dry, and blister off, like so much dandruff.
I love watching this event. Too many times I’ve envisioned a time-lapsed animation of it, set to the sounds of fireworks and the applause of large crowds. It’s only just beginning now. Keep watching, and I’ll try to post more images as I can capture interesting views of them blistering and littering the ground below.
Eucalyptus came to Laguna by way of the Timber-Culture Act of 1871. In order to stake their 160-acre claims, homesteaders planted the required ten acres of trees, usually eucalyptus. Information about Early Laguna Beach can be found at the Laguna Beach Historical Society, (shown below), which happens to be right next to the Wells Fargo building, where the above photo was shot.
A book that’s now out-of-print, (but I happen to have one), called “The Cottages and Castles of Laguna - Historic Architecture 1883-1940″, by Karen Wilson Turnbull, may be available for browsing at the Historical Society’s bookshelf. I think the Public Library has one also. If you can get your hands on one, it’s an invaluable collection of exquisite pen-and-ink drawings of Laguna Beach architecture, and historical, and little-known facts of a Laguna Beach that used to be.
