In many areas of California ranch land, eucalyptus trees were planted as windbreaks between fields or orchards. Nowadays, many are bulldozed because of the brittleness of the trees, dropping large branches from several feet up. Somewhere I read they are called “widow makers” in Australia because of this – easy to kill someone standing below. While I was looking, I didn’t spot any koalas.
I expect the fire roads of many back country areas are dirt, but perhaps a little more green, with a few more trees. In the dry mountains and hills of California, this is a pretty typical scene. However, when you are in the middle of it all, taking the time to look gives you an appreciation for the beauty of plant and animal life. Up here are lizards and coyotes, snakes and birds. The plants are adapted to a life in a dry land, so leaves are small and flowers appear with a small amount of rain, so the seeds for the next season can regenerate the species. The air, too, can be filled with smells, such as the scent of resinous plants.
If you like, click on the image for a bigger view. This is a panorama processed in LR5 and Photomatix Pr.
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