When we moved here to sunny desert San Diego
County from lush green rainy Ireland, we chose a city that was more rural than city. With cows
grazing in fields, orange groves, and huge gardens that sold produce in
road-side stands, we loved it. The hills around us were covered with
rocky outcrops with patches of manzanita and sage.
What a pleasure to be outside, whereas Ireland wasn't really a walk-about with rain. Wind from
the west sent the smell of cows (and manure) our way. The north wind
gave us eucalyptus. From the south came the sweet citrus orange
blossoms. The eastern winds from San Jacinto Mountains and deserts gave
me a migraine.
That was nearly 25 years ago, and life in California changes at a rapid pace.
On the hills we now see expensive homes
with a superior view. The rocks are still there, but for how long?
Until another housing developer blasts them away?
These were boulders on a hill near our then house. We claimed them as our own.
The cows grazed on mighty expensive land,
it turned out. Those lovely black and white cows were moved out and a
new high school moved in with parking lots.
The brittle eucalyptus trees grow at an
alarming rate. We had four and had to remove them; they were a danger
to houses around us. Brought here by Spanish padres from Australia,
those trees took over the state. Not a source of lumber since the trees
shattered and burned easily, the trees are being removed which is a good thing.
Orange groves once covered large parts of
southern California. Once a heavenly-scented place to live, the groves
are gone with houses in their place. The grove to the south of us sat
for years on a big corner lot. Ignored, oranges dropped and rotted on
the ground. Without water, the trees were gnarled dwarfs.
Yesterday, on a drive to the store in that
area, I was shocked to see the trees bulldozed into a pile in the
middle. The lot was valuable and had been sold.
So, the only thing that remains is the Santa Ana wind from the east. Right now, these winds are fanning the fire around Los Angeles.
These, unfortunately, will always blow through my head, giving me a migraine.
The photos comes from the following sites:
Change is indeed a constant. I am sorry that the migraines still remain. And feel for those affected by the fires.
ReplyDeleteIt is horrible. Big rains back a year ago now have dried to tinder level.
DeleteThere was a strawberry field near my house when I was a small child. By the time I was in elementary school, it had turned into a housing tract. I, too, miss some of the rural that used to be around. The farmland. Too many people moving in (or being born). The joys of a growing population.
ReplyDeleteEvery month or so there are new tracts being built.
DeleteThis is sad, everything green and growing replaced by bricks and mortar. Why can't they leave small patches of the original and build around them? or build on empty land that wouldn't support gardens?
ReplyDeleteI wish that would happen.
DeleteIt seems logical, doesn't it.
DeleteThe same with where I grew up, just never as scenic or perfumed.
ReplyDeleteThe flatlands and (since removed) woods of Indiana
DeleteThis is an excellent example of why "progress" is not necessarily good. Try to take care of yourself and the migraines.
ReplyDeletethe Santa Ana winds are awfuj for migraines. those winds drive the fires.
DeleteTried 5 times and nada for publish, LOL Imma try again. We can know what you are saying. We may not change as fast as you guys on the last coast, but up here on the first coast, our orange groves are turning into houses FAST. I hate seeing the orange processing plants standing empty. There used to me many trucks piled high with fruit awaiting processing now NONE!
ReplyDeleteLove out this way
The besgt to you and hope the new fires do not effect y'all.
we are out of the fire zone range. We are inland,quite far from the fires, for now.
DeleteWe humans really are fouling up our nest.
ReplyDeleteWe sure do.
Delete