Paths Through the Eucalyptus Trees

These paths are dominated by eucalyptus trees, but as you can see they are also home to palms and oaks. Future posts will reveal other flora not visible here. Owls, hawks, and countless smaller birds live and rest along this thin strip of forest hugging homes, bikes paths, and roadways. If you get up early while the sky is still dark, you'll hear the owls calling.

Greeting the Guava Tree

The arrival of our subtle, southern California autumn was heralded these past few months by the soft percussion of hidden guava fruits raining on the path. This happy, fruitful little guava tree is the first to greet me each morning at the front gate.

The Santa Barbara Independent recently published an informative article about two species of this small, unimposing fruit tree: strawberry guava, and pineapple guava, which grow in gardens around the area. The tree you see here is the pineapple guava variety Acca sellowiana, formerly Feijoa sellowiana.