Eucalyptus trees have been taking it in the neck lately. Two on Mermaid recently got the chop. Now famously, one crushed a car on Broadway. Recurring letters to the editor vilify them as public safety hazards, fire hazards, leaf litterers, mistaken plantings of our forebears, just horrible, horrible trees. Get rid of ‘em has become the chant.
Do our eucalyptus trees deserve this vilification? In the immortal words of Joni Mitchell, “You don’t know what you’ve lost ‘til it’s gone.”
Eucalyptus trees are beautiful. Check out the six beauties at the Catalina Street roundabout. Admire their mature grace from afar but also take the time to walk up to them. These lemon-scented Eucs have feet like dinosaurs and trunks like iron. Yes, they drop leaves, but that’s the price you pay for beauty. Crush one of those fallen leaves; they smell of citrus. The city regularly trims dead branches so that falling limbs are not a problem.
There are plenty of other opportunities to appreciate eucalyptus trees. Take in the long view of Second Street, described by an acquaintance as like “driving through a cathedral.” When you are waiting at the traffic lights at Third and Broadway, notice how the red ironbark Eucs enhance the art deco architecture of the building with the clock on it. This is the scene of the infamous car crush. Are we to condemn the whole lot because of one rotten apple? How quickly an anecdote becomes a rallying cry.
Eucalyptus trees give beautiful shade. Stroll along Forest on a hot day and notice how, perhaps subconsciously, you migrate into the filtered shade. Notice the glistening red gum oozing from imperfections on the trunks of the red ironbark Eucs near the old telephone booth. Notice how their trunks turn black in the rain. Look up at their pink flowers. Smell the scents. Try to imagine Forest Avenue with puny trees that lack elegance and don’t offer shade. Make sense of one of Laguna’s most beautiful streets.
Eucalyptus trees are our trees. While they originate in Australia, they have become identified with California. Did you know that the beloved California pepper tree, featured now in squat form outside City Hall, is a native of Peru?
Eucalyptus trees are an essential part of our cityscape. As the plein air artists have documented, they are an essential part of our identity. Big trees cool us, clean our air, keep us in touch with nature and make us feel good. Their maturity is awesome. They are an under-appreciated asset.
Chris Reed, Laguna Beach
Amen, Mr. Reed!