The large brown areas that are so typical of California hills are brown mostly because of invasive annual grasses introduced from other parts of the world. Before Europeans arrived in California, annual grasses were much less dominant on California's hillsides, with a variety of annual and perennial wildflowers dominating those areas instead, along with scattered perennial grasses that tended to turn a dull blue-green when they went dormant over the summer, rather than the brown of the annual grasses that die every summer.
The presence of these invasive annual grasses from other parts of the world interferes with the ability of California's native oak trees to reproduce. As a result, new oak seedlings no longer survive in large enough numbers to replace the oak trees dying of old age, so California's native oak woodlands are gradually dying out.
Yup, eucalyptus trees! And Muir woods is magical; I haven't been in years. Also, I grew up in San Jose, which is kind of funny (and off topic). ALSO you look absolutely stunningly glowy! AND (last thing, I swear) your pictures of the golden gate are perfect.
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The large brown areas that are so typical of California hills are brown mostly because of invasive annual grasses introduced from other parts of the world. Before Europeans arrived in California, annual grasses were much less dominant on California's hillsides, with a variety of annual and perennial wildflowers dominating those areas instead, along with scattered perennial grasses that tended to turn a dull blue-green when they went dormant over the summer, rather than the brown of the annual grasses that die every summer.
The presence of these invasive annual grasses from other parts of the world interferes with the ability of California's native oak trees to reproduce. As a result, new oak seedlings no longer survive in large enough numbers to replace the oak trees dying of old age, so California's native oak woodlands are gradually dying out.
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Aahhhhhh! Prettyyyyy!!! ♥
:)
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The pictures are all very lovely. I must go visit those woods one day.
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