October 22, 2025-
Visited Natural Bridges State Park and walked the Monarch Butterfly trail at peak monarch migration time. We identified butterfly clusters down at the eucalyptus grove and played some aim games tossing eucalyptus nuts into circular shapes 'goals' formed by the roots of the gum trees.
Eucalyptus trees are non native and highly flammable, they came over with Australian immigrants in the 1850's gold rush. This was a era for wood power, so lots of highly flammable wood sources were coveted. Eucalyptus trees did great in California, able to grow in poor soils at very fast rates, growing anywhere from 4-6 feet in height per year.
People learned that Blue gum wasn't great for building- it split and cracked. There was predicted to be a timber famine, so companies began planting Eucalyptus plantations all throughout California, hoping that these fast growing trees would make a profitable venture. There never ended up being a timber famine, leaving plantations of gum trees throughout the state.
Back to it's flammability- the bark sheds and dries quickly, creating the perfect thin burning material. They are also very oily, adding to their flammability.
Alas, they are where the butterflies choose to stop at Natural bridges, so native or not, they are providing habitat.
Made popcorn with camping stove and set up a temporary rope swing along the beach. Students played further in the willow mazes along the beach.
Animals Identified- Red tail hawks, Monarch Butterflies
Plants Identified- Eucalyptus, Rattesnake grass, Willow
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