Landscape & Nature Vol. 3

There were two gardeners trimming shrubbery at Azalea Park. I asked what kind of tree this is. They looked up at it, puzzled, and said they didn't know. I asked if they thought it was a pine, trying to at least narrow it down a little. They said they didn't know. Huh. What kind of gardeners are those and why are they in charge of the pruning? I've just noticed some weird pixelation in this, close to lawn-level. The original is about 2700 x 2000.

This tree seems to have lost its crown when very young, hence the multiple big branches from the trunk. Or, it's supposed to grow that way and I've just never seen a conifer like it. My purse is there for scale.

I remember this park from childhood. It is beautiful when in bloom, mildly pretty when it's not. There has been an Annual Azalea Festival every spring since the 1940s.

If I ever find it, I'll scan the photo of my 6-year-old self as a Junior Azalea Princess in the court of the Azalea Queen, 1953. My 15 minutes of fame came early.

The spring azalea and rhododendron display is spectacular, as you'd expect. During winter holidays the park is full of lights and there are concerts in the band shell.

See PiP for landmark plaque.

Common name: Monterey cypress Latin name: Cupressus macrocarpa "The two native cypress forest stands are protected, within Point Lobos State Reserve [Monterey/Carmel area] and Del Monte Forest [includes Crescent City]." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupressus_macrocarpa