non-native but i don’t care

the climate, and as a result the flora, of southern france is very similar to that of california.  which means, like california, eucalyptus is right at home and looks as if it has always been there. eucalyptus however is non-native to both locations. it is native only to australia. and because it is drought hardy it tends to fare quite well in both places. so well, in fact, that it has been labeled an unwanted invasive by those who care about such things. i am usually one of those people, but i have to say, driving along a california highway, or walking along a rocky mediterranean path through eucalyptus perfume makes me willing to forget where they came from, and feel, only slightly guiltily, happy about where they ended up.

eucalyptus