seen any koalas lately?

Like all living things, eucalyptus trees evolved to be a vibrant part of the natural world, contributing to the activities of the other living organisms which live around them. And this tapestry of life has taken thousands of years to acclimate together.

In California, eucalyptus trees have become ubiquitous, and seemingly a natural part of the landscape. Many people assume that they are native to California; certain specimens are even considered to be 'heritage' and therefore carry with them an added history to the places where they exist. Some of these trees have been with us for generations. But not for thousands of years.

Yet as common as these trees are, it is also well known that they constitute the primary diet of the koala. Yes, the koala of Australia. Perhaps when pressed, it would then be acknowledged by everyone that the eucalyptus tree is also native to Australia. Where it has had thousands of years to acclimate with that environment and the creatures living over there. Not here.

Although monarch butterflies gather en masse on them (prior to the arrival of eucalyptus trees, I wonder what the monarchs depended on?), the proliferation of eucalyptus trees in this country was originally a misguided attempt to supply timber to be used for early construction, which was certainly not enough to negate the hazards of having them. A recent tragic consequence, as demonstrated by the Oakland hills fire of 1991, is that the eucalyptus tree is extremely flammable, as well as brittle. And they expand into our landscape (Mediterranean climate) quite readily, without a check nor a balance... so where are the koalas?