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Fallen Trees and Tumbleweeds

December 8th, 2002 by Kelson. Posted in Strange World

Despite what you might believe, tumbleweeds are actually quite common in suburban Southern California. They often grow by the side of the freeway, occasionally getting picked up by the wind and bouncing across cars.

Never is this more noticeable than during the Santa Ana winds, which seasonally sweep out from the desert to the coast, blowing over trees, knocking out power lines, and sending the smog out to sea. (Unfortunately, by the second or third day, all the dust from the desert has taken its place.) The two of us got some great shots from the most recent Santa Anas which hit during the week leading up to Thanksgiving.

Tumbleweed by the side of the road.
A tumbleweed seeks relief at a fire hydrant.

Downed tree in parking lot.
Even a support stake couldn’t keep this tree up.

Tumbleweeds in the *middle* of the road.
Hey! Get off the road! (Yes, tumbleweeds can get that big.)

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3 Responses to “Fallen Trees and Tumbleweeds”

  1. stacy says:

    Irvine used to have a tumbleweed snowman contest. Seriously. You’d wrap lights, etc. around tumbleweeds and add a top hat.

    Ah desert life.

  2. BlogMike says:

    I believe the snowman comment. Arizona has a city that makes them into their town Christmas tree every year.
    If you still find it hard to believe here is a website that sells tumbleweeds snowmen among other things. Tumbleweeds from CuriousCountryCreations.com

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  1. [...] a few weeks*, these will dry out, turn brown, and get picked up by the Santa Ana winds. They’ll roll along the road until they hit a fence, or perhaps fetch up against another [...]

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