Around Old Town San Diego today I took pictures of the cork oak trees that surround the grassy interior courtyard and was reminded of the cork trees in Portugal where they are a national treasure.  As a matter of fact, cork oaks (Qurcu super) in Portugal can’t be cut down except with government permission and permission is given only for forest management felling of old, unproductive trees.  I respect a country that likes trees so much it protects them from damage done by people. I heard earlier this summer that half of the world’s cork harvest is done in Portugal.  The trees live about 150 to 250 years and the first cork cut isn’t done until a tree is 25-years-old.  A second and subsequent harvests can take place every 12 years. 

The big ficus tree in the same Old Town Park isn’t as spectacular as the Morton Bay Fig in Balboa Park, but it’s impressive nonetheless… The one is Old Town has been scarred by people.  It’s right out there in the open without a protective fence… too bad a tree in San Diego needs a fence to protect it.

…and the flowers and strange fruit photos are included for no other reason than I like them…