Jeff  BISBEE  GALLERY

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Cupressus sargentii
Zaca Peak, Santa Barbara County, California, USA
The Zaca Peak Fire.
This fire started last July 4th by people playing with fireworks
right here on Zaca Peak, and burned for about 2 months.

There were two stands of Cupressus sargentii. The first one almost
completely burned, only having a few surviving trees near the top.
The other stand, located about 0.5 mile East, has a large patch of
trees that survived, about half of the stand.

California's Cypress stands are disappearing at an alarming rate.
In 2007 alone, this stand, most of the Northernmost stand of Cupressus forbesii
in the Santa Ana Mountains, and the stand at Otay Mountain in San Diego burned.
Cupressus sargentii
A few surviving trees on first stand.
Cupressus sargentii Cupressus sargentii Cupressus sargentii
One of the few trees nearly untouched by the fire in the first grove.
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View of the second part of the grove that was much less affected by the fire.
The mountain also contained Pseudotsuga macrocarpa - some are resprouting
leaves from the burned branches. Also Pinus coulteri, Pinus sabiniana,
and a few Pinus attenuata near the road at the top.
In the distance you can see the patches of burned areas on the mountains from
this same fire. It burned for about 60 miles!
Cupressus sargentii Cupressus sargentii
There are many new seedlings. There was good rains last winter,
however the spring was unusually dry, with no rain at all since the
beginning of March. It will be a long dry summer. Hopefully the
seedlings will survive it!
Cupressus sargentii
Cupressus sargentii Cupressus sargentii Cupressus sargentii
All the surviving trees in the first grove.
Cupressus sargentii
Some of the many wildflowers blooming in the fire zone.
Cupressus sargentii
Cones
Cupressus sargentii Cupressus sargentii

Photos : © Jeff Bisbee
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14 May 2008
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