Stephen Henning wrote in
news
snip
Of course we don't
have many gum trees (Eucalyptus) here either except the ones we
originally started from those in the land of Aus. Actually after
numerous droughts, many areas, especially in California (the land of
fire and rain, mud slides and earth quakes, intolerance and diversity,
redwood trees and death valley, fruits and nuts, drought and wine,
Hollywood and Disneyland, the terminator and the governator), started
planting Eucalyptus trees because they are extremely drought
resistant.

Actually, they were brought in over 100 years ago, with the thought that
the fast growing wood could be used for railroad ties. Too bad they
brought the blue gum variety. Totally unsuitable for that purpose.

Patriarch,
who has tried to split a euc log or three, without much joy...