Driving back up I – 5 from Altadena to Kensington, we passed again on the right the Graveyard of Trees.

What once was an orchard is now row upon row of dead trees, lying on their backs facing away from the road, their roots pulled and sticking up in the air.

Thousands of trees, rows deep. I try to imagine the large machine going down the rows, pushing them over, tearing out the roots, leaving them all to die and dry out in the sun. For years.

But this time, after the rains, I noticed one tree that had pulled itself upright and was covered with white blossoms. Then, at intervals, two more.

Life out of death. Nature survives.

Of course I thought of Altadena after the fire.

Life out of death.

Altadena survives.