LANDSCAPE OF BEAUTY AND MEANING 25 



conditions of sea-winds — and thus to the beauty of the scene is added the 

 interest of speculation as to what are the determininnj factors which have 

 so reduced the once-extensive cypress forests to their present slight hold 

 on the two granitic points that they occupy. 



Big Dome Cliffs 



The north side of Big Dome and adjacent shore, while bearing cypress, 

 are quite different in feeling from the other cypress shores, because of the 

 dramatic cliffs rising almost sheer from the water 75 feet to the narrow 

 ledge where the trail is — and then up again in bare faces of beautiful 

 lichen-covered granite, with only narrow footholds here and there for trees, 

 to the narrow summit, 260 feet above sea-level. Here the cypress, while 

 confined to the shelves where soil can lodge, has propagated continuously 

 so that in any location the trees range from magnificent, tall, straight- 

 shafted giants to graceful, pointed seedlings which one might step over. 

 Here, instead of finding the trees distorted and dwarfed from battling with 

 the salt-laden wind, we find them high up above the sea thriving against 

 the background of colorful rocks Avhich shelter them from both sun and 

 wind. Because of the northern exposure, these rocks are always a show of 

 color from herbaceous material. Here, too, are a few adventurous pines 

 that have seeded into a habitat where they can never thrive, and it may be 

 felt that esthetically these sickly trees weaken the otherwise admirable 

 effect created by the other plants which so well adapt themselves to these 

 cool, rocky shelves. Ecologically these pines are interesting, but they can 

 hardly be called inspiring. From the trail that zig-zags up from the end of 

 the shore trail to the summit of Big Dome are obtained lovely views of 

 Cypress Headland and Bluefish Cove, and of Carmel Bay framed by the 

 cypress trees clinging to the knoll. 



Open Points Jutting Into the Sea 



There are three such points of outstanding quality : Pelican Point, Punta 

 de los Lobos Marinos and Granite Point. From the former two, the central 

 objects of interest are nesting birds and the sea lions. From Pelican Point, 

 the effects are comparatively simple : the bare, knobby islands with the 

 wash of the sea about their feet, and several species of birds nesting, roost- 

 ing, bathing and drying, and always birds departing and birds arriving 

 making everchanging patterns in the sk3\ Morning is a time for zoological 

 study. Evening is a time of silhouettes. 



From Punta de los Lobos Marinos the interest is more varied and the 

 scene more changing. The great sea lions keep calling attention to them- 

 selves Avith their yelping and growling as they spar on the rocks or sport 

 in the breakers. Here, during a high surf, the great seas, crashing over 

 the rocks and charging down on the outer end of the Point, leap high into 

 the air and fall back again in a drenching rain. Here, on a quiet day and 

 at a low tide, one may see tide pools as lovely as any garden with many 

 living things. And here at close intervals, all day long, sea birds pass, flying 

 north or south between the Point and the Seal Rocks, so that one might well 

 sit for long hours watching the movement of the sea and the life associated 

 with it. 



Open, rocky points that jut into 



the sea provide a habitat for nesting birds 



and resting sea lions 



