San Diego
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Rainbow Eucalyptus Tree in Balboa Park, San Diego
You might've already known about eucalyptus but have you heard of rainbow eucalyptus? The colorful eucalyptus deglupta species grows in places such as its native Papua New Guinea or Hawaii. The colors of the rainbow eucalyptus are striking, more colorful than a regular eucalyptus. These deglupta trees may be hard to locate.
I answer important questions like: Can I grow a rainbow eucalyptus? Can it grow in California? Where are they native to? What causes rainbow eucalyptus trees? Keep reading!
As a local, I've been to Balboa Park dozens of times over the past 20+ years. It's a place I thought I knew pretty well but life always surprises you. Something about this visit was a bit different. I noticed a colorful tree. You don't find trees with rainbow bark very often. I looked at it & all of a sudden I recalled news video I've seen earlier in the week.
I watched a two-minute news clip about the rainbow eucalyptus tree, which stated that you can see it in various spots throughout San Diego County, including Balboa Park & the San Diego Zoo. There are tons of eucalyptus trees in San Diego but this was unique.
Related reading: Your Guide to Hanging Fresh Eucalyptus Leaves in the Shower
Just like most social media users, I absorb & consume a lot of content, so I thought it was cool but I never thought much of it. Fast forward to this one magical time I'm in the park. I saw the colorful rainbow eucalyptus tree & the video clip went through my mind. I took a couple pictures & moved on with my day exploring San Diego. That said, I cannot recall the exact geolocation but it was somewhere near the museum & building areas.
Related reading: Coffee Shops in Carlsbad, California
What Causes Rainbow Eucalyptus?
The little rainbow tree grows up to be a big rainbow gum tree. No no, just kidding. The rainbow tree effect comes from the various layers of bark as they begin to oxidize & peel off. Rainbow eucalyptus trees lose their bark & thus, shades of their color, which causes the stunning rainbow look.
It may take years for a tree to acquire enough layering. You'll often see shades of orange & bright green. The trunk of this magnificent eucalyptus rainbow tree is a rare, seasonal sight. The best time to witness it might be in the springtime, that's when I viewed it!
Can Rainbow Eucalyptus Grow in California?
These beautiful rainbow trees, called Eucalyptus deglupta, are native to tropical rainforest environments such as the Philippines, Indonesia, & Papua New Guinea with some rain. If you type in the phrase rainbow eucalyptus tree into Google, the image shown depicts the tree in some pretty wild colors. That is not at all the type of wild, natural version I saw in Balboa Park, San Diego area. I have to guess that many images online are heavily edited to include a range of colors.
In Maui, Hawaii you'll find the Eucalyptus deglupta, also known as the Mindanao Gum or the Rainbow Gum tree. You'll find these remarkable painted eucalyptus trees on Hana Highway as well as Ke’anae Arboretum. Rainbow eucalyptus trees with rainbow bark aren't easy to search for. The Eucalyptus deglupta is quite a sight with shades bright green & orange! Hawaii is the perfect place for these trees since they thrive in a frost-free, tropical environment.
Can rainbow eucalyptus grow in California? Technically yes because they are growing in places like Balboa Park & the San Diego Zoo. However, it'll be harder to find rainbow eucalyptus seeds, bonsai, or seedling. One thing to remember: it's definitely not a house plant as eucalyptus can grow over 100 feet tall. You might be able to find the seeds online like on Amazon.
If you're in the San Diego area, here's a list of things to do in Oceanside, California: restaurants, coffee shops, what to see, & here's a list of things to do in Encinitas, California.
Where Can You See Rainbow Eucalyptus?
You'll spot it on Maui, Hawaii, some places in Southern California & San Diego like the Zoo or Balboa Park. It can be found in the Philippines, Indonesia, & Papua New Guinea. It can take years for the colorful rainbow effect to develop. These are your best best for finding the trees!
Can I Grow a Rainbow Eucalyptus?
The bark is one of its most notable features & that's what makes it so popular. However, these aren't easy plants. If you can potentially find the seeds or a seedling, you can certainly try. It is possible to be planted.
The trees don't grow everywhere so it might be easier said than done. It will be hard to grow the tree in a place where it is not naturally native. Conditions such as the soil & humidity may make a huge difference. They tend to thrive in a frost-free environment. You might be able to find the seeds online someplace like Amazon.
These are some pretty cool trees that can be found in various places in the world. They aren't new but they are somewhat rare. It's one of those things you have to see in real life order to appreciate & know its beauty. The way the bark peels is nature at its finest. Enjoy the sight if you see one in person! I can't believe I walked by one right when they were in season with its bark chipping off to slowly reveal the layers of colors underneath. As a gardening enthusiast, it was a joy to see one up close.
Have you seen trees with rainbow bark before? Let me know in the comments if you know where to view these in your city? Maybe we can compile a list! :]
Life in Quarantine as a San Diego Blogger + Social Media Manager
Hi. I'm Carmen, a San Diego blogger & a social media manager/consultant for small businesses, brands, & even influencers. I blog for fun & I do social media optimization services for work. Learn more about me here. I've lived here most of my days, making the San Diego lifestyle the only one I really know. San Diego County is huge; there's an ever-changing flow. There's always a new craft brewery or trendy dinner spot to check out. Oh, but those were the good old days before the quarantine.
As with many people in the county (& world), we're quarantined. Even though we're used to sunny days, San Diego bloggers don't let the rain get them down. So what do San Diego lifestyle bloggers do when under quarantine? Is it business as usual or have things changed?
Well, things have changed. That's safe to say.
Losing clients & work
I am a San Diego blogger, yes, but I also work remotely full-time as a social media manager for small brands & businesses in San Diego County & beyond. I perform social media optimization services, write blog posts, product descriptions, whatever people need. Two of my clients reduced my hours completely until further notice, leaving me out of the bulk of my work. Find out more about me (Carmen) & my blogging + career background. I even found a new client a few weeks into quarantine & then two weeks later they said they couldn't fit me in their budget.And I understand, if a business is shut down altogether, they might not have the budget for social media optimization services. Other clients are impacted by closed offices, reduced work, closed restaurants, & probably a lot more! San Diego businesses & San Diego bloggers alike are reeling from the COVID-19, trying to pick up their life, earn some money, move forward.
But I also found work too! I found a 20 hour per week minimum with a one-woman social media agency. I’m working with wealth management & finance, & often feel out of my league. But I’m l learning every step of the way. It inspires me to create better content, have better procedures when it comes to my own clients, & to take breaks! After all, from Downtown SD to Pacific Beach to Escondido, San Diego has a lot of beauty.
Go to my Contact page to get in touch with me.
Interested in social media management, help, or consulting? Fill out my Discovery Questionnaire & I'll get in touch with you within 48 hours.
Read my yearly freelancing anniversary updates from Years 1, 2, & 3!
Things to do near LA, California: Central Perk Cafe From Friends - a Warner Bros Studio Tour
This impacts the entire community
I've worked from home for just about three years as a San Diego Blogger, social media manager, & travel writer. I talk about my 2-year anniversary in this post - the highs & lows in this post, the changes in blogging to influencer marketing, particularly Instagram influencers. And if you want to go way back, I delve into my one-year anniversary in this blog post. As someone self-employed, I've had my fair share of client losses over the years but this impacts more than just me. It impacts clients, friends, family, the whole community, state, the whole globe is united in how much we're impacted.
Get creative when taking photos at home
Since we're self-isolating, you're not supposed to go out & about to the beach, having a full-on brand photoshoot. With that in mind, many San Diego bloggers out there can't shoot photos for content, unless it's at their home. San Diego bloggers & lifestyle bloggers might feel strained when it comes to creating content. Use simple backdrops to make your photos more interesting: your countertop, your wood table or floor, any kitchen tiles, a blanket. Get creative! If you're one of the San Diego travel blogs, look through older photos & start using storytelling to share your previous imagery. Shop some of my favorite blogger & influencer essentials on Amazon.
Buy affordable props to jazz up your desk, room, apartment, house
What if you don't have a cute workspace or home for photos? I know the feeling; I live in an apartment so I can't change the brownish-beige carpet or the dark brown countertops, so I have to use props. Sometimes I use a chic faux sheepskin rug to style my photos as a San Diego blogger. If you're filming videos or need a larger backdrop, you can buy a large wallhanging for under $20. Stay home & buy some affordable photo props online. Check out this blog post for the full breakdown.
Restaurants, Coffee Shops, What to See: Things to Do in Oceanside, California
Need blog help, social media optimization services, content writing, etc?
It just so happens I'm open & looking for some new clients! Hey, if you need social media optimization services, blog help, please take a look at my client testimonials. If you're interested in potentially working together, fill out this super quick form so I can find out what you need & how I can help & I'll email you within 48 hours.San Diego bloggers and businesses are suffering, but they're trying to make the most of the situation in whatever way possible. Desperate for some blog post ideas?? Learn how to find blogging inspiration & blog ideas. Some companies have gotten creative on how to make sales & stay afloat during these trying times. I saw a pizza place offering do-it-yourself pizza kits to make at home with the kids. Lost Abbey, a San Marcos, California-based brewery offers free delivery in North County San Diego for orders over $50. Many of your favorite San Diego restaurants offered to go for pick up orders. Get the scoop on How to Get a Brand Collaboration + Instagram Collaboration.
San Diego Blogger
I'm a San Diego foodie lover & enjoy dining on whatever the city has to offer. There are so many great locations & destinations to check out in SoCal. Sometimes small businesses aren't looking for any type of paid work, they aren't looking to hire me for social media work, but that's right come in as a San Diego blogger & influencer. I have a blog, social media channels, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TripAdvisor, you name it. If you're a small business, restaurant, or even a PR company, feel free to contact me for upcoming events, openings, product launches.
San Diego brands and Businesses I Work With:
I'm a freelance writer for Locale Magazine, check out my online article about the Best Places to Watch the Superbowl in San Diego. Locale Magazine is a lifestyle magazine with markets in Orange County, San Diego, and Los Angeles. I rode to feature articles that will be coming out in the June San Diego Locale Magazine issue. I haven't received word on if it will be in print or how the formatting will be because of the whole quarantine scenario. Head over to my Contact page if you want to email me.I do social media consulting & management for clients such as Body by Drea. Drea is a Carlsbad-based trainer ready to teach you proper form & Interesting workouts to keep you motivated. She hired me for social media optimization services. With Drea, I worked on optimizing her YouTube: creating video titles, writing video descriptions, video tags, creating video cards and end screens. We worked on the growing following, her website traffic, her Instagram. I have quite a lot of experience working with local businesses as a San Diego blogger & social media manager.
And of course, there is Integrity Counseling Group, a therapy practice with offices in Carlsbad, San Marcos, & the Mission Valley, San Diego. They focus on working with people, teens, & couples in need of therapy. That includes therapy for depression, trauma, sexual addiction, drug addiction, etc. I've worked with them since 2018 on a social media consulting & management level, social media optimization services such as going over their newsletter to make improvements.
Here's a testimonial from my client!
"I have so much more clarity about the direction we are headed in--and we are already seeing results! I implemented her SEO strategy a few weeks ago and in the past week we have started to see more referrals through Google. Most importantly, these are quality referrals that have booked with us right away and been eager to pay our full fee. Carmen keeps me accountable to my goals and also provides feedback on my marketing. I send her 90% of our content before it goes out, and she always thinks of ways to make it better."- Cory Anderson, Integrity Counseling Group.
Are you a San Diego blogger who needs help?
If you're a San Diego blogger that needs some general help (content creation, blog writing, captions, Pinterest, etc.) feel free to reach out & fill out this brief form. Tell me your goals, questions, fears, & your budget. Your budget is important. Depending on your finances, I'm available for either a 30-minute or 60-minute call (smaller budgets) to offer overall suggestions, tips, guidance. If you have a more steady budget, I'm available for management services where I execute the work myself, whether that's creating fully optimized Pinterest pins or posting Instagram Stories or writing blog posts or other content. Read my blog post about time management tips for freelancers, remote workers, & bloggers.Hire me - San Diego locals & nonlocals
If you're interested in my services as a San Diego Blogger or for my social media optimization services, fill out my quickie questionnaire or shoot me an email with your answers. I work with local business & nonlocal businesses. Fun fact, I've never met Body by Drea even though we've worked together for almost a year. That's the nature of being a freelancer. I work with businesses in San Diego County, Southern California, & pretty much anywhere, One client was located in Michigan. Whether you're looking for more Facebook followers, influencers for a food event, or captions for a luxury jewelry company, I can assist you.Visit my Contact page to get in touch with me.
How are you doing? How have you been staying positive or creative during such a stressful time? Leave a comment!
My Favorite Kombucha Brands + What Is Kombucha?!!
Kombucha has been around for 2,000 years. It originated in 220 B.C. China where it was consumed for its detoxifying & energizing properties. That makes me about 1,999 years late to the kombucha party, but I'm a fan now. How about you?
Most people, like me, wonder what is kombucha? What's it made from? What's the alcohol content of kombucha? Where to buy kombucha tea? Can you buy a kombucha starter online? What are some of my favorite kombucha companies? Well, my friend. I answer all these questions & more. Why? Because I had the same questions! Keep reading to find out about kombucha.
* This post may contain affiliate links.
But what is kombucha?
At its core, kombucha is a beverage created by fermenting tea with a culture of yeast & bacteria. It looks a bit like an at-home science experiment, which it basically is. I mean, you can literally buy kombucha starter kits online. Kombucha is lightly effervescent. Think of it as a sparkling tea-based juice drink with a bit of bubbly goodness. Kombucha tends to have some alcohol content, some brands have more & some have less.What other fermented food & drinks can I try?
Kombucha, kefir, kimchi, kvass, miso, sauerkraut, tempeh, pickles, yogurt are popular fermented food & drink. Each has its own unique flavors, properties, & gut health benefits.
San Diego Kombucha Options
As a San Diego blogger & digital influencer, I'm happy to report there are many kombucha options in the area. Many of these establishments have kombucha that contains alcohol content, so it's an excellent alternative to heading to a brewery, bar, or distillery. There isn't much kombucha in North County San Diego yet, but perhaps in the foreseeable future. ~*~ just putting those vibes out there, you know? ~*~
Where to buy kombucha tea in San Diego?
My Favorite Kombucha Companies
GT's Kombucha - Love, love, love this brand. My all-time favorite is GT's Rose kombucha. It has rose hips, rose water, rose petals, as well as their organic & raw kombucha. It's what dreams are made of. It has 4% alcohol content. I usually split up drinking this over 2 days.
Health-Ade Kombucha - My coworker a few years ago used to do promotional work with Health-Ade so she gave me a few bottles to try. It was my very first dabble with kombucha. They have a variety of kombucha flavors like cherry berry, ginger lemon, & pink lady apple. Find Health-Ade Kombucha on Amazon.
JuneShine - JuneShine is a local San Diego kombucha brand. As a local San Diego blogger, I was invited to their Scripps Ranch media party grand opening. Their kombucha is made with green tea, as opposed to black tea. JuneShine kombuchas have 6% alcohol content with kombucha flavors like Honey Ginger Lemon & Midnight Painkiller (charcoal, pineapple, coconut, orange, & nutmeg).
Better Booch - Better Booch sent over a few of their 16-ounce cans to try such as Morning Glory (peach & black tea), Citrus Sunrise (grapefruit, sage, pu erh tea), & a couple others. The LA-based premium small craft kombucha brand expanded to San Diego in 2019. The kombucha flavors are approachable; you can taste the tea & tang from kombucha without an overwhelming punch. This is an excellent kombucha brand to try if you're new to kombucha. Find Better Booch on Amazon.
Brew Dr. Kombucha - You might've heard of their Clear Mind kombucha with rosemary, mint, sage, & green tea. They also have Chai Apple, Strawberry Basil, Superberry, & fun limited-release kombucha flavors like Vanilla Oak. Mmmm. Vanilla Oak. You might be able to find Brew Dr. Kombucha at your local Target, Vons, Albertsons!
Health-Ade Kombucha - My coworker a few years ago used to do promotional work with Health-Ade so she gave me a few bottles to try. It was my very first dabble with kombucha. They have a variety of kombucha flavors like cherry berry, ginger lemon, & pink lady apple. Find Health-Ade Kombucha on Amazon.
JuneShine - JuneShine is a local San Diego kombucha brand. As a local San Diego blogger, I was invited to their Scripps Ranch media party grand opening. Their kombucha is made with green tea, as opposed to black tea. JuneShine kombuchas have 6% alcohol content with kombucha flavors like Honey Ginger Lemon & Midnight Painkiller (charcoal, pineapple, coconut, orange, & nutmeg).
Better Booch - Better Booch sent over a few of their 16-ounce cans to try such as Morning Glory (peach & black tea), Citrus Sunrise (grapefruit, sage, pu erh tea), & a couple others. The LA-based premium small craft kombucha brand expanded to San Diego in 2019. The kombucha flavors are approachable; you can taste the tea & tang from kombucha without an overwhelming punch. This is an excellent kombucha brand to try if you're new to kombucha. Find Better Booch on Amazon.
Brew Dr. Kombucha - You might've heard of their Clear Mind kombucha with rosemary, mint, sage, & green tea. They also have Chai Apple, Strawberry Basil, Superberry, & fun limited-release kombucha flavors like Vanilla Oak. Mmmm. Vanilla Oak. You might be able to find Brew Dr. Kombucha at your local Target, Vons, Albertsons!
The GT's Rose kombucha is my favorite flavor of all-time |
Can you buy kombucha starter kits online?
Why yes, you can buy a kombucha starter online! Gotta love being able to shop from the comfort of your own home! Whether you want San Diego kombucha or perhaps kombucha with alcohol, there are some kombucha companies to suit your needs.
What's your favorite kombucha? Do you have any top kombucha companies? Leave a comment if you have a suggestion, a thought, or a question.
* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click &/or make a purchase through certain links on this site or my social media platforms, I may make a commission from that click &/or purchase. It's at no additional cost to you. Learn more about my disclosure.
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