Cycling Claremont: Orange You Glad They're Still There

Do any little bit of riding around town and you will see reminders of Claremont's extensive agricultural past. Like all the foothill communities citrus growing was big industry before the land became more valuable for housing. At one time there would have been far more citrus trees than there were people. Today homeowners have planted citrus trees in their yards, front, back and side, and even in the parkways. If you know where to look, you can still find remnants of the old groves. Some of them like the one in the photo above are obvious from the street, while others are hidden behind walls, hedges, etc. Most are north of Baseline between Mills and the wash. I am not sure about all, but some of them, like the one in the photo (which has visibly fallen on hard times in recent years) and, which extends up the side street beyond the house, are still commercially harvested. One of the best maintained remnants is right on Padua; other remnants visible from the street can be seen on Alamosa, Pomello and Miramar.

I am one of those people who hates to see references to past uses completely disappear from the landscape, and love that these little bits can still be preserved. Notice them the next time you are riding around town.