[btilly]

I grew up in Victoria, which is pretty much like Seattle. I currently live in Orange County. I've also lived in New Hampshire, New York, and a few other places with varying levels of lushness.

When I go for hikes these days in the hills of OC, it really is green. Shockingly so. The flat areas remind me of your description still, but tradersam is not crazy here.

[cjslep]

Agree. Lived in NC for 20+ years, now live in OC too. It was a bit of a culture shock moving here, seeing all the desert and dust everywhere. Happy to see quite a bit of green again!

[oxide]

I had a similar, yet opposite experience moving from AZ to CA.(Northern)

Going from a lifetime of desert living with miserable weather and the greenest sight being olianders, to a sea of green trees with more normal weather. Night and day difference.

[scruple]

And to think, we didn't get nearly as much rain as other parts of the state.

[supercanuck]

Ditto in Ventura County