Cormorants find Lone Sentinel Rock, off Seabright Beach, a favored resting place.
Pleasure craft by scores find anchorage beside Santa Cruz’ Municipal Wharf, where also fishing vessels moor and many an angler drops a line.
In the nearby mountains are the permanent convention sites of several religious groups, one of which includes a building capable of seating 5,000 persons. These and other conventions rank virtually as an industry in Santa Cruz’ economy. But Santa Cruz is more than a resort or convention city. It is a city of flowers. The Spanish Garden at its city hall is beautiful. The drive north along the ocean front takes the visitor past bluffs which are ablaze with colorful succulents and flowers. In season, whole hillsides south of the city flame with yellow bush lupine. Some of these plants have trunks as thick through as a man’s leg.
PACIFIC OCEAN
Pelicans may be seen on every wharf and pier, almost every rock, from Santa Cruz to Carmel. Wise looking old birds, aren’t they?
Bulbs, cut flowers and nursery stock are the biggest crop in the Santa Cruz area, though a vast quantity of strawberries is raised and the loganberry was developed in a Santa Cruz garden by James H. Logan, banker, attorney and superior judge, who crossed the wild blackberry with the Lawton berry to produce the delectable result. Brussels sprouts are another outstanding crop.
Santa Cruz also raises mushrooms, in old caves once used for aging wine and in newer concrete structures.
The largest bulb farms are at Capitola, shipping 3,500,000 tulip, lily, dahlia and begonia bulbs a year. As each of these in turn comes into bloom these farms offer a sight to be seen nowhere else. Championing the region’s claim to being the “Begonia Capital of the United States,” a festival is held each year on the waters of Soquel Creek, with thousands of blooms scattered over the water and colorful floating displays.