Lost connections-Sunland area

2006-11-21T17:50:00.000-08:00

In the City of Los Angeles it can be easy to forget our connection to the natural worlds processes we SO cannot live without. The air is cleaned and CO2 is consumed by the respiration of those plants now alive. Did I mention the plants exhale O2?
Long ago, in the early mission days, settlements and the lands were staked out upon the flattest land, alluvial plains deposited by the shifting swollen rivers. During big storm events, dirt and debris are churned up from the young, loose and crumbly surface of the San Gabriel Mountains. These mountains, which intercept the moisture laden pacific onshore flows when storm event after event pound them, deposit very fertile and deep soils which were then tilled for crops. By 1890 most all the flat valley floors were almost completely stripped of natural habitat.
Amazingly, the nearby hillsides remained largely untouched until modern population demands and development profits warranted mounting the current siege marching up the foothills and into the local mountains. Certain valley native species have persisted among the hills and vales that even cows left ungrazed due to the prickly brush, the treacherous footing and steep terrain.
Often Back-to-nature types populated early hillside communities, and they had an appreciation for nature's splendid diversity here in our floristic province, they are vanishing fast as development money gets political concessions for packed-together residential housing covering the hills and completely removing the chaparral and woodlands, the refuge of LA's displaced plants and animals.
Formerly Nevin's Mahonia, the Berberis nevinii was last described in the San Fernando valley floor communities in 1904. This prickly woody bush was completely extirpated there, but also can occur on north facing slopes and this is where I found this ancient specimen;

Los Angeles natural neighborhoods

2006-11-16T12:03:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles natural neighborhoods.

To end the utter annihilation of the few remnant natural habitat spots, and to entice nature to return among the residential blocks of developed areas and industrial sites. I can imagine no pursuit more noble.
This can save our civilization.

naturalneighborhood

Lost connections-Sunland area

Los Angeles natural neighborhoods