See the Oaks Calabasas Fire Part 2

Sometimes fire creates opportunity.

The oaks in the Calabasas fire may be toasted, but not taken down.

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 Firefighters saved the park structures.

And the non native grasses and shrubs burned.

 But there is hope for new growth!

 

 

Pre-fire pre drought park view.

 For more on California
Visit us at TheEarthMinute.com
Malibu Creek - Feel the Cool in Malibu Creek State Park, CA
Malibu Creek State Park, CA - Wild Flowers
Walk Mulholland Hwy, Santa Monica Mts. (CA towhee, wildflowers)

Small Discoveries Under Young Oak Trees

The young coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia) are still struggling with lower rainfall, but in their protection a variety of plants and animals thrive.
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One of the plants sending up shoots and flowering is the manroot or wild cucumber. This tender vine will produce baseball-sized fruit covered in spikes. (see the dried fruit in fall - A Walk on Mulholland Hwy)

With just a little rain new plants sprout, just off the beaten trail in under the young oaks. I followed this path trying to get a photo of a male Nuttall's woodpecker and I found a quiet and unexpected Earth Minute.

See more CA Native plants:
Hidden Gardens of LA
Do Trees Dream?
How Tall is a Redwood Tree?
Take a Stroll Under the Oaks - Rocky Oaks Park
Leaves on Native Plants Fight Drought
Yucca Blossoms

Visit The Earth Minute each week for a new Minute of Nature

Leaves on CA Native Plants Fight Drought

San Nicolas Island buckwheat

Despite the drought, you can still have green landscaping in California if you go native. Take a minute and appreciate the variety of leaves among our native plants.

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These natives are green and healthy even at the end of a dry summer. 

CA coast redwood

How do they do it?  Adaptations to their leaves help them avoid moisture loss. 

Some leaves are fuzzy with tiny filaments that help break of the sun's pounding rays. A velvety leaf also reduces air movement across the surface, thereby reducing transpiration of moisture.

Waxy leaves help seal in moisture, also reducing transpiration. 

San Nicolas Island chamise

Narrow leaves reduce surface area exposed to the sun. Some plants like the fairy duster (Calliandra) respond to direct sunlight by closing up their leaves to further reduce exposure. When the sun is less severe, the narrow leaves unfurl and open wide.

sword fern

Many California native plants have evolved with combinations of these adaptations making them successful drought survivors and good choices for planting in yards.

Here is a list of the plants as they appear in the video:

• hollyleaf cherry (Prunus ilicifolia ilicifolia) more on CA native cherry
• ceanothus (Ceanothus variety of species) flowers in the spring
• white sage (Salvia apiana)
• San Nicolas Island buckwheat (Eriogonum grande timorum)
• manzanita (Arctostaphylos variety of species)
• hollyleaf cherry (Prunus ilicifolia ilicifolia) 
• coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia)
• toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) more on toyon
• lemonadeberry (Rhus integrifolia)
• penstemon (Penstemon variety of species)
• prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica)
• San Nicolas Island chamise (Adenostoma fasciculaton 'Nicolas') See more of San Nicolas Island
• pink fairduster (Calliandra eriophylla)
• sword fern (Polystichium munitum)
• CA coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)
• giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum)
• Santa Rosa Island torrey pine (Pinus torreyana insularis)
• western sycamore (Platanus racemosa)
• mallow (Sphaeralcea variety of species)

See how native plants create habitat in a backyard

For more California Native plants see:
Visit Malibu Legacy Park - Hidden Gardens of L.A. #2
Visit Pierce College Botanical Garden - Hidden Gardens of L.A. #3
Visit Conejo Valley Botanical Garden - Hidden Gardens of L.A. #4

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for weekly 1-minute videos of the natural world. 

Stop and See Yucca Blossoms on Angeles Crest Hghway

It's late spring in the mountains of Southern California.

On the way up to see Chilao Visitor Center off the Angeles Crest Highway (CA State Highway 2), we were struck by the sharp beauty of the native yucca plants in blossom.

See this Yucca plant right along the highway!!

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The light streams through the dense blooms putting many orchids to shame.

 For more wild spots near Los Angeles, visit us here  at 

TheEarthMinute.com

Discovering Epiphyllums - Blooming Tropical Cactus

Commonly known as epiphyllums, these flat-stemmed cactus with large vibrant blooms are hybridized from ancestors that live in the nooks and crannies of trees in the forests of Central and South America.

Take a minute to discover the diversity of epiphyllum blooms.

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Epiphyllums are epiphytic; like many orchid species they grow on other larger plants, but cause no harm to their host. In southern California epiphyllums can be very happy on a patio or terrace. They thrive on little soil, mottled shade, minimal water, and good air flow.

Ours is a micro-habitat. Native bees, like the Valley carpenter bee, pollinate them and a juvenile alligator lizard lives beneath the pot.

The Epiphyllum Society of America keeps records on the over 700 named hybrid varieties. Like orchids, epiphyllums have an amazing diversity. These blooms were on display at the Southern California Spring Flower Show. The Epiphyllum Society hosts their annual show May 16-17, 2015 at the Los Angeles Arboretum.

Visit the Earth Minute each week and discover something new in the natural world.

Visit Southern California Flower Show

Weary of the drought? Visiting the Southern California Flower Show is a sure pick-me-up.

Display gardens offer inspiration with California native plants and drought tolerant options. 

Potted indoor plants and fairy gardens can be successful on a water budget.


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This was the 2014 Show. This year's show promises to be just as colorful and beautiful. If you haven't been, you should experience:

Southern California Flower Show

April 23-26

South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa

http://www.springgardenshow.com/

More Earth Minutes with flowers:

Orchids

Saucer Magnolia

Hidden Gardens of Los Angeles

Discover Mountain Wildflowers in Wyoming

Visit TheEarthMinute.com each week for a new 1-minute vacation