#SEAwednesday

Time to celebrate the end of 2017 with the Big Sagebrush! The Big Sagebrush aka Mojave Sagebrush aka Parish’s Sagebrush is part of the Sunflower family (Asteraceae) minus the big sunny flower. The original SEA #61 (Kentucky Springs) in Los Angeles County was created to preserve the best stand of Big Sagebrush found in Los […]

Don’t mistake the Western Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia hypugea) for an Angry Bird perched high up in a tree. The western burrowing owl lives low to the ground in areas with short vegetation and bare ground within shrub, desert, and grassland habitats throughout western North America. Small numbers of breeding burrowing owls are found in the

This tree is a provider and a survivor! The California Black Walnut (Juglans californica) is a native deciduous tree that is generally found in southern California. It takes the shape of a large shrub with many trunks close to the ground or a small tree. In Los Angeles County, CA Black Walnut woodlands are limited to

Angelenos’ favorite spring past time is visiting the amazing views of the California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) at the Poppy Reserve in Antelope Valley. You can find the CA Poppy in almost all of Los Angeles County’s Significant Ecological Areas! The CA Poppy was chosen as the state’s official flower in 1903 and April 6 of each

This is one regal looking specimen! The Coast Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma blainvillii) may seem like a beach bum but it is a one-lizard army. It likes sunbathing, burying itself in the sand, and snacking…on ants. The Horned Lizard can be found in habitats in the coastal mountains and valleys of Los Angeles County that have

Los Angeles County’s Significant Ecological Areas (SEA) are our local succulent gardens. The Dudleyas, also known as “live-forevers”, grow abundantly in California with special varieties in each region. From rosettes of fleshy leaves, grow impressive stalks of flowers of a variety of colors, depending on the variety or subspecies. Native to California, Dudleyas have the hardiness

#SEAwednesday is always humpday, but every day is humpday for a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)! Significant Ecological Areas (SEAs) aren’t just on land – two SEAs, the Malibu Coastline SEA and the Palos Verdes Peninsula and Coastline SEA, extend out into the ocean. These SEAs help protect the marine life that lives in and migrates

Today’s #SEAwednesday post is about an invasive species that is hurting our SEA native trees. The Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer Beetle (PSHB) was in the news today – and it was not good news. The Los Angeles Times reported that PSHB beetles are damaging our trees at an alarming rate. PSHB kill both our native

The iconic Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia) is the treasure of the Southern California high desert. The Joshua Tree is found in the Mojave Desert, which stretches from southeast California into parts of Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. Joshua Trees were named by the Mormons settlers in the early 1800s. The outstretched branches of the trees reminded

What gives the Kangaroo Rats (Genus: Dipodomys) their name? One look at their strong hind legs will tell you why they share the same name as the down under marsupials. These interesting small rodents are highly efficient, athletic, and well-adapted. Kangaroo rats are the size of a small fist and use their long hind legs to