Welcome to the San Gabriels
On a recent trip to a northern California bookstore, we were delighted to encounter an enthusiastic discussion focusing on the San Gabriel Mountains of southern California. The participants were overheard commenting on the beauty and ruggedness of the mountains, the vistas and scenery, the plants and wildlife. Underscored in the discussion was a shared wonder of the great biodiversity of plants and wildlife. The San Gabriels, a home to biodiversity! Who would have thought that a mountain range so heavily impacted by people and urban sprawl in Los Angeles County would retain its rank as one of the most biodiverse regions in America.
Someone may ask, “What is the definition of biodiversity?” In a phrase, biodiversity is variety of life.
Wildflowers of the San Gabriel Mountains is a welcome invitation and brief introduction to the more than 60 plant families and more than 600 kinds of flowering plants that are native. The biodiversity thrives on extremes in temperature, light, and water, forming a vast variety of habitats and micro-climates for plants and animals. Also contributing to the variety in habitats is the uniqueness of mountain range positioning and ruggedness. The San Gabriels are classified as a transverse mountain range – meaning the mountains are positioned east/west, instead of the usual north/south pattern. Add to these factors, a great scarcity of water, e.g., desert and chaparral designations. How plants survive in spite of the rarity of water is a feat that defies imagination. How they capture, store, use, and protect water is a journal of observation notes requiring many hikes…
Click here to view a page from Wildflowers of the San Gabriel Mountains.