superbloomings:
This is one burn scar from the 2018 wildfires, as noted by some charred remains of...
This is one burn scar from the 2018 wildfires, as noted by some charred remains of various shrubbery in the photo. It’s truly amazing how much regrowth propagated in just 4 months due to our wet winter! This rebirth was spurred on by nitrates injected into the soil from the fire. All the invasive grasses, weeds, and native chaparral overgrowth were destroyed, which removed the competition for nutrients, water, and light, allowing for smaller natives to pop up in abundance. The flora in this coastal Mediterranean climate evolved adaptations consistent with surviving an occasional fire that cleanses this habitat from overgrowth. Even in some plant species, seeds will wait to germinate until after a fire, hence the term “fire follower.” This unique area experiences seasonal sustained Santa Ana gusts of 50+ mph for weeks at a time. My goal is to display all the beauty up close that one may find after the horror experienced from an ember carried on the wind in wildfire season. Furthermore, to bring appreciation for an area that many, may not understand due to the proliferation of media-hype and the general spread of misinformation across various platforms. I won’t be exactly disclosing each trail I photograph for nature preservation purposes, but the majority of my photos consist mainly of various parts of the vast expanse in the Santa Monica Mountain range, where I call home. I hope with each flower, leaf, or lichen I share, you will be as enamored as I am and it incites a desire in you to conserve our world for future generations. Enjoy!
