The Elfin Forest is a most appropriate name for the Santa Monica Mountains chaparral community. Looking at chaparral from the perspective of elves and fairies, shrubs become magnificent trees spreading over nooks and glens. Spring begins soon after the first rains. Although noseason will be totally without flowers, the majority of blooms can beseen from late January through June.

Santa Monica Mountains Flowering Seasons Currants and gooseberry January-May California lilac February-May Canyon and Bush sunflowers March-June Monkeyflower March-August Lupines March-May California Fuschia August-November

Low rainfall(13"- 14" per year) is a major influenceon the plant life here. Root systems are deep and widespread,anchoring plants while enabling them to gather both ground water andrain water efficiently. Fog is another important source of water inthese coastal mountains. However, plants must be very careful waterconservationists if they are to survive for months without rain.Leaves tend to be small and thick with hard, waxy coatings. Poresthrough which water is lost are reduced in number and found on lowerleaf surfaces. These lower sides are often protected by down coverededges or by hairs which trap water vapor. Light colored, heatreflecting lower surfaces keep leaf temperatures down.

Chaparral animals have evolved drought resistantbehaviors similar to desert animals. Not many large animals ventureout during the heat of the day. Some lizards have special kidneyswhich excrete a semi-solid urine, avoiding even that water loss. Manyanimals live in underground burrows where the temperature changes aremuch less extreme.

The way in which nutrients are recycled is anotherunique aspect of the chaparral community. Decay is necessary to thecycle of life. Fungi, earthworms, insects and bacteria all utilizedead material as food and return organic compounds to the soil.Plants need these compounds to grow. Animals either feed on theplants (herbivores) or each other (carnivores). However, in ourMediterranean climate with its warm, dry summers, little decay takesplace. The nutrients in the soil are slowly used up. The major soilrejuvenator in the chaparral community is fire. This traditionalenemy of man is a natural part of this ecosystem. It is estimatedthat an average stand of chaparral burned every twenty-five yearsbefore man's intervention. The native plants, apparently devastated,are well adapted to fire. Some seeds are only ready to sprout aftercracking in the heat of fire. Some plants regrow quickly out ofcharred, and seemingly dead, stumps. Some trees have thick bark andslow-to-burn leaves which save them in many of these fast movingfires. For all plants, the open spaces and enriched soil cause agrowing spree that results in a full grown chaparral stand in just afew years. Fire does not leave a permanent scar on thislandscape.

All in all, the chaparral supports a unique andcomplex ecosystem. The closer you look, the more you'll find toappreciate.