Topanga is a special place. It is a respite from urban life.. but not just for people. The Santa Monica Mountains are a place where animals and native plants can thrive in the ecosystem they were made for. The mountains support an entire community that goes from basic organisms in the soil, to a variety of insects (some of which are
'specialists' that are attracted to only certain native plants), to birds, reptiles, bats, and larger animals like the Coyote.
Cactus Wren Nest on Pear Cactus Leaf
This community is made more clearly special when you look at it from afar, when you step back, or even check out
Satellite Images on Google. There you will find the green of the Santa Monica Mountains surrounded by urban sprawl.
It is a delicate balance that maintains this community. As development progresses, animals and plants are pushed back or erased altogether. Fortunately, zoning ordinances have kept development to a minimum, and most of us that choose to live here
know it is a special place.
People need a respite from urban life... not just a park filled with green turf and a few non-native trees. People need to spend time in nature's communities.. to observe wildlife, to watch baby birds be born, to see what plants butterflies feed on.. We as humans are part of nature. It is not us or them. We are all one. We don't even know how much we need the natural world, until we spend time in it. Then we realize..
