January 17

The midmorning skies are cloudy and temperatures are in the high 50’s as Riley, Caroline and I begin hiking an earthen trail in southern California’s, 51-acre George F. Canyon Nature Preserve, one of 16 such properties on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, south of Los Angeles. Since 1988, the land conservancy here has successfully preserved 1,600 acres of open space where visitors can enjoy solitude, where children and adults can learn about the natural environment and where native plants and animals can thrive. At first, I pause to observe a honeybee feeding on fruit of a Lemonade berry tree. Also known as lemonade sumac, this shrubby evergreen is found all over southern California. Since the berries are edible, I try a few and agree they’re not as tasty as the name suggests. Nearby, I stop to pick a leaf of Black Sage and break it up to enjoy the sweet aroma. Used by some to encourage dreams and visions, this variety of sage is an herb of introspection and inner healing. When burnt before bedtime, it aids in restful sleep and pleasant dreams. Further up the trail, shared by horses, the bright red berries of a Toyon shrub catch my eye. This fruit is favored by mockingbirds, robins and cedar waxwings. Coyotes and bears also eat and disperse them. The First Peoples of California cooked ripe berries to rid them of bitter toxins, resulting in a safe to eat, but only mildly sweet pithy pulp-more of a staple food, rather than a sweet treat. Just ahead, among the lush green vegetation, it’s easy to spot a stand of deciduous Arroyo willows with their changing color leaves that also litter the trail.  Next, I hear what sounds like an injured gull. This strange birdcall comes from a wild Peacock, a common pet around here that often escapes. Turning around, I come to a dry creek bed displaying a variety of rocks including a large blue-green boulder of Catalina Schist. These ancient metamorphic rocks form the geological base of the Los Angeles basin. Nearing the car, I notice vines of Wild Cucumber (Manroot) with lots of white blossoms. These vines grow from a large, tuberous root that can extend several feet and weigh over 100 pounds. (stock photo). At this time of year, the inedible fruit (stock photo) has dried up and decomposed like this one I find lying on the ground nearby. Finally, at the trail head, the words on a sign describe well this unique ecosystem.

 

Power lines to poles

Sirens to honking horns

Acres of asphalt surround

Human houses and havoc

Retreat to nature’s respite 

A gathering of greenery

Refuge for reptiles

Oasis for insects

Magnet for mammals

Benevolence for birds

A sanctuary of sanity to

Commune with the wild

 

D. DeGraaf