Flora and Fauna

This time, I’m going to write about a topic very near and dear to my heart: nature.

I honestly don’t know why I’ve put this topic off for so long, but that’s probably because I was hung up on writing about specific events rather than broad subjects.

It goes without saying that the climate in Northern New York is wildly different from the climate in Southern California, and with that comes a slew of differing plants, animals, and weather. The first time I visited California in 2013, I remember arriving at our first stop (the memorial service for my friends’ deceased grandparents. Yeah, I know, strange thing to do on your first trip to California) and I looked up at the massive palm tree growing outside their house. My mouth gaped open at the sheer height of the tufted tree, to the point where David looked at me like I was a weirdo. What can I say? I’d never seen a palm tree up close, but out here they’re on every street. Literally.

My very first palm tree sighting. They are a common roadside "attraction."

The day I officially moved to California (March 14, 2015), was a relatively mild late-winter, early-spring day in New York. The snow was beginning to get a little melty, and the temperature was in the low to mid-thirties, so it was “warm” by winter standards. When I landed in California, I looked like a fish out of water. I was laden down with a winter jacket, my tall, faux-leather boots, and two massive bags, sweating in the 80-degree weather on the busy street. It was a shock to the system, to say the least.

In the thirteen months I’ve lived in California, I would consider the climate incredibly mild and consistent. The sun shines nearly every day, bringing with it “warm” to downright “scorching” temperatures. There are few occasions where I’ve felt truly cold, and the majority of them involved air conditioning or a persistent breeze. Rain seldom falls, and when it does, the locals react with a mix of pure joy and sheer terror. I’d hate to see them in a blizzard back home.

I’ve heard the weather in New York described as “bi-polar” and “extreme.” The differing seasons fluctuate between freezing cold to unbearably humid, and it’s difficult to say what the “typical” weather is like for any given season because it can do pretty much anything you can imagine. In summer alone it might rain for two weeks straight and there won’t be even the slightest hint of sunshine, or it can be in the 80s and so humid that you’re constantly drenched with moisture.

 

Due to these wild fluctuations, I grew up able to detect the scent of rain in the air long before the storm hit, and I could predict that the snow would begin to melt when I particular plant or animal revealed itself. It is also because of these extremes that I learned to truly appreciate a warm, sunny day. I honestly believe the majority of Californians are spoiled by the incredible weather, and many take it for granted. I’ve heard more than one person say, “Why go to the beach? It’s always there. I’m over it.”

What do you mean “I’m over it”?! Back in my day we had to walk uphill both ways to get to the beach, then we had to use an auger to drill through the ice so we could pretend to enjoy the water.

Of course, that’s not every Californian, but I have heard that statement before.

Where I’m from is very rural and is covered in forest. I truly grew up “in the backwoods,” along with all sorts of plants and animals. We always had birds, squirrels, deer, raccoons, opossums, skunks, and even bears, coyotes, and foxes roaming through our backyard. You could predict when Mama Deer and her twins would show up, and my photographer mother jumped at any opportunity to snap a photo of the creatures that traipsed through our yard.

The first time I saw these large wild mushrooms, I was honestly very surprised they could grow in such a dry environment.

Here in California, I find the wildlife to be very limited. We have a lot of mourning doves and small songbirds around our house, but that’s about it. (We did have a rather large rat living in the backyard, but one of the five dogs took care of that). It’s a rarity to see undomesticated furry creatures in our neighborhood, though I have encountered one deer standing in the road since I moved here. That’s one deer in thirteen months. Back home, it’s more like thirteen deer in a week. One of which unfortunately met an untimely end on the front bumper of my car. Rest in peace, little guy.

There are a few creatures I’ve never seen before that are fairly common here. For one thing, there are many small lizards that love to hide in the bushes lining the roadsides and crawl onto the sidewalk to bask in the sunlight during the day. Also, the first time I saw a pelican near the ocean, I cried out with excitement.

These lizards are everywhere! Photo taken at Old Point Loma Lighthouse.

“Look! It’s a goddam pterodactyl!” I shouted. To my surprise, they will fly in a V-shaped formation, exactly the same way our Canada geese do back home (which is one of those telltale signs that winter is coming, or spring is coming, depending on which month it is).

You can't forget the majestic sea lion. This was my first time seeing ones, at La Jolla Cove.

In all honestly, pelicans scare me as much as they put me into a state of awe. They are massive up close, and when you have some food in your hand, they watch you like a stalker waiting for an opportunity to snatch whatever you’re carrying. It’s unnerving to say the least.

I often think of these as the equivalent of daisies in New York because they are so common.

There are many plants in Southern California that are similar to the ones in New York, but they are often planted by humans and likely not native to California. If you drive through any neighborhood, there are obvious signs that landscaping is a big industry out here. Shrubs are regularly pruned, the roadsides have sprinkler systems installed in them, and nearly every neighborhood has an entrance lined with flowers that generally don’t grow wild. Even many of the “outdoorsy” places I’ve visited, like parks and hiking areas, always have a feeling that they’ve been shaped and altered in same way by human hands. There are few places I’ve been that feel truly like “authentic” wild nature, like I experienced back in New York.

The morning glories are exactly the same back home.

A massive prickly pear cactus. Photo taken in Penasquitos Canyon.

I imagine this isn’t just a California thing, but something seen in urban areas across the country. My friend Purp (who is also from New York, and yes, that’s just a nickname), is involved in “forestry research, environmental conservation, and environmental geographic information science.” She has had a very difficult time finding a job within her career field while living in Southern California. She believes it has a lot to do with the fact that the majority of people in this area are more concerned with industrialization and consumerism than the environment. That’s not to say that absolutely no one gives a damn about the environment, but it’s plain to see just how many construction projects occur in Southern California every year. It seems like you can’t drive a mile without witnessing the slow construction of a new business area or apartment complex. This will ultimately have a huge impact on the social aspects of the area, and it honestly pains me to see how many trees are cut down and hills are flattened just so we can cram more people into already overpopulated areas, then drown them in Starbucks coffee. Somehow we've come to believe that progress can only be achieved by replacing the wilderness with concrete, and the idea of "environmental conservation" has become radical.

I'm not sure what these are, but they are absolutely gorgeous.

I collected a plethora of roadside flowers for pressing. The majority of which were undeniably succulent of some sort.

Hibiscus feel undoubtedly West Coast.

At the very least, I’m glad to see the areas that are deemed “protected” for the sake of the flora and fauna that live in them. Generally, these are lagoons and forested areas that are maintained so that people can use them as hiking and biking trails, but it’s better than nothing. I’m thankful for these preserved plots of nature, because every time I’m stuck in a traffic jam or find myself sidling through a crowded store, I long for the next time I get to venture out of suburbia and take a walk down a dirt path. 

The ducks and geese living in Guajome Park are so used to humans you can practically pet them. I wouldn't recommend you try, however.

I'm sure he appreciates a protected forest. Photo taken in Penasquitos Canyon.

During those moments in the wilderness, I become very intrigued by the plants that grow naturally out here. Many of them are succulents, which I used to think were ugly, but have come to grow on me (no pun intended). Other times, I notice the “California version” of plants and animals that I saw every day in New York, like pine trees and the ground squirrels that make their homes in the cliff sides near the ocean. I find the little tuft of fur on the tips of their ears especially cute.

An adorable West Coast squirrel. The ultimate beach bum. Photo taken at La Jolla Cove.

I could probably go on and on about all the different plants and animals on the west coast, but working on this post is actually taking me away from what I long for most: more time spent outside among the wind and trees, and less time sitting under florescent lighting in front of a computer screen. I look forward to the day I live surrounded by plants and animals, but until then, I’ll gladly take a day on a hiking trail over a day at the mall.