Need That Fall Color Fix?

Contrary to popular belief, LA does, in fact, have seasons. They may not happen when or how you expect them to, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a fix of fall color in your life this autumn.

Some of our evergreen natives color up in fall when the temperatures drop by getting a reddish or purple tint to their leaves. Others turn yellow or orange before dropping their leaves. To be a leaf peeper, visit our local natural areas in the Santa Monica Mountains, the Angeles National Forest, and the San Bernardino National Forest.… Read more >>

Seasons, Los Angeles Style

If you ask someoneto describe the four seasons (and I’m not talking about Vivaldi’s music or the hotel), you’ll most likely hear that fall is when plants slow down and begin to drop their leaves (if they’re deciduous), winter is when they sleep, spring is all about new growth, and summer is a burst of color. Then they say, “but we don’t really have seasons in L.A.”

Ah, but we do have seasons here. The earth travels around the sun on its tilted axis, giving us seasons.… Read more >>

California Continues to Lead on Climate Action

California has once again proven itself to be a national and world leader on climate, with several important actions taking place in the past few weeks:

On August 27, the State released California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, a series of reports and tools that advance actionable science. The assessment represents the latest data on climate impacts and adaptation at the state and local levels. It also highlights areas including climate justice, tribal and indigenous communities, and ocean and coastalareas.… Read more >>

TreePeople’s Most Wanted: Mountain Edition

We’re back with another round of California’s most wanted invasive plants.

This time we are looking to our local mountains in the Angeles National Forests and Santa Monica Mountains to learn about the top five worst invasive species that we tend to find during our mountain restoration events. These plants out-compete our native plants and create huge fire hazards in our already drier than normal hillsides

#1 Ripgut Brome (Bromus diandrus)

This pesky plant quickly spreads and infiltrates its surrounding areas.… Read more >>

Sunburned This Summer? So Are the Trees!

Driving around LA you may have noticed trees and plants all over town with entire areas across their canopy covered with dried, brown leaves. This sunburned effect can be caused by a combination of the angle of the sun and extreme heat, burning some, but not all the leaves.   

This unusual combination occurred when record-breaking temperatures over the course of two days – July 6 and 7 – hit 108° in the downtown area, and rose to 117° in the valley.… Read more >>

Trees, Art, Sam Francis and TreePeople

It’s beautiful to see how nature helps pave the paths of those who inspire our lives.

TreePeople’s Founder and President Andy Lipkis was a forward-thinking youth who began an environmental nonprofit at the age of 17 after being inspired by the dying trees in the Angeles National Forest. Similarly, Sam Francis, one of California’s most influential abstract expressionist painters with art hanging in LA museums like the Broad and the Norton Simon Museum, also drew inspiration from nature in forests, lakes, rivers and the ocean while living around the San Francisco Bay Area.… Read more >>

TreePeople’s Most Wanted: Home Edition

California’s native plants are under attack.

From our mountain habitats all the way down to our very backyard, invasive plant species are taking over. According to the U.S. Government, an invasive species is one that is non-native to the ecosystem and one whose introduction causes or will likely cause economic, environmental or human-health harm.

Invasive plants can often outcompete our natives because they don’t have the checks and balances they would have in their native land. Often this freedom leads them to grow faster and spread faster than the native plants they are replacing.… Read more >>

5 Ways to Be Cool This Summer – The TreePeople Way!

The hot, dry days of summer are here!

As much as an air-conditioned building may seem like a great escape, there are some other ways to stay cool that are not only good for you and the environment but can also help you be cool – the TreePeople way.

#1  Spend Some Time Under the Shade of Trees

Throw down a yoga mat, blanket, or hang a hammock to enjoy the canopy of shade provided by trees. This is not only a great way to stay cool, but healthy too!… Read more >>

Make Your Voices Heard: Urban Forest…Stand Up for Trees

Did you know that you actually live in an urban forest? 

An urban forest is made up of a network of publicly and privately-owned trees and forests in and around cities. At its core, the urban forest connects, nourishes and optimizes the health and functionality of the city and those who dwell in it.

Unfortunately, LA’s urban forest is often seen by some as merely street trees or parks that simply add beauty. Therefore, the real value of the urban forest is not fully recognized so it does not receive enough funding, protections, or maintenance it needs to thrive and protect the lives and health of all Angelenos.… Read more >>

These Heat Waves Kill

They say some like it hot, but as the first significant heat wave of the season hits this week, many Angelenos will wish it was winter.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year extreme heat causes more deaths in the United States than all other weather-related causes combined. In LA, the average five-day heat wave results in 4.1% more deaths than cooler weather on the first day, and 11.9% more on the fifth day.

Realistically, the coming heat event will result in some Angelenos going to the emergency room…and others dying at home.… Read more >>