cathedral redwood canopy
"The Santa Cruz Mountains are a region of large biological diversity, encompassing cool, moist coastal ecosystems as well as warm, dry chaparral. In valleys and moist ocean-facing slopes some of the southernmost coast redwoods grow, along with Douglas fir, which is at the southern extent of its range. Coast live oak, Pacific madrone, wax myrtle, and California bay laurel also occur in the Santa Cruz Mountains. There do exist several small and isolated stands of old growth forest, most notably at Henry Cowell Redwoods and Portola Redwoods State Parks and one sizeable old-growth redwood forest at Big Basin. At higher elevations and on sunny south slopes a more drought-resistant chaparral vegetation dominates: manzanita, California scrub oak, chamise, and chaparral pea. Spring wildflowers are also widespread throughout the range. The area welcomes a tremendous number of species of birds. Black-tailed deer, a subspecies of Mule deer are common, as are gray squirrels, chipmunks and raccoons. Foxes, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions and human-introduced opposums [and many other animals] also inhabit the region."
cathedral redwood canopy
"The Santa Cruz Mountains are a region of large biological diversity, encompassing cool, moist coastal ecosystems as well as warm, dry chaparral. In valleys and moist ocean-facing slopes some of the southernmost coast redwoods grow, along with Douglas fir, which is at the southern extent of its range. Coast live oak, Pacific madrone, wax myrtle, and California bay laurel also occur in the Santa Cruz Mountains. There do exist several small and isolated stands of old growth forest, most notably at Henry Cowell Redwoods and Portola Redwoods State Parks and one sizeable old-growth redwood forest at Big Basin. At higher elevations and on sunny south slopes a more drought-resistant chaparral vegetation dominates: manzanita, California scrub oak, chamise, and chaparral pea. Spring wildflowers are also widespread throughout the range. The area welcomes a tremendous number of species of birds. Black-tailed deer, a subspecies of Mule deer are common, as are gray squirrels, chipmunks and raccoons. Foxes, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions and human-introduced opposums [and many other animals] also inhabit the region."