THE TEST

The Test Plot is a roughly 5,000-square foot area near the top of the overlook by the Skyline Terrace Amphitheater. Initially, a field of invasive mustard, a tobacco tree, and a sprinkling of bladderpod, white and black sages filled the site. The fabulous staff from the Nature Nexus Institute began site prep in August 2021 by hand pulling the mustard from the area so we could begin a grow / kill cycle to prepare for planting. After months of watering, site observation, and research on local systems, we developed a planting strategy to test for climate resilience.  

Here, one of the big questions is what plant species will thrive in more extreme weather conditions? We chose plants from three different plant communities based on these factors: the historic ecology of the site (southern oak woodland found on the north facing slopes), species from the coastal sage scrub community already present here, and newly introduced grassland species that we know thrive off of increased disturbance. Past, present, future. Choosing this diverse plant palette from the outset was a strategy to allow the land to respond, so to speak. All three plant communities were tested evenly across the site topography to see what thrives and help select the future makeup. An uncertain future climate will strain current plant communities in unknown ways. This skyline plot is a testing ground to find some answers. 

BACKGROUND

Over the course of the region’s development, the role of the Baldwin Hills mountain range has shifted from foraging ground for the native Tongva people, to grazing area for the neighboring ranchos, then oil fields, infrastructure and homes. In 1951, the sprawling Baldwin Hills Reservoir came on line and accelerated residential development in enclaves like View Park-Windsor Hills, Baldwin Hills Estates and Baldwin Village. On the whole, Baldwin Hills became one of the first racially integrated neighborhoods in the area. In 1963, a dam failure brought a deluge of water down the hills, knocking out homes and flooding neighborhoods. Today, the bowl of that reservoir is a grassy basin for walking and frisbee golf in Kenneth Hahn Park. 

The parklands consist of a patchwork of intact native coastal scrub, pioneer and disturbance-adapted species, as well as introduced nonnatives that are being managed to different degrees. Loved (and sometimes over-loved) by the community, BHSO offers unparalleled views of the LA Basin. It’s a unique vista where you can trace the entire Ballona Creek watershed from the Santa Monica Mountains down to the Pacific Ocean. It’s the place to walk, run and get your steps in. Folks are often out and about listening to slow jams and doing their reps amid the buckwheat, sages and bush sunflower. We recommend ascending at sunrise or sunset. It will take your breath away, twice.