Coastal Californian Sage Scrub

While the coastal basins and valleys of southern California are a welcome respite from the intense heat and aridity of the interior deserts, the succulent and drought-hardy brush even right on the misty and moderate climate of the immediate coast is a reminder that this is a dry land.

Taken at Leo Carillo State Beach, just inside the western border of Los Angeles county, California.

Indeed, were it not for the importation of water, the large cities of Los Angeles and San Diego would not be possible, to say nothing about their questionable sustainability.  Still, it seems that the pleasant climate of the coastal counties keeps people around there, and imported water is joined by all sorts of introduced vegetation to make the area seem like it is either an imitation of Florida or northern California than the dry region that it is in reality.  This is not to say that the place is a true desert; the montane chaparral is actually vibrant and quite lush.  Still, the plants here can more than tolerate the dry summer conditions that the area is prone to.