Speaking the Gospel of Urban Wilderness

I've always been obsessed with nature, particularly that elusive nature found in urban areas. It's why I'm a birdwatcher. It's why I preach to anyone who will listen about the greatness of the Minneapolis park system, where one can be minutes from downtown, yet feel lost in the wilderness (almost). L.A. has provided an interested smorgasborg of urban nature, and I discover new challenges every day in deciphering this weird puzzle that is the City of Angels.

Despite New York City's reputation as a concrete jungle, there is in fact much more accessible green space for city residents there than here in Los Angeles. The only thing odder than that is the fact that L.A., while virtually devoid of green space at the neighborhood level, contains some of the largest urban parklands on the planet. Where else can one have to drive miles to find a patch of green, but then get attacked by a mountain lion or coyote in their backyard? Nature is so elusive, yet we look out the window and see an endless range of mountains, close enough to touch, yet just out of reach at the same time. There's a great article in the April issue of The Believer by writer Jenny Price on the oddity of being a Los Angeles nature writer. Definitely worth a read.

Speaking of Price, she's hosting a six-hour tour of the Los Angeles River at the end of May. For the uninitiated, the L.A. "River" is that concrete berm that has served as the backdrop for chase and/or racing scenes in movies such as Grease, Terminator 2, Repo Man and many, many others. It was once a natural river, but because of flooding concerns, the Army Corps of Engineers slapped enough concrete on that bad boy to change the natural face of L.A. forever.

I'm definitely signing up for Price's river tour. Should give me some great perspective on this often forgotten natural aspect of the city. Also lots of great birdwatching on the river's banks.