The Santa Monica Mountains are a relatively low-lying coastal mountain range adjacent to the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, and are part of the east-west trending Transverse Ranges which include the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains. The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation area encompasses this mountain range and because of its proximity to densely populated regions, is one of the most visited natural areas in California. The range extends approximately 40 miles from the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles County to Point Mugu in Ventura County, and the northern Channel Islands are geologically considered its western extent. The SMMNRA was created in 1978 and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy in 1980. Over twenty individual state and municipal parks are in the Santa Monica Mountains, including Topanga State Park, Leo Carillo State Park, Malibu Creek State Park, Point Mugu State Park, Will Rogers State Historic Park, and others. Preservation of lands within the region is managed by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the National Park Service, the California State Parks, and county and municipal agencies. Elevations range from sea level to more than 3,000 feet, including Boney Mountain which is sacred to the Chumash peoples. The Santa Monica Mountains contain over 500 miles of hiking trails, many of which were originally mapped out and created by Milt McAuley. In size the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is probably the largest urban national parkland in the world which with its over 150,000 acres and its diverse topography, location, and wet winters and warm, dry summers, is one of the best examples of a Mediterranean climate ecosystem. The Santa Monica Mountains contain a rich variety of plant life, with 12 distinct vegetation communities including coastal salt marsh, coastal strand, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, coast live oak woodland, riparian woodland, valley grassland, freshwater ponds and lakes, rock outcroppings, and valley oak savannah, but also a disturbing number of often beautiful but non-native and invasive plants. In 2018, theWoolsey Fire burned 88% of the federal parkland and more than 40% of the natural area in the Santa Monica Mountains. This gallery includes photos of about 600 species of plants taken on over 150 visits between 2001 and 2012, and sources used to help with identifications include Flora of the Santa Monica Mountains by Peter Raven, Henry Thompson and Barry Prigge, Flora of the Santa Monica Mountains: Synonymized Checklist and Index by Carl Wishner, Wildflowers of the Santa Monica Mountains by Milt McAuley, Flowering Plants by Nancy Dale, and the National Park Service website "Wildflowers of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area." Places explored included Arroyo Sequit, Rocky Oaks, Santa Ynez Canyon, Upper and Lower Zuma Canyon, Chesebro Canyon, Malibu and Tapia Parks, Circle X Ranch, Paramount Ranch, Mishe Mokwe, Big Sycamore Canyon, Castro Crest, Caballero Canyon, Charmlee County Park, Cistern and Dead Horse Trails, the M.A.S.H. site, Cold Creek Canyon, Corral Canyon, Sycamore Canyon, Newton and Solstice Canyons, Will Rogers, Cornell Road and Conejo Open Space, Escondido Canyon, Franklin Canyon, Leo Carillo, Grottoes Trail, Malibu Bluffs Park, Los Liones Canyon, Medea Creek Park, Palo Comado Canyon, Nicholas Flat, Triunfo Creek Park and the Pentachaeta Trail, Rancho Sierra Vista, Point Dume, Reagan Ranch, Saddle Peak Trail, La Jolla Valley, Peter Strauss Ranch, Temescal Canyon, Liberty Canyon, Trippet Ranch, Malibu Lagoon, Red Rock Canyon Park, Trancas Canyon, Charmlee, Latigo Canyon, various state beaches, Point Mugu, Nicholas Flat, Boney Mountain, Rancho Sierra Vista, Deer Creek Canyon, Topanga State Park, roadside locations throughout, and one memorable and vastly enjoyable weeklong hike in 2002 along the 67-mile long Backbone Trail from Point Dume to Will Rogers with my friend the trailblazer and wildflower author Milt McAuley who sadly left us in 2008, and to whom I happily dedicate this photo gallery. As with my other photo galleries, non-native flora is indicated by an asterisk next to the common name.