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Vibrant yucca, scrub oak and sage stood alongside dried-out chaparral.

Deer have browsed seedlings of manzanita and island scrub oak — a Channel Islands endemic — into oblivion in some places, according to conservancy scientists.

TreePeople is offering five varieties of native trees saplings for “adoption” — only one per household — including coast live oak, scrub oak, valley oak, toyon and southern black walnut.

Because of it, thick scrub oak forests grew where the Santa Monica Freeway runs.

“You can just walk in this little wonderland under the canopy of the scrub oak and poke your head out and suddenly see the Gulf.”