What are chaparrels?

Answer 1

A chaparral is:
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico. It is shaped by a Mediterranean climate (mild, wet winters and hot dry summers) and wildfire. The word chaparral is a loan word from Spanish. The Spanish word comes from the word chaparro, which means both small and dwarf evergreen oak, which itself comes from the Basque word txapar, with the same meaning http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapparal

There is lots more information on Wikipedia (link is attached), that you might find really helpful.