Park Clean-up: SUNDAY, October 4, 9 AM - noon

It turns out that the first weekend of October is the only time I will be available for a nature park cleanup. Anyone who wants to stick with the regular second Saturday of the month is welcome to come then --- or at any time. Since there is a change to the schedule I thought I'd give Sunday a try. I know that a lot of people have regular Saturday commitments. I have already heard that some new people will be coming. Looking forward to meeting you.

Barbara


PARK CLEAN UP: SUNDAY , October 4, 2009, 9 am - noon

Meet at the park info sign on Pasadena Ave and then head down into the park. The group will pull weeds, pick up litter, and enjoy the park. Come for the whole time, for an hour, or just stop by to say hello.

Nature Park entrance on Pasadena Ave., east of the York St. Bridge

Remember to:
- wear sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
- bring water
- bring gardening gloves and tools (weeders, trowels, whatever you use in your own garden)
- comfortable work clothes, including work shoes (sneakers or boots)
- binoculars for bird watching (optional)

Children must be under adult supervision at all times. There is poison oak in the park, which we will point out before we start.

Please pass this info along to anyone else you think might be interested in the park. If you know of anyone who doesn't use the internet, let me know so we can be sure they are kept in the loop.

See you soon!

Sept. 12 Cleanup Report

Equestrians enjoying a quiet ride in the park

The September cleanup was a quiet affair, but there was not much to do either. As Candy said, it was about as clean as the park has been. There were very few castor bean plants around. I am seeing an upsurge in the Russian thistle (Salsola tragus).


Russian thistle (Salsola tragus), probably already gone to seed.

According to UC Integrated Pest Management the best way to handle this plant is to mow or cut, not dig, out young plants before they set seed. Russian thistle needs loosened soil to germinate, so it is best not to disturb the soil. We will have another group of boy scouts coming in October and they will remove as much Russian thistle as they can. We will then learn to identify it right as it germinates and go after it like we did the castor bean. Good news about the weeds is that as the park matures and native plants get going, especially in the central area, the weeds become less of a problem.


Barberry (Berberis) looking great.


Blue dragonfly on oak tree near the channel.


Lots of acorns on the oaks. We should make like the squirrels and collect them and bury them in places we want to have oak trees.

Park Clean-up - September 12, 2009, 9 am - noon

Hi All,

It is time for the first clean-up since last spring, though we were fortunate to have some boy scout help in July (luckily it was a beautiful day, not like the weather we have been having). We will focus this month on trash, since the scouts did a good job of getting rid of most of the weeds. We will also discuss planting the bare spots (central area and the entrance area). Hope to see you there.

Barbara


PARK CLEAN UP: SATURDAY, September 12, 2009, 9 am - noon

Meet at the park info sign on Pasadena Ave and then head down into the park. The group will pull weeds, pick up litter, and enjoy the park. Come for the whole time, for an hour, or just stop by to say hello.

Nature Park entrance on Pasadena Ave., east of the York St. Bridge

Remember to:
- wear sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
- bring water
- bring gardening gloves and tools (weeders, trowels, whatever you use in your own garden)
- comfortable work clothes, including work shoes (sneakers or boots)
- binoculars for bird watching (optional)

Children must be under adult supervision at all times. There is poison oak in the park, which we will point out before we start.

Please pass this info along to anyone else you think might be interested in the park. If you know of anyone who doesn't use the internet, let me know so we can be sure they are kept in the loop.

See you soon!