PARK CLEANUP - SATURDAY, December 11,9 am - noon

Time to sprinkle some wildflower seeds in the park. I've got California poppies (Eschscholzia californica), globe gilia (Gilia capitata), purple needle grass (Nassella pulchra) and probably some others collected from my garden last spring. And you know, no one sprinkles wildflower seeds better than kids. So hope to see some of you at the park tomorrow.

Poppy with bird's eye gilia (Gilia tricolor)


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!

PARK CLEANUP, SATURDAY, November 20, 9 am - noon

No park cleanup if it is raining. Next clean up is December 11th.
If I don't see you tomorrow - wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving.


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!

Boy Scouts Work in Nature Park

On the last Saturday of October a group of boy scouts helped out in the Nature Park. Working hard, the boys rebuilt the original path from the entry, blocking the cut through that walkers and joggers created. They also weeded and collected litter.

Scouts dig out weeds in nature park.


Rebuilt park entrance path. Curved path reduces erosion and slope to meet ADA requirements.

PARK CLEANUP, SATURDAY, October 30, 9 am - noon

I am afraid that I will not be able to work/play at the Park on November 6. Somehow I forgot the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Fall Plant Sale. I volunteer at the sale every year, helping people select great native plants, while spending more money than I should buying plants I don't have room for. So, I will be going to the SPNP on October 30th instead. I will also be going on November 20th.

The new schedule is:

October 30, 2010
November 20, 2010
December 11, 2010

Since fall and winter are the best time to plant in southern California, there are many gardening events at this time of year. Here are a few that have been brought to my attention.

October 28, 2010, 7:30 PM - CNPS - San Gabriel Mts Chapter, Eaton Canyon Nature Center. Native Plants and Horticulture, Barbara Eisenstein.

October 30, 2010, 9 - 1, San Gabriel River Cleanup, Whittier Narrows Dam. (same day as the clean up at the SP Nature Park)

November 6/7, 2010, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Fall Plant Sale.

November 11, 13, 14, 2010. Maloof Discovery Garden, Lecture Series.

November 13, 2010, 9 am - 2 pm, CNPS, San Gabriel Mts Chaper Annual Plant Sale, Eaton Canyon. (see website for plant list).


PARK CLEANUP: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2010, 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. Email me if you would prefer to be on an email notification list.

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.

PARK CLEANUP, SATURDAY, Oct. 9, 9 am - noon

The cleanup went well in September, though it was one of those hot days. Lots of weeds to work on, not that much trash. I wrote a short piece on my other blog, Wild Suburbia, on the strategies that we are using to deal with the weeds in the Nature Park. Basically we are trying to remove weeds before they set seed. We are also working hardest on the weeds that surround the native plants. This way the natives will be able to grow and hopefully reseed, covering the ground with good habitat, and making it less hospitable to weeds.

I am excited to report that we have another boy scout who is hoping to get his eagle scout award by working in the park. He is proposing to improve the path at the entrance that descends into the park. He and his fellow scouts will be marking the curved path as the proper one to use by edging it with the boulders that are in the park. They will block the straight path and cover it with mulch. They will also help with removal of large trash items since these are a challenge to the backs of some of us older volunteers.

Again, future cleanups are on:

October 9, 2010
November 6, 2010
December 11, 2010

Looking forward to a cool and pleasant morning in the park - especially after the hot weather a couple of days ago (110+... arghhh!). Amazing when temperature in the 90s seems cool.

Hope to see some of you.


PARK CLEANUP, SATURDAY, OCT. 9, 2010, 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!

Park Cleanup Report (9/4/2010)

1. Conyza (horseweed) is spreading in the park. Removed seedlings before they form flowers. Bagged flower/seed heads.
   
2. Very little castor bean. Removed seedlings.
3. Tree of heaven sprouting near sycamore. Removed all sprouts to starve roots.
4. Graffiti on some signage.
5. Irrigation leak near central kiosk.
6. Curved path down the hill from entrance needs to be rebuilt to keep people from taking short cut. Scouts may help with this project.
7. Some of the natives planted last winter are making it. Yay!
8. Many new trees were planted in the park this summer. Some are dead. There are tire tracks from trucks driving over the central area to water the trees. This is not good for the plants or soil.
   
9. City agreed to remove some of the trees that were planted in the central mound. They have been marked with paint but not removed.
10. There are several non-native elms along service road that should be removed.

Next park cleanup: October 9th, 9 am - noon.

PARK CLEANUP, SATURDAY, Sept. 4, 2010, 9 am - noon

Hard to believe the summer is almost over! Yes I know that the date I set for the next cleanup is on Labor Day weekend but unfortunately I will be away the following two weekends. I realize many of you will be away on the holiday weekend but hope some will be able to participate. I may try to get down there again on September 25 and will send an email and post it on this blog if I do.

Due to another scheduling conflict, I won't be able to hold the cleanup on the second Saturday of the month in November either. Here are the Saturdays that I will be working in the park.

September 4, 2010
October 9, 2010
November 6, 2010
December 11, 2010

I also know that many of you visit the park at other times to weed, pick up litter, etc. It really does show!

Finally, I should mention that some oak and sycamore trees were planted in the park during the summer. There was some misunderstanding about the number and location but I think it has been worked out. Over time they will greatly enhance the park and reduce weed problems. Hope to see some of you in the park this year.

PARK CLEANUP, SATURDAY, SEPT. 4, 2010, 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!

PARK CLEANUP, SATURDAY, May 8, 2010, 9 am - noon

Although we're back on schedule for our monthly park cleanups held on the second Saturday of the month, this will probably be my last cleanup until the fall. I plan to stop by every now and again to check the place out and pull some weeds through the summer. Hope you all will too!

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!

P.S. I will be posting a photo report of our April cleanup on my wild suburbia blog.

PARK CLEAN UP: SATURDAY, April 24, 2010, 9 am - noon

Hope some of you were able to go on the Theodore Payne Garden Tour last weekend. It was truly special this year. I posted a few pictures on my Wild Suburbia blog.

I will be going to the Nature Park on the 24th to see how things are growing. Haven't been in a while and am hoping all of the spring rain has helped the new plants but not the weeds (wishful thinking). Hope to see some of you there.

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!

PARK CLEAN UP: SATURDAY, March 13, 2010, 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!

Park Clean-up - Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, 9 - 12

PARK CLEAN UP: SATURDAY , February 13, 2010, 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!

Planting Party a Big Success - Next Cleanup, 2/13, 9-12

Just wanted to let everyone know that Saturday's Occidental College MLK Service Day/South Pasadena Nature Park Planting Party went very well. The sun came out on Saturday after a week of heavy rains. Lots of students, scouts, parents, and grownups came by to carry, plant, weed, and pick up garbage. It rained yesterday, Tuesday, just in time to help the new plants settle in, and it is predicted to rain in another week and a half. Mother nature is being very helpful. Still the soil at the park is less than ideal and gophers burrow around looking for tender new roots to nibble. Stop by and wish the plants well.

I wrote about the event on my other blog, WildSuburbia. I have decided to put long articles about the Nature Park on WildSuburbia, and save this blog for announcement and park reports.

So... the next cleanup is Saturday, February 13, 9 -12. I will post an announcement in another week. Hope to see you there!

Planting Day is Still On

I have been nervously watching the weather forecast for weeks now. The happy, yellow sun is still shining on tomorrow. Hard to believe with the thunder that I am hearing right now.

We plan to plant rain or shine! See you tomorrow: 10:30 AM - 4 PM

Planting Party - 1/23/10, 10:30 AM - 4 PM

MLK Service Day Planting Party at the Nature Park - SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2010, 10:30 am – 4:00 pm
(note that the event will take place all day as part of the Occidental MLK Service Day activity)

With money allocated from city council discretionary funds (special thanks to Mayor Rick Schneider!) we have purchased around 200 native plants for the Nature Park. On Saturday, January 23rd students from Occidental College will join us at the park to plant, weed, and clean up. Join us for this exciting event!

If you know of any groups - scouts, students, clubs - that would like to participate please give them my contact information. Also, please, if you have them, bring trowels, garden gloves and garden shovels to the park to share with those who don't. It would be helpful if you would label them with your name so they don't get lost.

Meet at the park info sign on Pasadena Ave and then head down into the park. You can park on Pasadena Ave. on the north side of the street. There is a bus stop to the left of the park entrance. Email me (barbara.eisenstein@gmail.com) if you have any questions about location. As always, come by for the whole time, for an hour, or just stop by to say hello.




Remember to:
- wear sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
- bring water
- bring shovels, trowels, and gardening gloves
- 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 to keep them n the loop.