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.