Native By Design

PARK CLEANUP - Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012

2012-02-06T09:28:00.000-08:00

The Planting Party on January 28th went extremely well - and now with rain in the forecast (please, please, please rain....) the plants should be happy. Have a look at my other blog to see some pictures taken during the event.

On Saturday, Feb. 11, we will water any plants that look thirsty, especially if the rain is insufficient. We will yell at the gophers to go elsewhere, and sing to the new plants, but mostly, as always, we will hunt down every last weed we can find. Yes, there is also trash to remove and junk to pull out of the gully. If you were unable to come to the Planting Party, stop by to see all that we were able to do. Hope to see some of you on Saturday.

View Larger Map

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.

Planting Party, January 28th

2012-01-17T11:48:00.000-08:00

Planting Party at the Nature Park - SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2012, 9 am – 3:30 pm
(Note: 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 Council Member Rick Schneider!) we have purchased nearly 300 native plants for the Nature Park. On Saturday, January 28th students from Occidental College and South Pasadena Girl Scouts will spend the day at the park planting, weeding, and cleaning up. Join us for this exciting event! (See Volunteers at the Park in my other blog, Wild Suburbia, for a description of the 2010 MLK Service Day Planting Party.)

If you know of any groups - scouts, students, clubs - that would like to participate please give them my contact information. Also, if you have any extra trowels, garden gloves and garden shovels, please bring them to the park to share with those who don't. It would be helpful if you labeled 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 who might be interested in the park.

PARK CLEANUP - Saturday, December 10, 2011

2011-12-06T09:59:00.001-08:00

Hope everyone is doing okay after the big storm. I know some of you (including my neighbors) are still without power. If I can do anything to help, please email or call.

Anyway, still planning to have a park cleanup this Saturday. It will be interesting to see how the non-irrigated Nature Park did. It would also be nice to plan for the January planting (January 28, 2012). I did call the city before the storm to see if we could get the rocks back. Can't bother them with any of this right now, so we will go with what we have.

Hope to see some of you on Saturday.

View Larger Map

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

Park Cleanup Report (11/19/2011)

2011-11-20T16:46:00.001-08:00

Saturday's cleanup started with the appearance of a large, beige-colored praying mantis on the park sign holder on Pasadena Avenue. Walking down into the park, a blue dragon fly lit onto my finger. Neither insect was moving very fast in the cool, early morning weather.

With such a nice welcome, it turned into a very productive day. At this time of the year the weeds are just getting going. The ground is moist and the young weeds are easy to remove. We concentrated on castor bean, mustard and horehound in the central mound area and near the steep wooden steps. Removing them now is extremely efficient since not only are they small and easy to pull, but they have not flowered and spread seeds.

In addition to weed removal, some picked up litter, others worked on removing chain link in a drainage area on the southwest side of the park (below Pasadena Ave.), and others chopped away at some large, weedy trees (shamel ash and Chinese elm).

The park is improving and with plans to lay paths and plant in the bare central mound area, I foresee good things to come. And none of this would be possible without the help of community volunteers, including scouts, college students, landscape professionals, and just regular people who care about the park.

The next cleanup is Saturday, December 10th. On January 28th, students from Occidental College and South Pasadena girl scouts will be laying paths and planting in the center of the park.

If you have a few minutes on one of our weekend cleanups, stop by to say hello, enjoy the park, or get down and dirty pulling weeds and picking up litter.

Volunteer removes graffiti from sign. (10/15/2011)

Oak tree in park

Path leading to sign in center of park. Plants include red willow (Salix laevigata), deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens), coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis).

Large boulders surround infiltration basin that collects rain water and runoff from Pasadena Avenue.

Beautiful cloudy day is perfect for working,walking or just sitting in the park.

Red toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) berries add color during the holiday season.

Monkeyflowers (Mimulus aurantiacus) have been blooming for months.

Meet Rick Schneider, Candidate for City Council

2011-10-14T13:13:00.000-07:00

As you can guess by now, I am a big fan of city council member Rick Schneider. Rick has been a true friend of the nature park, involved since the days before it was even created. Since then he continues to work for it, removing trash and weeds in the park, and supporting it in city government.

If you have not met Rick and would like to talk to him, there are several upcoming opportunities. He has been going door-to-door, shaking hands, saying hello, and asking for support. Rick will also be at the nature park tomorrow, so if you'd like to see him wrestling with oversized trash and behemoth weeds, join us from 9 am to noon.

There will be a Sierra Club walk through the historic residential neighborhood in the northern part of South Pas (Buena Vista and Oaklawn Streets). This is a lovely part of town, worth walking or biking through. I will post new events as I get more information. Feel free to email me for information on ways to support Rick's candidacy - lawn signs, endorsements, donations, volunteer work.

OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET AND LEARN ABOUT RICK SCHNEIDER:

OCTOBER 15, 2011, 9 am - noon. South Pas Nature Park Cleanup
OCTOBER 22, 2011, 9 am - 11 am, Sierra Club Walk with Candidate Schneider

Website: Re-elect Dr. Richard Schneider for South Pasadena City Council
Facebook page: Re-elect Rick Schneider for South Pasadena City Council
Follow on Twitter: @reelectdrrick
SouthPasadenaPatch
South Pasadena Review

Sierra Club Walk with Candidate Rick Schneider

2011-10-14T12:41:00.000-07:00

Saturday, October 22, 9 am - 11 am
Meet at northeast corner of Meridian and Buena Vista, South Pasadena

Lovely Craftsman home in Oaklawn/Buena Vista historic neighborhood of South Pas

The Pasadena Group of Sierra Club will sponsor a 2-hour walk through historic Buena Vista and Oaklawn residential neighborhoods in South Pasadena on Saturday, October 22. South Pasadena City Council candidate Dr. Richard Schneider, whom the Sierra Club has endorsed for re-election, will join in the walk and provide information about historic homes in these neighborhoods and discuss how they would be impacted if the proposed 710 Freeway Extension is built through the city. Interested participants should meet at 9 am at the NE corner of Meridian and Buena Vista in South Pasadena. The walk is open to the public. Those who would like to meet and talk with Dr. Schneider are especially invited.

For further information contact David Czamanske at (626) 458-8646

PARK CLEANUP - Saturday, October 15, 2011

2011-10-11T11:18:00.000-07:00

The park looked good last month. We did some heavy-duty weed removal in the central area in preparation for a large planting in January. Let's make this part of the park prettier and friendlier to birds, butterflies, lizards and other critters. Hope to see you on Saturday.

View Larger Map

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

Re-elect Rick Schneider - Champion of the Nature Park

2011-09-25T09:38:00.000-07:00

Rick (officially, Dr. Richard Schneider) has been there for the park from the very beginning: working to get the park built, consistently attending community cleanups, donating discretionary money for additional plants, and supporting the expansion into the land adjacent to the golf course driving range.

Posing for a rare picture, while stopping by the park to chat with community volunteers. Usually Rick is dressed to work, as he pulls weeds, unearths and removes trash and litter, and enjoys the birds and critters who also use the park.

Check my other blog for more information on Rick's campaign for re-election to the South Pasadena City Council. Rick's re-election website contains indepth information on his positions and actions on many city issues. Follow Rick on twitter and facebook.

PARK CLEANUP - Saturday, September 10, 9 am - noon

2011-09-02T15:32:00.000-07:00

Can't believe summer is over! I have not been to the park for a while but hope to make a visit this weekend. Looking forward to resuming the war on the weeds. Well, really I am looking forward to meeting up with friends and enjoying the park. Hope more of you can join us this year.

View Larger Map

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

Golf Course status report

2011-08-15T13:20:00.000-07:00

During the upcoming city council meeting, Wednesday, August 17, there will be a status report (Item 19, the last agenda item on the agenda) on the transition of the golf course operation to Donovan Brothers Golf, LLC. The agenda item is as follows:

Reports
19. Arroyo Seco Golf Course's status report on operations and finances during the transitional period (no staff report)

As a reminder, the lease with Lohmann Golf expired at the end of June 2011. Negotiations for a new long-term lease with Donovan Bros. Golf were held up over a proposed extension of the driving range. In the original instructions from City Council (5-0 vote), a small piece of property located between the existing driving range and Nature Park (but within the original footprint of the golf course property) was to be added to the park and landscaped by North East Trees, an urban forestry non-profit. In spite of this directive, the property became part of the negotiations with Donovan Bros. The golf management company wanted to extend the golf course into this previously unused land. Upfront cost for the extension was to be paid by Donovan Bros. but fully reimbursed by the city through rent credits.

Citizen objection to the golf course extension and the city's failure to file CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) documents resulted in a temporary agreement with Donovan Brothers. Since the expiration of the lease with Lohmann Golf, Donovan has been paid by the city to manage the facility. It is my understanding that they will be reporting to City Council on Wednesday on "the operations and finances" during this period.

As a reminder, under the long-term lease agreement being negotiated by the city and Donovan Brothers, the golf course management company would provide upfront capital for facility improvements to be reimbursed by the city through rent credits. The company would pay the city rent to manage and run the facility, and would cover operating expenses. Profits generated by the facility would go to the management company. In this arrangement, if capital improvements do not result in increased revenue the city is still fully responsible for the outlay of funds via these ongoing rent credits.

Under the temporary agreement, the city pays Donovan Bros. a fixed amount to run the facility, but keeps the profits. It is my understanding that capital improvements are paid by the city in this temporary arrangement, but resulting increases in generated revenue are kept by the city. In contrast to the long-term agreement, the outlay of capital for improvements is linked with an expected increase in revenue.

Through this long process I have written blog posts, newspaper editorials, and spoken at city council meetings explaining my position on the driving range extension issue. I have tried hard to be accurate in describing what I believed was being negotiated. If now, or in the past, I made any erroneous statements, I welcome corrections.

Previous blog posts:

WildSuburbia Blog

April 20, 2011: City Council to Review Driving Range Extension in Closed Session
April 6: City Council Action Item 19: Driving Range Extension
April 1, 2011: Driving Range Extension on City Council Agenda
March 19, 2011: Golf Course vs Habitat
March 6, 2011: City Council considers extending golf course

Native By Design Blog (Nature Park blog)

April 20, 2011: City Council to Review Driving Range Extension in Closed Session
April 15, 2011: 4/17/11 (Sunday) Cleanup & 4/20 (Wed) City Council Meeting 4/17/11 (Sunday) Cleanup & 4/20 (Wed) City Council Meeting

PARK CLEANUP - Saturday, July 9, 9 am - noon

2011-06-29T20:31:00.000-07:00

I haven't been in the Nature Park for about 2 weeks. At last visit it was really weedy! Argh!! If it is very hot we will weed and clean up in the shade - and if it is really, really hot, we won't stay too long. Hope to see some of you there, even if just to walk around and do some bird watching.

We will also be discussing plans to do a planting next January. Hoping to have some ideas on ways to improve the central area with paths and plants. Please, join in the discussion!

View Larger Map

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

PARK CLEAN UP: Saturday, June 4, 9 am - noon

2011-06-01T15:54:00.000-07:00

Back from travels afar. I was actually homesick after three weeks away and am really looking forward to checking out the nature park. 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

May Weeds and More

2011-05-09T00:12:00.000-07:00

We had a nice turn out for the May 7th cleanup. In addition to the "old reliables" there were two Arroyo Vista students and parents, and a couple of other adults, along with two adorable little dogs.

We focused mostly on the central mounds where castor bean seedlings, mustard and other exotics were planning an attack. I would like to say that the weeds are in retreat but, alas, this is a long-term project. We have made amazing progress but it took years to get this way and it will takes years to reverse it.

Park Enemy: castor bean seedlings. Pull if you see them.

Weeds, as many of you know, are just plants growing in places you do not want them to be. Here in California, and throughout much of the world, many plants from far away places have found a good home with few nature enemies and little competition. They are aggressive bullies that force out the native plants, reducing biodiversity and limiting food supplies for native animals. Some, like castor bean, grow so large that they shade out our lovely, delicate native wildflowers. Other weeds, like arundo, suck the water from the ground, forcing out all other plants, and providing poor habitat for most birds. Where these non-native, invasives grow, little else can grow.

In California, hillsides and fields of multi-colored wildflowers once teamed with life and delighted all who saw them. Now mustard colors the slopes a lovely yellow, but unfortunately at the expense of lupines, tidytips, poppies, phacelias, and untold other wonders. When I hike I see the mustard and ripgut everywhere and I wonder whether we will ever win this battle and restore balance and diversity to the land.

Since Friends of the Nature Park started weeding back in spring of 2006 I have thought hard about methods of weed control. I've read books and articles on the subject and spoken with experts. I see progress but wonder what we could do to be more successful with the limited resources we have.

Weed control by our group has only involved pulling. Weeds with no flowers or seeds are pulled and left to dry up in the sun. Weeds with flowers or seeds are bagged and removed. This has the disadvantages of being very labor intensive, difficult once the ground dries up, and it causes a great deal of soil disturbance.

I have been thinking about trying another method: weed whipping the exotics to keep them from going to seed. We would have to visit the park frequently to make sure we never let the weeds reach maturity. We would also have to be very careful to target the weeds, allowing any native seeds to germinate and grow. Timing is critical. We would go after each weed right as it emerges.

Anyone who has been working at the Nature Park knows how difficult and frustrating this work is, but they also know how much progress we have made. We are beginning to see some native that would never had made it if the weeds had been allowed to grow. There has been more miners lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), fiddleneck (Amsinckia), and miniature lupine (Lupinus bicolor). Mugwort (Baccharis salicifolia) is sprouting here and there, and golden currant (Ribes aureum) is appearing all over. Jimson weed (Datura wrightii) is also doing very well. Coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia) and southern California walnuts (Juglans californica) are sprouting from seed.

So when those who have not seen where we have come from, what we are up against, and how much progress we have made, comment on the condition of the park, I want them to get educated by coming on down to help out.

The state grass, purple needlegrass (Nassella pulchra) appeared on the mound near the deerweed.

A lovely stand of blue elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) with wild cucumber (Marah macrocarpus), golden currant (Ribes aureum), and jimson weed (Datura wrightii).

Blue wildflowers of globe gilia (Gilia capitata) grow with buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), sagebrush (Artemisia californica), and bush sunflower (Encelia california), all coastal sage scrub plants.

Delicate tendrils of wild cucumber (Marah macrocarpa) curl from the stems.

Deerweed (Lotus scoparius) is a native shrub found in areas of disturbance, like our Nature Park.

Jimson weed (Datura wrightii) is another early pioneer plant for areas that have experienced rapid change or disturbance.

City Council to Vote on Recommendation to.....

2011-05-02T21:01:00.000-07:00

The golf course extension is once again on the agenda for the next open session of city council, Wednesday, May 4, 2011. I am really trying to get this right but I'm no lawyer and so I am not completely clear on it. The following is a cut/paste of the agenda item and the supplementary info on it in the agenda packet.

May 4, 2011 Agenda Item 12. Consideration to add the property adjacent to the back of the driving range to the golf course lease agreement.

Agenda Packet, Item 12:
Recommendation
May 4, 2011

Consideration to Add the Property Adjacent to the Back of the
Driving Range to the Golf Course Lease Agreement

It is recommended that the City Council:
I. Direct staff as to whether the Council wishes to consider including a portion of the property adjacent to the back of the range to the proposed lease agreement with Donovan Bros. Golf;

2. Direct staff as to whether it wishes to consider an approximate 27 yard extension to the driving range; and

3. Direct staff to return with a lease agreement including exact measurements of a proposed extension, capital improvement items, rent credits and appropriate California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Fiscal Impact
None.

Commission Review and Recommendation
The Arroyo Seco Lease Committee recommended Donovan Bros. Golf to operate the City'S Golf
Course.

Background
Formal negotiations with Donovan Bros. Golf began during Closed Session on March 2, 2011 and subsequently during closed session on March 16, 2011. At the March 16, 2011 Closed Session, City Council asked staff to bring the option of extending the driving range to open session. Staff presented a proposed extension of the driving range to the City Council at the April 6, 2011 where a motion to have the City Council consider allowing for a full extension failed. However, City Council directed staff to return to negotiations with Donovan Bros. Golf and propose a less-than-full extension of the driving range, which would leave a reasonable space between the Nature Park and the extended driving range.

Analysis
During negotiations with Donovan Bros. Golf on April 27, 2011 they were asked if they would be willing to enter into a lease with the City for the operation of the Golf Course if the driving range were to remain at its present length. Donovan Bros responded by saying that they were not willing to lease the golf course without the right to extend the driving range. Donovan feels that the driving range is the amenity that needs the most attention and extending it would make the golf course a more-viable operation. They did say that they would accept an approximate 27 yard extension of the driving range and they were willing to curve the fence, however this would prove more costly.

Should the City Council direct staff to bring back for its consideration a recommendation to allow for an extension of the driving range, staff will work with the Planning Deparhnent to begin the appropriate CEQA process. Furthermore, Staff will also address the pending grant applied for and awarded to North East Trees to expand the nature park into the unimproved area in the back of the driving range.

Legal Review
The City Attorney has reviewed this report.

Public Notification of Agenda Item
The public was made aware that this item was to be considered this evening by virtue of its inclusion on the legally publicly noticed agenda, posting of the same agenda and reports on the City's website and/or notice in the South Pasadena Review and/or the Pasadena Star-News.

As I read this, Donovan Bros. is not interested in leasing the golf course without being able to extend the driving range. The compromise number is 27 yards, as opposed to the original 35 yard extension. It is not clear to me exactly where either of these lines would be. My question to Donovan Brothers is, if the extension of the driving range is so important to the success of the entire golf course facility, are you willing to take on some of the financial risk?

I also received a couple of emails from individuals who believe that the golf course extension can not be included in the proposed lease until the environmental assessment is done.

I stand firm on not wanting any extension of the golf course driving range because of:
1. Financial risk for the city in the form of rent credits for "improvements" and incentive to make improvements. (Isn't increased business enough incentive? What other South Pasadena business is given rent credits, tax credits, or whatever to make business improvements?)

2. The land is better used as habitat for the health and well-being of plants, animals and people.

3. This very city council approved plans by a vote of 5-0 in 2009 to extend trails from the Nature Park into this land. In fact they approved a proposal by North East Trees to take on the project. An "about-face" reduces the city's credibility when it claims that it has an good environmental record. I am concerned that this move will make it harder for the city to get funding for projects for clean water, clean air, and other environmental improvements.

4. Before the land is given to the golf course it should be vetted fully with the public. This means the public is entitled to clear, accurate and complete information on what is at stake, including answers to the following questions:

What will be the exact location of the border and what type of fencing will be used?
How much soil disturbance and grade change is needed to extend the driving range?
If soil is to be removed, how will it be disposed of? If there has been dumping on the site and the soil is contaminated, who will pay for the cleanup?
How much is this project likely to cost and who will pay for it - both now and later? What are the possible cost overruns?
How much is the Environemental Assessment and possible full EIR likely to cost the city? Will Donovan Bros. pay this upfront also? Will they get rent credits to cover the preconstruction costs even if they fail to get final approval for the extension?
How much additional money can we expect the extension to generate and how are these numbers calculated?
How will the trees be protected during construction and during use of the land as a driving range?
How much pesticide- and fertilizer-contaminated runoff can be expected to enter the Arroyo Seco from the turf grass?
How much additional water will be required to maintain the area and where will this water come from?
Other water issues: Is the golf course currently irrigated with water drawn from the Arroyo Seco? Is this legal? If it has been irrigated with Arroyo Seco water, will it be allowed to continue to use this water and even increase this usage? Is it safe to use water drawn from the Arroyo Seco on turf that children and adults play on?
Is it legal to include this provision (extension of the golf course driving range) in the lease before environmental review?
Why should the lease include this provision before these questions are answered?

Let your city council know where you stand on this! I hope to see you at the city council meeting on Wednesday, May 4, 2011, 7:30 PM.

PARK CLEAN UP: SATURDAY, May 7, 9 am - noon

2011-04-27T22:34:00.000-07:00

Castor bean is trying to make a come back but we won't let it! Pulling these little seedlings is easy to do and very therapeutic. For those wishing to use a bit more muscle, there are plenty of larger, more entrenched weeds to attack.

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

City Council to Review Driving Range Extension in Closed Session

2011-04-20T10:05:00.000-07:00

On April 6, 2011 the South Pasadena city council voted against (Ten and Sifuentes for and Schneider, Putnam and Cacciotti against) directing staff to negotiate with Donovan Bros. on a full extension of the driving range to the border with the Nature Park. On a 5-0 vote, the city council directed staff to negotiate in closed session a compromise position with the prospective golf course lessee.

For more information on this meeting, please call the city and request the meeting minutes. They were posted on the web but have since been taken down. I wrote about the meeting on this blog. There is also information in the following newspapers:

The South Pasadena Patch
The Pasadena Star-News
The South Pasadena Review, April 13, 2011, p.2, Council Seeks Compromise on Golf Course Driving Range

Having read through the 58-page agenda packet (yes, several page were "intentionally left blank" but it was quite a read) here are my continuing concerns about this endeavor.

Opposition to Including Extension of the Driving Range in the Golf Course Lease

I am opposed to the inclusion of an extension of the driving range in the golf course lease agreement on the following grounds.

1. Environmental concerns
Loss of habitat, increased irrigation (there are serious questions about the legality of withdrawing water from Arroyo Seco without proper Water Master rights), runoff concerns, and protection of native trees during construction and operation of the driving range extension. As the UC researcher noted during the April 6, 2011 city council meeting, although runoff from turf grass may be minimal, not having seen this site, it is not known whether runoff into the Arroyo Seco would increase or not. Although the city council voted to instruct staff to negotiate with the golf course lessee to protect trees in the land in question, there was no serious proposal on how to protect these trees and still create a driving range that may require significant grade changes. There was no arborist report on the trees, nor was there any information on the changes that might be needed to the existing grade in order to accommodate the driving range activity, both recreational and maintenance.

2. The public was not adequately informed of change in land use for the extension of the driving range
Although the Golf Course Lease Subcommittee did allow for public comment from February 2007 through June 2010, there were no public comments in support of a driving range extension. In fact the minutes for the February 17, 2010 city council meeting indicate that the council rejected a potential expansion of the driving range.

According to minutes of the February 17, 2010 city council meeting (attachment 4, page 298), on a vote of 5 - 0 city council advised city staff to “issue proposed RFP... taking into consideration changes recommended by Councilmember Cacciotti: … Section 1.5 to convey that the Nature Park will be expanded for trails and deletion of a footnote that states the range can be extended 30 yards; allowances are to be made to take into consideration the grant from Supervisor Antonovich that will involve moving a fence; and that the next lease agreement exclude a triangular piece of property (90 ft. by the Arroyo and 180 ft by the trail).”

Furthermore, the city had issued an RFP for use of this land as an extension of the Nature Park and unanimously approved a resolution for a $150,000 project from North East Trees to extend the trail, remove weeds, plant native plants, and place rocks and boulders in the area.

3. Financial considerations
The Arroyo Seco Golf Course RFP states in item 8. Operator Upfront Investment (pp. 265-266) that the golf course lessee will front the money to be returned through rent credits.

“City will negotiate a substantial Rent Credit which will compensate the Operator for the cost of money invested in approved Capital Improvements plus an incentive for making the investment. The Rent Credit will be applied to the annual rent as long as it takes to recapture the Operator’s investment.”

In other words, the risk for and cost of the capital improvements are completely assumed by the city. If the driving range extension does not result in significantly higher revenue, the amount of money the city will receive from the golf course lessee will be reduced by the Rent Credit until the investment, “plus an incentive for making the investment,” is fully repaid to the lessee.

It should be noted that the driving range grossed $232,763 in 2006, $219, 215 in 2007, $187,571 in 2008. We have no estimates on the cost of the driving range extension but even with significant increases in gross revenue from the driving range, the costs may be sufficiently high to make this improvement fiscally unwise.

4. Legal considerations
For changes in land use, CEQA requires an environmental analysis to determine whether a full EIR is required. Even if a Negative Declaration is ultimately issued after having conducted environmental analysis, a public comment period applies. In any event there has been no Negative Declaration or environmental analysis. I don’t believe there is a categorical exemption from CEQA because the property in question was encompassed within the footprint of the prior lease as the City Attorney appeared to suggest at the prior council meeting. With all of the physical changes and disturbance of ground that would ensue from the driving range extension, it strains credulity to think that CEQA would not apply.

There may be serious questions about whether the city was in compliance with the Brown Act during the Closed Session City Council meeting of March 2, 2011, during which the driving range extension was discussed. This would also apply to tonight's closed session meeting, item 5, in which according to the April 6, 2011 motion, the city will be negotiating a "compromise" position for a partial extension of the driving range. Although real estate negotiations on price and terms of payment can be executed in closed session, changes in land use are not specifically covered. Furthermore, the Supreme Court case of Laurel Heights Improvement Association teaches that the environmental analysis must precede any discretionary action by city council.

Full disclosure of the financial, environmental, and open space consequences of the driving range extension should be brought out into the open and given adequate time for public review and comment in accordance with applicable law.

City Council should take the appropriate time to review these points and possible needed actions. If there is concern regarding the impending expiration of the current lease, a number of solutions should be explored, including having the current operator function on a month-to-month basis, having the Department of Recreation and Parks operate the facilities on a temporary basis, or the city could go forward and enter into a lease with Donovan Bros., addressing all other modifications and improvements except the extension of the driving range. That last issue could be resolved by lease amendment, if necessary.

4/17/11 (Sunday) Cleanup & 4/20 (Wed) City Council Meeting

2011-04-15T21:26:00.000-07:00

I realize it is a busy time of year for many but unless we are vigilant and vocal the acre of habitat east of the Nature Park will be leveled, converted into turf grass for the driving range extension, and a 75 ft. tall fence will tower over the Sycamore Circle. I would be happy to tour the area on Sunday with anyone who is interested in seeing what is at stake.

For those who were unable to come to the 4/6/2011 city council meeting, or had to leave before the driving range extension was dealt with, the city council voted 3-2 against a motion by Councilmember Sifuentes to direct city staff to negotiate with Donovan Bros. to extend the driving range to the edge of the park. Councilmember Putnam then made a motion to direct staff to continue negotiating with Donovan Bros. to extend the driving range somewhere between the existing borders of the driving range and the Nature Park with an effort to protect the most significant trees in the undeveloped area. They are also to consider curving the fence as needed to keep significant trees on the Nature Park side of of the fence.

Questions abound regarding whether a CEQA review, or even an initial determination, is required. Even if a negative determination is made, I believe there is a required 30 day public comment period. There are also questions about whether the closed session negotiations were actually in compliance with the Brown Act since they are negotiating more than just "price and terms of payment for real estate transactions." Negotiations regarding land use, and funding for improvements may not be covered under the closed session clause. (Hope I am getting this kind of right - I'm no lawyer!)

Finally, there is great concern about whether it is possible to grade the land and still protect the significant trees. Seems to me one would need to hire an arborist to examine the property, along with detailed plans for grading the land.

So, hope to see you at the park on Sunday, and definitely at the public comment period for the City Council Closed Session on Wednesday, 4/20/2011. The driving range is item #5 and the session begins at 6:30PM. All public comments for the closed session are made at the beginning of the closed session, so be there at 6:30.

South Pasadena City Council/Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)

City Hall Conference Room, Second Floor, 1414 Mission Street
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 6:30 p.m.

5. Real property negotiation Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8
Property: South Pasadena Golf Course
City Negotiator: Assistant City Manager Sergio Gonzalez
Negotiation Party: Donovan Bros. Inc.
Under Negotiation: Terms of Lease

PARK CLEAN UP: SUNDAY, April 17, 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

City Council Meeting Results (4/6/2011)

2011-04-08T19:36:00.000-07:00

Although I left before the end of the city council meeting, I received the following information. I will try to be as accurate as I can but if anyone has different information, please let me know so I can correct or add to this.

After hearing an extensive presentation on how and why the golf course driving range extension was the thing to do - with expert witnesses, pictures and even a couple of golf clubs - Councilman Sifuentes made a motion to direct staff to extend the driving range to the edge of the Nature Park. The city’s lawyer said that the Planning Department would have to perform an initial CEQA review. This motion got support only from Mayor Ten.

Councilman Putnam then made a motion to give staff direction to continue negotiating with the potential (though all through the meeting it sure sounded like Donovan Bros. was a done deal) new golf course operator to: 1) extend the driving range but only to the drip line of the most significant trees in the undeveloped area, and 2) to curve the fence as needed to keep those trees on the Nature Park side of the driving range fence. The motion passed unanimously.

Other than Mayor Ten, the council members felt the use of the land for the driving range extension was not about revenue but about balancing competing values and interests in the community.

The good news:
1. The issue was brought out into the open and not decided in closed session.
2. the city will have to do a determination of whether a complete CEQA review and an EIR are needed. This will allow for more public comment.

The bad news:
1. The city ran this meeting in a totally inappropriate and unfair way, indicating that at least some city council members believe that use of public land is the purview of five individuals without the need to consult the people they represent.
2. The land is still very much endangered and will only be saved if enough people participate in the process.

I was heartened to see so many people come and stay until well after 11 PM in support of preserving habitat!

City Council Action Item 19: Driving Range Extension

2011-04-06T13:19:00.000-07:00

Hope to see you at tonight's city council meeting (starts at 7:30 PM) where the extension of the driving range is on the agenda as action item #19. For background information check out page 243 in the attached pdf (thanks to Drew Ready for bringing to our attention):

http://www.ci.south-pasadena.ca.us/government/PDFs/packet/Agenda_Packet.pdf

Several other blogs have taken up the issue of extending the golf course driving range versus protecting habitat:

ArroyoLover with info on the current golf course and its value and uniqueness: (Note: the driving range will not be extended into the Nature Park. The small parcel in question is located between the existing driving range and Park.)

LA Creek Freak with an awesome graphic re-envisioning the open space along the Arroyo Seco in So Pas.

Hope to see you tonight.

Driving Range Extension on City Council Agenda

2011-04-01T13:22:00.000-07:00

The driving range extension is item #19 on the City Council agenda for Wednesday, April 6, 2011.

City Council/CRA
0410611 1
Page 3
Action Items & Items Pulled from Consent Calendar

19. Discussion and direction regarding the extension of the Driving Range at the Arroyo Seco Golf
Course

There is no way to know when the city council will actually get to this item. The meeting starts at 7:30 PM and I am going to arrive by 7:45 PM just to be sure I am there if the council members move this item up. Hope many of you can come to make your voice heard. Please pass this info along. Thanks.

DO NOT CONVERT HABITAT INTO TURF

2011-03-30T17:19:00.000-07:00

Many things - important things - are difficult to accomplish. This one is easy. All you have to do is let your voice be heard. If you want to preserve habitat and support your Nature Park, write, call or email South Pasadena city council members and let them know that you do not want the golf course driving range extended into the habitat directly adjacent to the park. (You do not have to be a resident of So Pas to let your voice be heard.)

Emails should be written to the specific councilman, but sent via the city clerk, Sally Kilby: skilby@ci.south-pasadena.ca.us
To leave a phone message call: 626-403-7218, press 1 for Cacciotti, 2 for Ten, 3 for Putnam, 4 for Schneider and 5 for Sifuentes.

Things are moving quickly. The draft agenda for the April 6th city council meeting has the council voting on whether to extend the driving range. Please come to this meeting (April 6, agenda items can be moved around at the last minute so please arrive early). Let the city council know that you disagree or before you know it the land will be graded, trees either removed or damaged, and birds, lizards, and insects will be looking for a new home.

The following is a letter I faxed to the city. Feel free to modify it or use it as is (with your own name on it, of course), but please, let your city representatives know how you feel.

March 30, 2011

South Pasadena City Council
1414 Mission Street
South Pasadena, CA 91030
PHONE (626) 403-7200; FAX (626) 403-7211

To: Michael Cacciotti, Philip Putnam, Richard Schneider, David Sifuentes, Mike Ten

I am opposed to the extension of the golf course driving range and would like to see the habitat on the eastern side of the Nature Park protected and added to the park. Converting the property into turf will worsen pollution at our beaches by increasing toxic runoff into the Arroyo Seco, while decreasing much needed riparian habitat.

On April 6th please vote to protect habitat by rejecting the request to extend the golf course driving range.

Yours,

Barbara Eisenstein
Founder, Friends of the South Pasadena Nature Park
1852 Monterey Road
South Pasadena, CA 91030

Mature western sycamore that is at risk if the golf course driving range is extended

SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE NATURE PARK

2011-03-18T12:56:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that we are hoping that city council and the city manager will be at the park this Saturday (3/19/2011) at 9 AM to view the land between the park and the golf course driving range. Please attend and let them know how you feel (see below and below).

Yes it may rain. I will send an email if the meeting is canceled and will post on this blog and facebook. Feel free to email me if you have questions: barbara.eisenstein@gmail.com

Hope to see you tomorrow!

IMPORTANT PARK CLEANUP, SAT. MARCH 19, 9 - noon

2011-03-10T09:27:00.000-08:00

Members of the city council may be coming to the Nature Park this month. They have been discussing the possibility of allowing the golf course to extend the driving range into the small piece of land that acts as a buffer between the Nature Park and the driving range (you can see my thoughts on this below).

It is very important that those who oppose this come to the cleanup and let your representatives know how you feel. I am not sure what time they will be there, but I think it would be a good idea to arrive at 9.

As always:

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!

FUTURE CLEANUP DATES
April 9, 2011

City Council considers extending golf course

2011-03-06T17:31:00.000-08:00

Last week I learned that the South Pasadena City Council is considering extending the golf course driving range into the piece of land adjacent to the Nature Park. (Item 6 on the Closed Session Agenda).

It had been hoped that the land would become part of the park providing a buffer between the park and the golf course. I spoke at the public comment period on Wednesday, March 2nd prior to the closed session meeting.

My opposition to this proposal is based on the following considerations:

If the driving range (see map below) is extended there will be a tall fence adjacent to the path that goes down to the Sycamore Circle. The view from the Sycamore Circle will not be of an oak woodland (which it would become if weeds were removed and the existing trees were allowed to thrive), but of an unnaturally green field behind a tall fence.
There are several beautiful native trees in this fenced area including a large, mature western sycamore (Platanus racemosa) and several coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia) of different sizes and ages. Even if the trees are not removed, the change to the land and the future requirement of ongoing irrigation, particularly in the summer, would likely be detrimental to the trees.
Converting this land into turf will increase water usage and urban runoff into the Arroyo Seco. It is a direct, downhill slope from the property to the Arroyo. Whether it is recycled or potable water, it will require an increase in water usage. Recycled water usually has more salts than potable water and may endanger any trees that receive runoff or direct irrigation. Runoff into the Arroyo Seco from irrigation of turf with recycled or potable water is definitely a concern and may require an EIR (Environmental Impact Report), or at least notification to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board.
The city promotes itself as a “Tree City” and requires residents to go through an arduous and expensive process to remove trees, especially California natives. If it were necessary to remove any of the trees in that parcel to accommodate the driving range activity, this would leave the city open to criticism of having a double standard when it comes to its policy on the value and protection of urban canopy. Project managers sometimes agree to move trees from effected areas as a form of mitigation. This practice has been shown to be ineffective and expensive. It is a waste of money and worse than just chopping down trees with no mitigation at all.
The city sets a bad example by increasing turf when the public is being told to reduce water usage by removing lawn.
Looking at a map of the park land along the Arroyo Seco in South Pasadena, the small southwest tip (shaded in blue and red on the map below) is the only habitat that can be enjoyed by the public. It should also be noted that a large portion of the Nature Park is actually on LA City land (the extreme western tip, shaded in red) so that South Pasadena land dedicated to natural habitat is even smaller.

Members of the South Pasadena City Council may be coming to the Nature Park for the next Friends of the Nature Park cleanup on Saturday, March 19th. It would be helpful if you could spread the word to anyone who might oppose the golf course extension. Ask them to contact the city council and to attend the March 19th cleanup to let them know in person how they feel.

PARK CLEAN UP - Sat, Mar 19, 2011, 9 AM - noon

2011-02-23T15:39:00.000-08:00

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!

FUTURE CLEANUP DATES
April 9, 2011

PARK CLEAN UP: SATURDAY, February 12, 2011, 9 am - noon

2011-02-11T17:20:00.000-08:00

FUTURE CLEANUP DATES

March 19, 2011 (changed from 3/12)
April 9, 2011

Jan. 29 Cleanup Report

2011-01-30T11:11:00.000-08:00

What a lovely day it was at the Nature Park! Old friends and new wandered in through out the morning. A couple of young families arrived to help out and to look for lizards and other critters.

Others got down and dirty pulling weeds like...

horehound (Marrubium vulgare) before it goes into bloom, forming seed heads that stick to everything.

This horehound has been left to dry out in the sun, leaving room for black sage (Salvia mellifera) and other natives to thrive.

Seedling of sagebrush (Artemisia californica) will do just fine!

Coast sunflower (Encelia californica) on left and large black sage (Salvia mellifera) on right have enjoyed this winter's rains. It took several plantings of the encelia to get one going. Early ones didn't get enough rain and cooked by the wall. This one seems like it will make it. Keep a look out for its happy yellow flowers.

Hope to see some of you at the Nature Park. If you can't make it for the scheduled cleanups, do make the time to go for a stroll - there's always something interesting to see.

Future cleanups are scheduled for:

February 12, 2011
March 19, 2011 (changed from 3/12)
April 9, 2011

PARK CLEANUP, SATURDAY, January 29, 2011, 9 am - noon

2011-01-22T17:33:00.001-08:00

Don't know about you all, but I am ready to get back into the park and pull some weeds. On my last visit to the park horehound (Marrubium vulgare) was out of control. Here are some of the weeds we will be battling as the war on the weeds continues!

Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)

Castorbean (Ricinus communis)

Mustard (Brassica and Hirshfeldia species)

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum)

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!

NO PARK CLEANUP IN JANUARY

2011-01-03T14:38:00.000-08:00

I am sorry but I will not be available for the regular park cleanup this Saturday, January 8th. Please feel free to go on down to the park at your convenience to pick up litter, weed and just enjoy.

Future cleanups are scheduled for:

February 12, 2011
March 12, 2011
April 9, 2011

I will try to make it down on Saturday, January 29. This is tentative, so check your email (let me know if you want to be on the Nature Park email list) and this blog for confirmation.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year.

Barbara

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

2010-12-10T20:17:00.001-08:00

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

2010-11-19T17:32:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-14T08:46:00.000-08:00

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

2010-10-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-29T19:50:00.000-07:00

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)

2010-09-05T15:15:00.000-07:00

Conyza (horseweed) is spreading in the park. Removed seedlings before they form flowers. Bagged flower/seed heads.
Very little castor bean. Removed seedlings.
Tree of heaven sprouting near sycamore. Removed all sprouts to starve roots.
Graffiti on some signage.
Irrigation leak near central kiosk.
Curved path down the hill from entrance needs to be rebuilt to keep people from taking short cut. Scouts may help with this project.
Some of the natives planted last winter are making it. Yay!
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.
City agreed to remove some of the trees that were planted in the central mound. They have been marked with paint but not removed.
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

2010-08-20T11:13:00.001-07:00

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

2010-05-07T13:30:00.001-07:00

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

2010-04-15T20:49:00.000-07:00

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.

PARK CLEAN UP: SATURDAY, March 13, 2010, 9 am - noon

2010-03-03T19:27:00.001-08:00

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

2010-02-04T09:08:00.001-08:00

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

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

2010-01-27T14:39:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-22T12:45:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-13T10:42:00.000-08:00

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.

Short History of the Nature Park

2009-11-24T14:35:00.000-08:00

About a week ago I wrote a really short piece on the Nature Park for my other blog: Wild Suburbia. For those new to the park, it gives a brief overview of when it was made into a park and how the Friends of the Nature Park got started.

As a reminder, we will be planting this season. If you know of any students, scouts, or others who would like to volunteer, please give them my email address (barbara.eisenstein@gmail.com). We haven't chosen a date to plant yet, but it may be in mid-January. If any of you have suggestions, please let me know.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Barbara

November 14 Clean up Report

2009-11-16T14:46:00.000-08:00

The picture below is is the most encouraging sign that the nature park is healing. Some California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) was planted in the park. The plant is native to this area and was likely here before we wreaked havoc on the Arroyo. This one is a seedling that came either from those that were planted here or nearby, or maybe it comes from seed that has been dormant in the soil, or possibly it was brought here by a bird. Regardless of how it got here, it is the beginning of recovery for this degraded land.

California buckwheat seedling (Eriogonum fasciculatum)

But not all is perfect in the park. Weeds continue to be a difficult problem. Here you can see the castor bean (Ricinus communis) seedlings coming up in great number. On Saturday we spent time clearing several areas of these pesty weeds.

Castor bean (Ricinus communis)

I am reading a book on vegetation restoration, Bringing Back the Bush, written by Joan Bradley, an Australia woman, who worked with her sister Eileen Bradley battling weeds in the Australian bush. The climate and plant types found there are quite similar to our chaparral and coastal sage scrub. We can learn much from their experience. They have come up with three basic principles for what they call the Bradley method and these are: 1) start from the non-weedy areas (if there are any) and work from there out; 2) work with great care to create as little disturbance while weeding as possible; and 3) do not over clear.

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is another opportunistic weed.

We have made some mistakes according to the Bradley method, but we should try to implement their methods in the future because they have found them to work, and they make sense. The general idea is that weeds win in disturbed environments. Over clearing an area makes it perfect for aggressive, invasive weeds to take control. Disturbance also tips the scale in favor of weeds. The idea is to work with nature by removing weeds while encouraging native vegetation to get a foothold because weeds have more difficulty competing with natives in undisturbed sites.

I would like to apply this idea by having individuals adopt areas that have some native plants and then work out from their areas. One spot might be near the sycamore circle. There is the remains of an ailanthus (tree of heaven) forest in this area. If several people focus only on that area, then eventually the massive root system will be depleted of nutrition and will begin to decompose.

A second area is south of the water retention basin. The castor beans were particularly thick in this area. We removed many seedlings this Saturday, with less disturbance to the site since they were young and easy to pull. We need to make sure no castor bean grows to reproductive size. By allowing the seeds in the soil to germinate and then removing them, we will eventually deplete the seed bank. At the same time we need to plant or encourage native plants to get going so that they will keep the area natural.

A third area is near the newly planted kiosk in the center. The native buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) in this area is seeding around. Rather than planting the whole central mound, let's start by the kiosk and gradually move towards the golf course. Datura (Datura wrightii) is a native disturbance plant that one expects to find in disturbed areas where non-native weeds haven't completely dominated. Many are coming up in this central area so we need to protect and encourage them.

Datura seedling (Datura wrightii)

So pick your spot and keep at it, and as always, enjoy the Nature Park.

Pretty picture of the day: alkali dropseed (Sporobolus airoides).

Park Clean-up - Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, 9 - 12

2009-11-13T17:46:00.000-08:00

PARK CLEAN UP: SATURDAY , November 14, 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

October 4 Clean-up Report

2009-10-07T09:54:00.000-07:00

Beautiful red dragonfly

Although several people suggested that they had been unable to attend the Saturday clean-ups, few new people came this Sunday either. Unless I get a stronger commitment for Sundays, I will stick with the second Saturday of the month for future park clean-ups.

If you haven't stopped by, do so, the park is looking better all the time. Now that the weeds are less of a problem, we will focus more attention on planting to improve the vegetation in the park. Depending on weather, I am hoping to plant in November or December. I will let everyone know when that will be. We will have over a hundred plants, so I hope we can get some help.

Sunday was a beautiful cool day at the park. We found little castor bean or other weeds. The big one now is the Russian thistle, aka tumbleweed, (Salsola tragus). As I mentioned in the September report, we will concentrate on removing young plants since the older ones have already seeded. This plant needs to be bagged to make sure we remove the seeds. It likes disturbed soil, so in time, as the park stabilizes, it should become less of a problem.

Deerweed (Lotus scoparius)

I know the above picture isn't exciting to many of you, but this plant is a native found in sites with disturbance, like washes. We planted a few last year but I haven't seen any of these return. It is likely this is a progeny from the ones we planted. I get excited when I see these kinds of plants because they indicate that the area is recovering from its weedy, disturbed condition.

Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum)

Similarly, these seedling buckwheats (Eriogonum fasciculatum) show that locally native plants can return and thrive in the area.

Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia)

And of course, the coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) in the center of the park is a joy to look at. The trash bag beneath it is filled with Russian thistle.

Poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobia)

And what can beat poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobia) for autumn color?

Every time I come to the park I see people jogging, walking dogs, riding horses and just strolling through the park. It is your park - enjoy it.

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

2009-09-27T14:38:00.001-07:00

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

Sept. 12 Cleanup Report

2009-09-13T20:15:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-03T09:58:00.001-07:00

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

Scouts Descend on Weeds Like Locusts

2009-08-22T17:17:00.000-07:00

Some of the scouts and parents who weeded and cleaned the park on Saturday with Eagle Scout candidate, Brendan Osborne (top row, 3rd from left), and City Councilman, Michael Cacciotti (top row, 2nd from left)

As noted in my last blog entry, the scouts have come to the rescue. Although things were looking real good last spring, during the summer I noticed that some of the weeds have made an amazing comeback. But they are not advancing unchallenged! Under the supervision of boy scout Brendan Osborne, a group of scouts and adults spent the morning in the nature park removing castor bean (Ricinus communis), tumbleweed (Salsola tragus), puncture weed (Tribulus terrestris) and tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima). To finish up the day, everyone took a quick spin through the park picking up trash.

Brendan points out castor bean and instructs volunteers on removing and bagging the flowers and seeds.

Scouts learn to identify poison oak before they begin weeding.

I can't imagine what I thought was so funny about the annoying plant I am holding in my bright red-gloved hands, but City Councilman, Michael Cacciotti, was amused by the puncture weed as well.

The weeds better run when confronted by smiling but deadly serious scout!

Weeds with seed heads are bagged and thrown away. Weeds without seeds are pulled and left to decompose.

Natural Resources Commissioner, David Beadle, explores along fence line of golf course with Michael Cacciotti

Michael Cacciotti ducks as golf ball flies through hole in netting along fence.

Can you picture the Arroyo Seco (view goes north towards Pasadena in this picture) flowing freely again with the concrete channel removed?

Mid-Summer in the Nature Park

2009-07-12T12:29:00.000-07:00

From 2009 0711 (SPNP)

On Friday and Saturday I went down into the Nature Park to speak with some people interested in doing additional volunteer work. The good news first! The Clematis ligusticifolia - virgin's bower - is in full bloom.

From 2009 0711 (SPNP)

The wild buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) is also blooming its heart out!

From 2009 0711 (SPNP)

And now for the not-so-good news. The weeds are thriving! There are many new castor bean (Ricinus communis) seedlings.

From 2009 0711 (SPNP)

Castor bean (Ricinus communis) is going to seed.

From 2009 0711 (SPNP)

Tree of heaven (Ailanthus alissima) continues to sprout from the root system of the original tree.

From 2009 0711 (SPNP)

Although litter and graffiti are both problems, we must be especially diligent removing these weeds. If we allow them get a real foothold, the park will not provide good native habitat.

And more good news! The boy scouts are coming to the rescue. I have been talking with a couple of scouts and am hopeful they will be able to make a serious dent in the weeds and possibly with some of the signage. If you know of anyone else who would like to help out, please give them my email address (barbara.eisenstein@gmail.com).

And even more good news! The city has provided some funds for the purchase of new plants. We will be buying and planting them in November and December (the best time of year to plant natives). We will plant out from the central kiosk into the large, barren central part of park. By planting in a relatively contained area we will have an easier time keeping the weeds at bay and the new plants alive.

Next clean-up will be the September 12th (second Saturday of the month). I will send out an email a week and a half before the event, and another reminder a couple of days before it. If you want to be added or removed from the email list, please let me know.

See you in September!

Park Clean-up: June 13, 2009. 9 am - noon

2009-06-04T17:26:00.001-07:00

Hi All,
Here we are again! I expect that this will be our last park clean up until September. I'd like to continue weeding and leveling the mulch in the mound in preparation for some planting next fall. Of course, we'll take a look around for trash as well.

Since I didn't post a report last month, thought I'd include a couple of pictures from the park. The Park Clean Up announcement is below.

Volunteers spreading out mound of mulch.

From Native By Design

Poppies and alkali sacaton grass

From Native By Design

Hope to see you there. (And hope it stays cool.)
Barbara

===================
PARK CLEAN UP: SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 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

Park Clean-up: May 9, 2009. 9 am - noon

2009-04-29T12:45:00.001-07:00

Hi All,
Hard to believe it is that time again. Maybe to mix things up a bit we could start leveling the mulch in the mound in preparation for some planting next fall. Of course, we'll take a look around for weeds and trash as well.

Hope to see you there.
Barbara
===================
PARK CLEAN UP: SATURDAY, MAY 9, 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

April 11, 2009 Clean-up: Enemy No. 1

2009-04-12T20:27:00.000-07:00

From Native By Design

On another beautiful day at the Nature Park, our efforts went to removing a lot of garbage (some rather interesting in nature) and finding and removing the above seedlings: castor bean (Ricinus communis)- enemy no. 1.

For the last few months, we focused our attention on the milk thistle, but there were few of these in evidence this time. Now the castor bean is sprouting. If you go to the park feel free to remove any of these that you find. Here's a picture of one still standing. Notice the large oval first leaves (cotyledons) and the palmate true leaf. It is often reddish in color.

Castor bean seedling

From Native By Design

Be very careful to avoid poison oak. This is an important native plant that has good habitat value: it provides cover and food for many animals.

Beware - Poison oak

From Native By Design

Poison oak

From Native By Design

The park is doing well as the following pictures attest.

Park Entrance on Pasadena Ave. (Bush sunflower, black sage and poppies in bloom)

From Native By Design

Baby blue eyes

From Native By Design

Info sign on Pasadena Ave.

From Native By Design

Mexican elderberry

From Native By Design

Sugar bush

From Native By Design

Native plant, everlasting, sprouting on its own

From Native By Design

Deer grass, black willow and coyote bush

From Native By Design

But not all is perfect. The following picture is taken of the main central part of the park. It was supposed to be a grassland but became overcome with weeds during the first winter and spring of its existence. The city then added mulch to smother the weeds. We need to direct our attention to this area. I am hoping to level the area this year in preparation for planting in the winter. Since birds need high, medium and low cover - and we already have nice medium and high vegetation - we should consider using low-growing scrub plants. Buckwheat, black sage, deer weed, monkey flower, bush sunflower are all good candidates that are native to the Arroyo Seco. A generous sprinkling of wildflower seeds would be just the thing!

Does anyone else have thoughts on this?

From Native By Design

Park Clean-up: April 11, 2009. 9 am - noon

2009-04-07T13:40:00.000-07:00

I realize I have not but updating this blog much but will try to get something up after this weekend's clean-up. I also realize that many of you will be busy with Easter/Passover family activities. If you get a chance to stop by, please do. I'm not sure I will be there for the whole time, but I will try to arrive by 9 am.

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

Upcoming Clean-up, Saturday, March 14, 2009, 9 am - noon

2009-03-05T20:32:00.000-08:00

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

Video on Invasive Plants (Garlic Mustard)

2009-02-23T22:02:00.000-08:00

Garlic Mustard Identification and Control from Barbara Lucas on Vimeo.

Although we do not seem to have garlic mustard here in So. Cal., we have many similar invasive weed problems. This video demonstrates what invasives can do, how, why and what we can do to combat them. Our efforts in the Nature Park to control castor bean and milk thistle are good examples. Next we may try to get a handle on the non-native mustards that paint the park yellow in spring.

Park Clean-up (Feb. 14, 2009)

2009-02-15T18:04:00.000-08:00

Oregon grape (Berberis sp.)

The Nature Park was very pleasant on Saturday. Sugar bush, mulefat, wild cucumber, golden currant, and barberry were a few of the native plants in bloom. We saw two lupines and many California poppies getting ready for the spring wildflower display. The black sages by the entrance, along with buckwheat and bush sunflower, are doing well, and getting ready to bloom also.

milk thistle (if you see this, kill it!)

The weeds are abundant. Last year we focused on eliminating castor bean (Ricinus communis), and it is still nearly non-existent. Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is mostly gone as well. The weed we are now focusing on eradicating is milk thistle (Silybum marianum) - shown above. If you see it, pull it out or just kick it over with your foot. We want to get rid of these seedlings before they flower and spread a great abundance of seeds in the spring. The plant grows to six feet tall. A couple of years ago a boyscout troop worked hard removing it. We now have to keep after the offspring!

Enjoy the rest of the pictures and do take some time from your busy schedules to walk around the park yourselves.

oak tree

miner's lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata)

mushrooms

Park Clean-up (January 10, 2009)

2009-01-10T15:33:00.001-08:00

Had a large turn out at the Nature Park on this beautiful January morning. As planned we focused on removing milk thistle seedlings. Most of them are in the central part of the park. We worked north of the central info kiosk.

milk thistle seedlings

We also removed an old, apparently abandoned encampment on the southeast part of the park near the stairs. The garbage was left at the entry behind the stone wall for Athens to pick up.

The signs in the center of the park and on the east side were both defaced with graffiti. I will contact the graffiti hotline. The city should consider removing the signs since they are scratched and a constant target for graffiti.

We sowed California wildflower seeds in the central part of the park. Many of the poppies sowed last year are returning and it should be a great wildflower display again.

We also planted a monkeyflower that was grown from a cutting of an Arroyo Seco watershed plant.

Boy digs hole while dog looks on

Girl carefully pats down soil

It was a beautiful and fun day. Join us next time.

Jogger runs up and down ramp

Shopping cart and defaced water fountain mar Nature Park entry

Oregon grape getting ready to bloom in Nature Park

Happy Holidays from the Nature Park (next clean up: Saturday, 1/10, 9 AM)

2008-12-30T17:16:00.000-08:00

Tinsel on coyote brush (Photo by Lizzie Eisenstein)

Today I went to the Nature Park for the first time since last month and was very surprised to find it lovingly decorated for the holidays. Red, white and silver tinsel adorned the native shrubs and trees.

There was not much litter around and the weeds are still fairly well under control. TruGreen must be keeping after the Ailanthus because it isn't really coming back. I saw a few germinated seeds of milk thistle (Silybum marianum). If any of you go to the park, please look for these and either pull them out or just kick at them with your foot. This noxious, annual weed is easy to remove at this stage but is a real bear later. The picture below the seedling is a stand of milk thistle in the Nature Park in spring 2005. The prickly plants stand about 5 -6 ft. tall. Boyscouts assisted in it removal.

Remember park clean-ups are informally scheduled for the second Saturday of the month and I do expect to be at the Park on January 10th at 9 AM.

As always:

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.

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 are welcome but 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.

For more information email me at: barbara.eisenstein@gmail.com.

WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PEACEFUL NEW YEAR!

Barbara

November 8, 2008 Park Cleanup

2008-11-09T18:50:00.001-08:00

This Saturday I was joined at the park by a dad and his two daughters, and my husband. Together we picked up a little trash - there was very little in evidence, and we sowed some poppy seeds and planted deer weed (Lotus scoparius).

Dad and daughter water new deer weed plants

Big sister draws a picture in her field notebook of the new plants and a watering can

When I arrived at the park I was greeted by a gentleman who was carrying out a trash bag full of garbage. It is evident that many people are taking care of the park when they visit. My husband, who hadn't seen it since September, was very impressed with how much better it is looking. Graffiti is under control and the sycamore circle is fairly clean.

Below is a picture of a toyon in full berry with a flowering coyote brush behind it. Come and enjoy the park. You will be surprised by how pretty and peaceful it is.

Park Cleanup - Saturday Nov. 8, 2008, 9 - 12

2008-11-07T07:44:00.000-08:00

Trail in South Pasadena Nature Park

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.

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 are welcome but 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.

For more information email me at: barbara.eisenstein@gmail.com.

Dorothy Green, CA Activist Passes Away

2008-10-16T12:11:00.000-07:00

Having been one of the many fortunate people to have known Dorothy Green, I would like to direct you all to the LA Times obituary and the piece by Steve Lopez. Dorothy was direct, clear, committed and unwavering in her efforts to do what was right for the state she loved. In addition to writing books, starting non-profits and educating the public on water and environmental issues, she taught many of us how to live our lives. She will missed, but we should celebrate her life, as she would have wanted.

Read her last plea for a sensible water policy, written October, 8, 2008.

October 12, 2008 Park Cleanup

2008-10-12T22:12:00.000-07:00

The park is looking really good. Great thanks go to the city, Jesse Barajas, and TruGreen. The tree of heaven (Ailanthus) has been removed, as has the tree tobacco and castor bean. The graffiti on the rocks and signs has been removed . There was little litter, and people are walking dogs, jogging, running and enjoying the park.

Rick Schneider and I picked up a bit more litter and removed the few castor bean plants we could find. The day was sunny (as usual -- I love California!) and the park peaceful. The rose hips (above) added some red color and food for the birds.

The California fuchsia continues to bloom, a few seedlings of buckwheat have appeared, the sugar bush is setting flower (see above), and the coyote bush is in full bloom and alive with bees.

I know it is hard for people to join us for these clean-up events on the second Saturday of the month. I can tell, though, that many of you are going down to the park and picking up litter on your own. It seems to me that the park has really "turned a corner" and though we cannot stop working to keep it moving in the right direction, it will be fun to see new native plants settling in and attracting birds, lizards, butterflies and other natural fauna.

September 13, 2008 Park Clean-up

2008-09-14T20:34:00.000-07:00

It was a lovely day in the Nature Park this Saturday as our small group of volunteers met to weed and pick up litter. The park continues to look good.

In this picture, the buckwheat is turning deep rust color and the California fuchsia, barely visible in the center-right half of the image, is still in bloom.

Hummingbirds flit around the willow tree near the central information kiosk. They were enjoying the red tubular flowers of the California fuchia.

Baby lizards scamper around the mulched central part of the park. There are plenty of insects to feed them.

The tree of heaven continues to be the biggest threat to the park. In August when I walked around the park with Jesse Barajas, city arborist, and TruGreen we discussed removal of these invasive weeds. If they are not dealt with the park will quickly revert to its earlier, degraded condition.

Bags of garbage await pick-up by Athens.

A Walk Through the Park

2008-08-15T15:49:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, August 10, I took a leisurely walk through the park. Birds were flitting from the trees and shrubs on the north edge of the park (along the Arroyo Seco flood control channel) into the water. I saw a few lizards and some squirrels. I know there were lots more - I'm not a good animal watcher.

The plants in bloom included virgin's bower (Clematis ligusticifolia), buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), mulefat (Baccharis salsifolia), alkali dropseed (Sporobolus airoides), deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens), a few poppies (Eschscholzia californica), and sugar bush (Rhus ovata).

Virgin's Bower (Clematis ligusticifolia) blooms at the Nature Park

Keeping up
I am very excited by what I see in the park. No, it is not perfect, but what we are trying to do is not easy. The basic structure of the park is good. For the next few years we will need to manage the invasive weeds. As these are better controlled I hope we will consider planting some low-growing shrubs in the central area (former grassland/weed patch). It would be nice to keep low-growing plants here because birds need low shrubs, along with trees and water. I hope we can plant wildflower seeds there again next winter, and possibly add some more buckwheat and sages. It will be best to go slowly so we can keep the invasive weeds under control.

Signage in the Park

2008-08-14T20:35:00.001-07:00

Stonework entry to Nature Park

Each time I visit the Nature Park I enjoy the river rock entry on Pasadena Avenue. Occasional graffiti is quickly removed when the Graffiti Hotline (626) 403-7249 is called.

The Nature Park Information Sign, on the other hand, needs some work. It is not water-tight so the poster has warped. The wood stand is subject to graffiti and the plexiglass is scratched and doesn't fit within the frame.

Warped poster in information display

Back of sign is not water tight

Plexiglass is scratched and doesn't keep water out, wood is marred

I have been speaking with a boyscout about taking this project on for his Eagle Scout award. Hopefully we can improve this sign and then take on some of the signage in the park.

Park Cleanup: September 13, 2008, 9 - 12

2008-08-14T19:03:00.001-07:00

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

Met with City Workers in the Park

2008-08-10T15:59:00.000-07:00

Met with staff to discuss maintenance

On Thursday, August 7th, I met with the staff from So Pas Dept. of Public Works and TruGreen landscape maintenance at the Nature Park to discuss park maintenance. Overall, the park looks good. The sycamore circle is really looking better than ever. There is some graffiti, especially on the sign near the circle. We decided that for now it would be best to remove the sign since it is totally covered with graffiti, both painted and scratched, and can't be cleaned up anymore.
As Jesse Barajas of Public Works put it, "The greatest asset in the Nature Park are the trees." Many of the trees pre-date dedication of this land as a Nature Park in October 2004. The trees that were planted in 2004 by MRCA (Mts and Rivers Conservation Authority)and SMMC (Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy) with money from the state, are doing well.

Western Sycamore (Platanus racemosa)

Invasive weeds are biggest challenge
The biggest challenge in the park are invasive weeds. The land before its conversion to a nature park was a degraded, illegal dumpsite. Land like this is usually overgrown with exotic, invasive weeds. MRCA cleared out a castor bean forest and removed many other aggressive weeds. They regraded the land, put in a retention basin, paths, signage, and some appropriate native plants. Many of the trees are doing well, but many of the smaller shrubs and perennials have not made it. This is not a problem, though, because the park had a very nice collection of native plants to start with.

The problem are the weeds. If we do not keep them under control, the park will revert to its earlier condition. The city has been doing much to control castor bean, milk thistle and other weeds. Right now the worst problem is the tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissimo) above the circle (on the east side of the park, south of the sycamore). A large specimen of this aggressive weed was removed when the park was created. The root system continues to sprout new "tree-lets". If they aren't removed then they will take over this section of the park - no joke! TruGreen will be removing this problem plant, along with tree tobacco, Chinese elm, Russian thistle, and castor bean.

Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissimo) getting a foothold in the Nature Park