October 4 Clean-up Report

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

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

Barbara


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

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

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

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

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

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

See you soon!

Sept. 12 Cleanup Report

Equestrians enjoying a quiet ride in the park

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


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

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


Barberry (Berberis) looking great.


Blue dragonfly on oak tree near the channel.


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

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

Hi All,

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

Barbara


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

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

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

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

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

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

See you soon!

Scouts Descend on Weeds Like Locusts

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

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

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

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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

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!