The South Pasadena – Arroyo Seco Woodland & Wildlife Park (S. Pas Nature Park) is usually hotter than my home garden by a few degrees. It measured 114º at home and so we were concerned about how new and old plants survived the heat wave in the park. As expected, it was a mixed bag.
Heat Wave in the Nature Park
Successful Planting Party
Over fifty volunteers planted 209 native plants in the nature park on Saturday, January 27, 2018. This event, in honor of Martin Luther King’s call to service, included students from Occidental College, YMCA’s Youth and Government Program, and Professional Child Development Associates of Pasadena, and volunteers from the Bank of America’s My Environment Program and locals
Planting Party
In celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., students from Occidental College and other local volunteers will be planting native plants in the South Pasadena – Arroyo Seco Woodland and Wildlife Park (South Pas Nature Park, for short) on January 27, 2018. Volunteers are welcome to come anytime during the day. We plan to start at
Labyrinth Garden
I know that I have not written about my wild suburbia home garden in a long time. This is not because nothing is happening; to the contrary, the last piece of lawn has met its end! The small bit of turf grass – woefully out of place – on the east side of the front
South Pas nature park
Have you been down to the South Pasadena nature park recently? Although we are at the end of nearly 10 months with almost no rain at all, the park is looking great. With the cooler temperatures and a sprinkle of rain, quite a few plants – such as penstemons, sagebrush, and bush sunflowers, and others
Volunteers Work at Nature Park
Thanks to all of the volunteers who helped out in the park last Saturday. High school students and parents, and Bank of America volunteers accomplished so much. This rainy weather is great for our native plants but unfortunately the weeds are getting a real boost too.
Monarch Butterfly Waystation Opening
Join us this Saturday, April 23, from 10 – noon to celebrate the opening of the Monarch Butterfly Waystation at the South Pasadena nature park (South Pasadena – Arroyo Seco Woodland and Wildlife Park). Volunteers have been hard at work in the park and there are lots of beautiful flowers, birds, lizards, insects, and of
Visit your nature park
It was a beautiful day at the nature park. There were lots of butterflies, plants are greening up, and the weeds are making a big come back. In fact, there were more castor bean seedlings than we have seen in years and years. Check out the following pictures for butterfly, plant and weed id.
Wildflower headshots
It is almost the summer solstice but there are still lots of flowers blooming in the nature park. There is a mighty fine display of California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum). Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) is also blooming, a harbinger of lovely red berries in winter. Wild sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are just getting started, standing tall with several blooms per stem.
Arroyo Seco Restoration
I am having nature park withdrawal. I have not been there since last Saturday. Nevertheless, it is very much on my mind. Last week I spent two days talking to environmental science students at South Pas High School about the park. Five different classes of students heard and discussed the history and possible future of