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. Many trees, old and young, exhibited significant leaf burn. The golden current shriveled up and went dormant. The toyons had significant leaf burn and younger plants don’t look like there is much chance of recovery. Some plants, though, seemed to be just fine. Surprisingly, the narrow-leaf and showy milkweeds were green and lush. Laurel sumac was unfazed. Golden bush should be just fine. Many of the flowers of the Calif buckwheat dried up, but bees are still finding flowers to visit.
Here are two slideshows with pictures of the park. We can just hope that most of these plants will recover.
Young coast live oaks (and old ones) showed significant leaf burn. 
This Nevin’s barberry used to live under a Southern CA black walnut. The dead walnut was removed about a year ago. Now this 14 year old barberry has gotten a serious sun burn. 
Some So Cal black walnuts did okay. This one, not so much 
View of park showing the CA buckwheat flowers burning out. What will the bees do? 
Some of the buckwheat flowers survived the heat but many didn’t. This will have an impact on pollinators for sure. 
View of the coastal sage scrub vegetation. 
The milkweeds and butterfly garden in general did really well. Good job watering, Monica! 
Sycamores had significant leaf burn. 
Laurel sumac enjoying this summer weather. 
Laurel sumac stood the heat better than any other plants.
View of park, looking hot 
New planting at entrance is doing okay. Golden yarrow were hit badly. The one milkweed up there looks great. Some yellow bush snapdragons got scorched, others made it. 
Toyons were badly hit by the 114º plus heat. The older ones will probably be okay, many young ones just won’t make it. 
Here’s a young toyon that probably is a goner, but we will see. 
Young toyon before we provided shelter. 
Shade hut constructed for a young toyon. 
Typical leaf burn on toyons. 
The toyon on the right is very different from all others in the park. It has smaller leaves and yellow-orange berries. It also weathered the heat much, much better than others like the one on the left.