Happy New Year from the Nature Park!
As we step into the new year, my resolution is simple: to enjoy the Nature Park even more than I did in previous years. While challenges like vandalism and littering persist, I’m focusing on the positive—especially the incredible volunteers who dedicate their time to the park, and those who make litter cleanup a regular part of their walks. Yes, navigating city bureaucracy can be tough, but we are fortunate to have hardworking city staff — Catrina, Ruben, and Alex — who help us address the ongoing issues of garbage dumping and vandalism. This year, I resolve to celebrate the good and the many positive efforts that make our park special!
Superbloom 2025: Looking Ahead
Last year, we were optimistic about a stunning wildflower display due to the abundant rainfall. We sowed seeds throughout the winter and waited. While the shrubs and trees bloomed abundantly, the annual wildflowers didn’t quite live up to expectations.
This year, we’ve been hoping for rain to help with planting and sowing, but, alas, the weather isn’t cooperating. It seems we won’t have measurable rain through January. But we’re not giving up! We plan to sow seeds during our Volunteer in the Park programs in both January and February, adapting to the conditions we’re given.
Wildflower Workshop: A Hands-On Experience
South Pasadena Beautiful, in collaboration with Friends of South Pas Nature Park, is excited to announce that Leigh Adams, an artist, eco-sensitive designer, and educator, will lead a hands-on Wildflower Workshop. Leigh will guide us through best practices for growing native wildflowers, and together we’ll experiment with different seed treatments to improve germination. Given the limited rain this year, we’ll focus our sowing efforts in areas that will be watered, including the Demonstration and Butterfly Gardens.
Join us to help create a vibrant spring bloom in the park and learn how you can replicate these practices in your own garden!
We hope to see you in the park soon, and we look forward to a year filled with growth—both in the park and in our community.
January Volunteer Day & Workshop
Where: 100 block of Pasadena Avenue in So Pas, east of York Blvd. Bridge
When: 01/18/25; 9 am – noon
What: Volunteers will participate in a workshop on growing wildflowers and sow seeds in and tidy up the park
Nature Park volunteers should:
– Wear sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
– Bring plenty of water
– Bring gardening gloves and tools (weeders, trowels, whatever you use in your own garden), there are extra tools and gloves for those who need them
– Wear comfortable work clothes, including work shoes (sneakers or boots) and long pants
– Bring binoculars for birdwatching (optional)
(It is recommended that participants wear face masks. I use one in my own garden to help with allergens and dust.)
Children must be under adult supervision at all times. There is poison oak in the park that we will point out before starting.
The South Pas Nature Park is a four-acre habitat park along the Arroyo Seco.
The upper entrance is in the 100 block of Pasadena Avenue in South Pasadena, east of the York Blvd. Bridge. There is plenty of on-street parking on Pasadena Avenue.
The lower entrance is just past the Arroyo Seco Golf Course driving range. Parking is available at the Golf Course Clubhouse at 1055 Lohman Ln with additional parking on Lohman Ln west of the tennis courts. Walk westward to the park from the pedestrian path located at the west end of Lohman Ln.
Donate
If you would like to help grow our nature park but prefer not to get into the dirt, you can donate through South Pasadena Beautiful. Be sure to include a note specifying that the donation be applied to the Nature Park.