Nature Park News – May 2025

Published on by weedingwildsuburbia

Another Productive Volunteer Day

Following the Wildflower Workshop (February 15) and the South Pasadena Sustainability Fair (March 29), April 19th was an ordinary volunteer day. However, the large attendance made it truly extraordinary. Students from Polytechnic and South Pasadena High School joined South Pas Pack 7 and Daisy Scouts. Bank of America, MyEnvironment volunteers participated as well, and along with many individuals made up the 55 to 60 workers.

With this large and enthusiastic group we were able to accomplish a great deal.

Volunteers at the park
High school students learn about the Demonstration Garden. We share that the plants were selected for their local provenance and ethnobotanical uses. In addition, we chose plants that look good in small garden settings. These include deergrass, white sage, foothill penstemon, yarrow, and aromatic sumac. We also discussed the value of native plants for creating rich habitat, and the importance of avoiding the use of invasive weeds.
Hard-working Ed from B of A spread this mulch in front of the Boy Scout benches.
So Inviting! Come on down to the park and enjoy sitting in the shade while watching blue birds, towhees, and scrub jays as they flit around in the shrubs.
This is our big weed season! Removing weeds before they set seed has double the impact – we clear space for the native plants to reseed and we remove weed seeds that would sprout next year. Just like those matched donations we are reminded of constantly. These Daisy Scouts and their moms are making this matched donation to the future health of the park.
One of the things I love most about the volunteer days is the chit-chat of people. Disengaged from their cellphones, kids and adults chatter with their friends and neighbors – a welcome change from the high stress of most of the day.

Sneak Preview

There are two more scheduled volunteer days before the summer hiatus, May 17 and June 21. We are now planning a special activity for June 21. We will post more about it soon, but let me just say, it involves butterflies and their favorite food. You probably guessed it: milkweed. Stay tuned for more information!

May Volunteer Day

Where: 100 block of Pasadena Avenue in So Pas, east of York Blvd. Bridge
When: 05/17/25; 9 am – noon
What: Volunteers will prune, remove weeds, and tidy up the park.

Nature Park volunteers should:

  • Wear a face mask (this is required for anyone working with mulch)
  • 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)

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.

Upcoming Cleanups and Events

Volunteer days are usually held on the third Saturday of the month from 9 am to noon.

  • May 17, 2025, 9-12 – Park Cleanup
  • June 21, 2025, 9-12 – Park Cleanup
  • NO SCHEDULED CLEANUPS IN JULY AND AUGUST

Dates are tentative, please confirm on Facebook, WeedingWildSuburbia.com, or email.

Newsletter Archive

To find earlier newsletters or subscribe to Friends of South Pas Nature Park, click here.

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. Please make the check payable to South Pasadena Beautiful with a note specifying that the donation be applied to the Nature Park.