Nature Park News (October 2024)

Published on by weedingwildsuburbia

Volunteer Days Begin Again

As summer came to a close, our September Volunteer Day revealed a mix of challenges and accomplishments in the park. We encountered more vandalism than usual, including damage to our large entrance banner, several Story Path signs, and the 24″x36″ San Gabriel Mountains sign and holder.

We were able to replace the banner, and a student volunteer from Flintridge Prep reinstalled and repaired the Story Path signs. However, damage to the San Gabriel Mountains sign is proving more difficult to manage. We are currently assessing the condition of the sign frame and exploring options for both repair and replacement.

All activities and materials provided by Friends of South Pasadena Nature Park are funded through donations to South Pasadena Beautiful. If you’d like to support our efforts, please consider donating through South Pasadena Beautiful, specifying that your contribution is for the Nature Park. Your generosity makes a difference!

Volunteers cut seed heads from white sage. The collected seeds were dispersed in other parts of the park.
Helpers of all sizes and shapes spread mulch to reduce the emergence of annual grassy weeds next spring.
Sometimes projects are vandalized. This is just a fact of life in the park. Student volunteer, Evelyn, is repairing one of the Story Path signs. Evelyn planned, executed, installed and is now maintaining the Story Path. She is planning to continue posting new delightful, season-appropriate picture books.

All About Birds

Jared Nigro, the Executive Director of the Pasadena Audubon Society (PAS), recently delivered an engaging and educational talk at the South Pasadena Library Community Room. The event was sponsored by South Pasadena Beautiful, Friends of South Pasadena Library, and Friends of South Pas Nature Park. Attendees were encouraged to deepen their appreciation for local birdlife by signing up for a Bird Walk at the Nature Park the following Saturday.

During the Bird Walk, participants were treated to an array of avian sightings, with a juvenile red-tailed hawk stealing the spotlight. This majestic bird perched on a low tree limb, allowing everyone to admire its beauty. The hawk then took flight, circling above the group before returning to a nearby branch, captivating all who watched.

In addition to the hawk, participants observed a variety of other delightful birds, including White-crowned Sparrow, California Scrub Jay, Killdeer, Western Meadowlark, and Bewick’s Wren.

The event was not only a fantastic opportunity to observe these birds but also to learn from the knowledgeable PAS leaders, who shared insights into their behaviors and habitats. Overall, it was a wonderful experience for all bird enthusiasts!

Group enjoying the juvenile red-tailed hawk.
Photo of red-tailed hawk take with my cellphone.

Seed Library Donated by Girl Scouts

For their Bronze Project, Troop 3181 focused on learning about and educating the community on native plants and seeds. The troop engaged in a variety of hands-on activities to deepen their understanding and promote local biodiversity.

The troop began by taking a guided tour of the park to learn about the importance of native habitats and their role in the ecosystem. They then collected native plant seeds from a residential garden, gaining practical experience in identifying and gathering local flora.

The troop acquired and painted a free seed library, creating a vibrant and inviting resource for the community. To supply the library they researched different types of seeds, obtaining both vegetable garden seeds and native seeds.

The scouts created attractive and informative packets that included details on the seeds and instructions on how to grow them, making the seed library both educational and accessible.

Finally, the troop installed the seed library in the park, ensuring that community members could easily access and share seeds.

This project not only fosters a love for native plants among the scouts but also encourages community engagement and sustainability through gardening.

Troop 3181’s Seed Library is a valuable contribution to the park.
Visit the park to see what seeds you might be able to grow.
Seed packets created by the scouts with useful information on how to grow them.

Upcoming Cleanups and Events

October Volunteer Day

Where: 100 block of Pasadena Avenue in So Pas, east of York Blvd. Bridge
When: 10/19/2024; 9 am – noon
What: Volunteers will be spreading mulch, pruning and tidying 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.