Last Volunteer Day Until September
Those who garden with appropriate native plants know that as we enter the hottest and driest time of the year we will spend less time working in the garden. Native plants slow down, just as we should. Since we only irrigate young plants in the nature park, there is little work to do in July and August. For this reason, June 18th is the last official volunteer day until things start to cool down (hopefully) in September.
This, however, does not mean that stewardship stops in the summer. Everyone is encouraged to pick up litter, pull weeds, and most importantly, visit the park for its soothing and healing effects.
Demonstration Garden
Although the gardening year is coming to a close, we are busy planning for next year. As you can see in the picture above, volunteers have cleared, created paths, and mulched the area adjacent to the South Pasadena Arroyo Seco bicycle and pedestrian path. This space is, in effect, the back door into the park. We plan to plant the area and set up a temporary irrigation system. The plants will be watered for two years and then, like everything else in the park, they are on their own. We will select keystone plants that provide the best habitat and are also appropriate for local residential gardens.
With water restrictions upon us, this new planting will educate and encourage residents to create successful low water use, high habitat value gardens throughout our region. We welcome your help as we design, plant, and set up irrigation in the new demonstration garden.
The timeline for the project is: plan in summer and fall, order plants for delivery in late fall, plant and set up irrigation in winter. Local residents, including college and pre-college students, scouts, and members of service clubs, are invited to participate. Please, join us in creating an exciting demonstration garden!
June Volunteer Day
In preparation for our new project, we will continue to move rocks and spread mulch near the bicycle and pedestrian path. And, as usual, we will remove weeds and beautify the park.
Masks and keeping a safe distance apart are recommended. Having gotten used to wearing a mask for covid, I now wear one when working in my home garden and at the park since it protects me from dust and pollen. Give it a try.
Remember there are no official workdays in July and August. Dates are tentative, so please confirm on Facebook, WeedingWildSuburbia.com, or email.
Where: 100 block of Pasadena Avenue in So Pas, east of York Street Bridge
When: 06/18/22; 9 am – noon
Nature Park volunteers should:
- Bring and wear a face mask – covering both mouth and nose
- 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 entrance, marked by a small plaque on an attractive river rock wall, is in the 100 block of Pasadena Avenue in South Pasadena, east of the York Street Bridge. There is plenty of on-street parking on Pasadena Avenue.
Upcoming Cleanups
We are planning to hold our regular park cleanups on the following Saturdays (9am – noon):
- JUNE 18, 2022
- NO SCHEDULED CLEANUPS IN JULY AND AUGUST
- SEPTEMBER 17, 2022
- OCTOBER 15, 2022
(Dates are tentative, please confirm on Facebook, WeedingWildSuburbia.com, or email.)