Week 7 Arroyo Seco Park

Alnus rhombifolia
(A tall White Alder growing under the historic
Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena)

Time in: 9am
Time out: 12pm

This was my first visit to the Arroyo Seco Park, the largest park in the South Pasadena area, and I was thoroughly impressed. The CNPS native plant walk was led by two very knowledgeable and organized women. One of them focused on the scientific and European practices of each plant while the other chimed in with her knowledge of Native American uses. They did a wonderfully thorough job and it was clear they enjoyed sharing their knowledge with us.

Here are just some highlights of what must have been around 40+ species of plants we were introduced to:

Rosa canina
(Rose hips)




Datura stramonium
(Jimson weed)



Cucurbita palmata
(Coyote Gourd)



Stellaria spp.
(Chickweed)



Claytonia perfoliata
(Miner's Lettuce)



Ribes aureum
(Golden currant)



Rubus ursinus
(California blackberry)



Acacia baileyana
(Bailey's acacia)

Week 2 - Walking with the Natives

(click to enlarge)

Time in: 9:15am
Time out: 12 noon

Today I went on my first native species plant walk in Eaton Canyon. We were lead by a very knowledgeable, friendly and determined guide, Eva Morgan. This walk is part of the California Native Plant Society, San Gabriel Mountains chapter in which I am currently a member.

Here are just a few species I learned about:

Opuntia spp. (Cacti)




Buckwheat




Salvia apiana (White Sage)




Toxicodendron Diversilobum (Poison Oak)

Scale broom (Lepidospartum squamatum)