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The South Pas Nature Park (officially The South Pasadena Arroyo Seco Woodland and Wildlife Park) is the site of this year’s Garden Tour, Plant Swap and Sustainability Fair presented by South Pasadena Beautiful, Friends of the Nature Park, and the city of South Pasadena’s Natural Resources and Environmental Commission. The free event is Saturday, March 18, from 1-4 pm.
The four-acre habitat park along the Arroyo Seco is graced with mature coast live oaks, southern walnuts and western sycamores. Sage, buckwheat and other native coastal sage scrub plants provide an inviting environment for birds, lizards, squirrels and numerous other critters.
While the park is open daily to the public, we invite you to make a special visit on March 18th for this community event. Stroll the park on your own or take a tour led by a member of Friends of the Nature Park.
The Plant Swap and Sustainability Fair will be located at the lower entrance of the park along the paved path at the west end of Lohman Lane. Trails lead down from the Upper Entrance.
Stop by South Pasadena Beautiful’s bring one-take one Plant Swap with donations generously provided by Bellefontaine Nursery and Bartlett Tree Experts. Other participating organizations include South Pasadena’s Natural Resources and Environmental Commission, Theodore Payne Foundation, California Native Plant Society- San Gabriel Mountains Chapter, and local South Pasadena organizations.
A free Smart Gardening Workshop presented by LA County will also take place at the Sustainability Fair. The workshop covers backyard composting from 2:00-2:30 PM, worm composting from 2:30-3:00 PM, and organic gardening from 3:00-3:30 PM. The workshops are come and go. Compost bins are available at a discount after the workshop.
Since 2006, Friends of South Pasadena Nature Park, an informal group of park stewards, have been removing invasive weeds, planting natives, creating paths, and improving habitat. Visit the recently planted Demonstration Garden, a beautiful native plant garden installed by volunteers with Friends of the Nature Park. Plants were selected for their aesthetic qualities, ability to thrive in our dry, hot climate, and habitat value. Another important criteria for selection is the use of the plants for Indigenous cultural purposes. Deergrass, sages, penstemon, and other such plants were included.
Getting to the Nature Park
The upper entrance is in the 100 block of Pasadena Avenue in South Pasadena, east of the York Boulevard Bridge. Trails lead down to the lower entrance. Street parking is available. The lower entrance is just past the Arroyo Seco Golf Course driving range. Take the paved shared-use path located at the west end of Lohman Lane. Parking is available on Lohman Lane.
Skip the hassle of parking and join the Bike Shuttle to this year’s Garden Tour. South Pas Active Streets will host hourly, all-ages escorted bike rides to and from the event, with a bike valet watching your bike while you are there! Schedules and routes available at https://www.southpasactive.org/home/garden-tour-bike-shuttle
For more information about the Garden Tour, Plant Swap and Sustainability Fair, visit http://www.southpasbeautiful.org/
