tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062272369891726332024-03-12T17:06:41.049-07:00Wandering the WillowsWandering the Willowshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05601597896850742932noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106227236989172633.post-64685851907937759552013-06-16T06:26:00.000-07:002013-06-16T06:26:46.111-07:00Summer Pollinators and Butterflies<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYG3Hr_FywVMh3tMp4IScgt8iF54sgOnXaFRqh0YMt1c0gIe4j2Sef_G0j1Krvmc0UJeJn35O0uMJN5Qbl91udeNZxsURgYRFuEfPVY-6JwHi7HF2ISaeCkeAkIrd51_62UONDjOR5X9k/s1600/001-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYG3Hr_FywVMh3tMp4IScgt8iF54sgOnXaFRqh0YMt1c0gIe4j2Sef_G0j1Krvmc0UJeJn35O0uMJN5Qbl91udeNZxsURgYRFuEfPVY-6JwHi7HF2ISaeCkeAkIrd51_62UONDjOR5X9k/s1600/001-sm.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Surveying pollinators on native plants - Mother Nature's Backyard</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s
summer and the Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve is literally buzzing with
activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Butterflies and other pollinators
are busily making nests, collecting food and setting up housekeeping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now is
one of the best <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>times to visit the
Preserve. Whole families can participate in the interesting activities that take place this
time of year.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pollinators
are butterflies, bees, flies and other creatures that pollinate the flowers of
fruits, vegetables and other foods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These plants can’t produce if they aren’t pollinated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, about 80% of all flowers require living
pollinators; without them our lives would be less colorful, less fragrant – and
hungrier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We owe our pollinators a huge debt of
gratitude. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Recent
visitors to Mother Nature’s Backyard garden (located in the Preserve) were
amazed at the number of hummingbirds, butterflies and other insects visiting
the flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No wonder the garden and Preserve produce lots
of native fruits and seeds!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The staff
of Mother Nature’s Backyard can help you make your own home garden more
productive by attracting native pollinators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just ask for suggestions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">On
a recent Sunday, teams of ‘citizen scientists’ surveyed the pollinators
visiting several native plants. Their results will be compiled to give us a
better idea of important pollinators in local gardens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone who visits the garden from now through
October can participate in the survey; just ask for a survey clipboard at the
garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can
also take the survey at home (see </span><a href="http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/06/citizen-scientist-2013-mother-natures.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/06/citizen-scientist-2013-mother-natures.html</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
for details).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">July
is ‘Butterfly Celebration Month’ at the Preserve. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A great way to experience local butterflies is
to take a butterfly walk with Tracy Drake (Manager/Naturalist, Madrona Marsh).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms. Drake will lead a butterfly walk on July
14<sup>th</sup> at 1:00 p.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll see
butterflies in their natural surroundings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You will also learn how to capture butterflies without hurting them and
get to photograph them up close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
a great activity for families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Visitors will receive a handout with colorful
pictures of local butterflies and a brochure on home butterfly gardens.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Learn
more about pollinators at: <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/planning-for-pollinators-2013"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/planning-for-pollinators-2013</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><a href="http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/06/life-friendly-gardening-planning-for.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/06/life-friendly-gardening-planning-for.html</span></a></span></span></span></div>
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Wandering the Willowshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05601597896850742932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106227236989172633.post-2994084273743122492013-06-15T05:54:00.001-07:002013-06-16T06:19:58.965-07:00The Season of Flowers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Enjoying wildflowers in Mother Nature's Backyard garden</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Spring and early summer is the
season of flowers in Southern California.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nature preserves, wild lands and even native plant gardens often look
their best this time of year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider
scheduling a visit to the Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve in the next few
months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll be glad you did!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The main wildflower show begins
in March with the earliest wildflowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The annual wildflowers are at their peak in April and May, providing a
riot of color from yellow and orange to pink, red and blue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mother Nature’s Backyard is awash with color
now. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Place of honor goes to our
California state flower, the California Poppy (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Eschscholzia californica</i>), which is blooming in several areas of
the Preserve.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In May, the annual wildflowers
are gradually replaced by the native Sages (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Salvia</i>)
species.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their purple, pink and white
flowers – and spicy aroma – are worth a visit to the ‘Coastal Sage Scrub’ area
on the South side of the Preserve. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be
sure to watch for hummingbirds and butterflies that are attracted to the
flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">In late May and June the Salvias
are joined by the native Buckwheats (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Eriogonum</i>
species).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With their masses of pink
flowers, the Buckwheats are visited by many species of butterflies and native
pollinator insects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plan a trip to the
Preserve and Garden before the flower show is over for the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be sure to bring your camera or sketchpad
to capture the spring beauty.</span></div>
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Wandering the Willowshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05601597896850742932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106227236989172633.post-85032169333463552682013-04-24T04:30:00.000-07:002013-04-24T04:30:55.792-07:00Native Honeysuckles for Natural Fences<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0IR9hgqn8wvPb3jsetefcVPbsF1AustI7ZbmUtqmBRnG1cvmFfE2YNuYBbLkxHo30vpEchJimBHrw-G4l34G0k_LkNSdfHAJX4rBUufMlB6c0IbMbkEEzyU78Ii0Reyyr9LOOfc4RG4/s1600/planting+honeysuckle_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0IR9hgqn8wvPb3jsetefcVPbsF1AustI7ZbmUtqmBRnG1cvmFfE2YNuYBbLkxHo30vpEchJimBHrw-G4l34G0k_LkNSdfHAJX4rBUufMlB6c0IbMbkEEzyU78Ii0Reyyr9LOOfc4RG4/s640/planting+honeysuckle_sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">The path leading into the Gardena
Willows Wetland Preserve features panoramic views of a seasonal stream that has
fed the wetlands for hundreds of years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently
a group of local Girl Scouts from troop 5965 in Redondo Beach cleared the
area to the north of the path and planted some local native honeysuckles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These vines will soon cover the fence,
providing a living green wall as visitors enter the Preserve. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Honeysuckles are woody vines or
groundcovers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While honeysuckles from
Asia can be hard to contain, California native honeysuckles have all the
advantages of honeysuckles without the invasive qualities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two native Honeysuckles once grew abundantly
on the Southern Channel Islands and in canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains
and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
two – the Purple Honeysuckle (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lonicera
hispidula</i>) and Southern or Santa Barbara Honeysuckle (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lonicera subspicata</i>) – are what the Girl Scouts planted along the
entry path.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Honeysuckles are really
sprawlers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They climb up fences,
trellises or other supports with a little encouragement. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In nature they clamber over other shrubs and
trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will also spread out on the ground and make
an easy-care groundcover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honeysuckles
have pretty fragrant flowers that produce abundant nectar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what attracts the hummingbirds (the
main Honeysuckle pollinators) as well as the larger butterflies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children also like to sip the sweet nectar
from the bottom of the flower!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Our local Honeysuckles have either
cream-colored or pink-purple blooms depending on the species.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plants bloom in spring, usually between
April and June.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that, the plants
produce berries that turn bright yellow or red in late summer and fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the berries are edible they are not
very tasty; they are best left for the birds who enjoy them as a fall treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Small
birds sometimes even nest in a mature <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>vine, so the new Honeysuckle wall should
attract many types of birds and butterflies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">In nature, native Honeysuckles
often grow in canyons where they get some afternoon shade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Preserve’s
entry area provides similar conditions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once established, native Honeysuckles are
very drought tolerant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Volunteers will
give the ‘Honeysuckle Wall’ occasional summer water to keep it green and lush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will also train the vines to climb the
fence for the first year or two until the wall is established.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Be sure to notice the ‘Honeysuckle Wall’ the next time you
visit the Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The plants are small now, but next year you’ll marvel at the flowers, the
fragrance and the wildlife they attract.</span></div>
Wandering the Willowshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05601597896850742932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106227236989172633.post-59183418730013117562013-02-11T08:34:00.000-08:002013-02-11T08:34:18.101-08:00Troubles with Trash<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWCGQpHa7RKMqgmYDlhCRABgamwL8VL0smczGUqfr99uZFwlKEscOSZZg0YSrPUNyuCWRr1gOlcGXopE5oPsw69hw4jOIcr5t51F1a0P8Kl89zpsy-Yyo9bBIEzKy9T_xC7_fm8q3DIw/s1600/010sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWCGQpHa7RKMqgmYDlhCRABgamwL8VL0smczGUqfr99uZFwlKEscOSZZg0YSrPUNyuCWRr1gOlcGXopE5oPsw69hw4jOIcr5t51F1a0P8Kl89zpsy-Yyo9bBIEzKy9T_xC7_fm8q3DIw/s640/010sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">The Gardena Willows Wetland
Preserve shares a problem with other urban preserves and parks – trash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether it blows in on the wind, is tossed
over the fence or washes in with street water run-off, the end result is the
same; either the trash is removed by volunteers or it ends up in the
ocean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither option is pretty.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The best long-term solution is to
prevent trash from entering the wetland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To this end, The Friends of the Preserve installed trash barriers along the
streets bordering the Preserve. This low tech solution decreased the amount of blown-in
trash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But paper, cans and bottles
still wash into the Preserve with every rain storm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much
of this ends up in wetland areas that are difficult to access for cleanup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Some of the biggest problem areas
are near the drainage pipes that release street water run-off directly into the
Preserve. The plastic bags and other materials destroy peaceful views and are a
hazard to ducks and other wildlife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why trash removal is an on-going part
of Preserve maintenance.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHt9KhyXF0PJ1VFUlgC7iIwa3nEpn5BmcoberRceJZk6zO_mxqyNOHr9doXhF7iwISQIzNBQtfbqS4PHQ3yWGp50vAqOSr1uNnPTeDO9Dy8O6yph_64w178-K6kvbhcgApHRaA_Nz8df4/s1600/013sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHt9KhyXF0PJ1VFUlgC7iIwa3nEpn5BmcoberRceJZk6zO_mxqyNOHr9doXhF7iwISQIzNBQtfbqS4PHQ3yWGp50vAqOSr1uNnPTeDO9Dy8O6yph_64w178-K6kvbhcgApHRaA_Nz8df4/s400/013sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Picking up trash in a wetland is
not glamorous work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It requires patience, good balance and a high tolerance
for wet feet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In January, a group of community volunteers (including
students from the Gardena High School Interact Club) tried a new approach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First they removed trash brought in by a
recent rainstorm (see above).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then
they installed a fence-weir to trap trash and prevent it from entering the
wetlands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">The fence-weir is constructed of plastic
coated welded-wire fencing material held in place by steel fence posts. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was
installed in an area near new Hampshire Street – an area with significant
street-water run-off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friends Board Member Kelley Dawdy worked with
students determine placement of the fence-weir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After pounding in the fence posts, students
attached the fencing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result was a trash collecting fence that
blends into the landscape except when filled with trash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A recent rainstorm tested the new
fence-weir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In short, it works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weir collected trash that might otherwise
have polluted the Preserve and the ocean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we just have to collect the
trash from the weir and that’s a real improvement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the ultimate solution lies with all of us
who live, work and enjoy the Gardena area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s up to us to prevent trash from traveling down the storm drains and into
our jewel of a Preserve.</span></span><br />
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">February 11, 2013<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Constance M. Vadheim (Friends of Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Wandering the Willowshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05601597896850742932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106227236989172633.post-14122297038564629752013-01-12T17:56:00.001-08:002013-01-12T17:56:11.857-08:00The Christmas Bird Count<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eee-J4335uU/UPISrEX_uZI/AAAAAAAAAEo/5zh5TFmpIaE/s1600/027-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eee-J4335uU/UPISrEX_uZI/AAAAAAAAAEo/5zh5TFmpIaE/s640/027-sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">On a rainy morning just before Christmas three
women entered the Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve, their binoculars,
clipboards and cameras ready for action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tracy Drake, Heather Williamson and Connie Vadheim were participating in
a December tradition that dates back over one hundred years: the Audubon
Society’s Annual Christmas Bird Count. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Each year since 1900, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tens of thousands <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of volunteers from the Northern arctic to
South America brave the cold, rain and snow to census local birds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Working with local scientists and
naturalists like Ms. Drake (Manager/Naturalist at the Madrona Marsh Preserve
and Nature Center), local birders and citizen scientists canvas the number of
species and individual birds in over 2000 count areas . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
counts are done each year between December 14<sup>th</sup> and January 5<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The date for our local Palos Verdes/South Bay
Circle was December 23<sup>rd</sup> this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Count volunteers follow specified routes through a
designated 15-mile diameter circle, counting every bird they see or hear all
day.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">More than 60 volunteers visited over 50 sites all over the South Bay
this year. The count is</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> not just a species tally—all
birds are counted all day, giving an indication of the total number of birds in
the circle that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The results are
tallied at the end of the day and submitted to the national bird count
database.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Good ears, sharp eyes and excellent observation
skills are required for the Christmas Bird Count. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why volunteers are trained before they
get to participate. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The count team
records all the birds it sees, as well as those it hears. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If possible, the team also photographs unusual
or rare birds that it encounters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Gardena team did all three; it quickly became obvious why a team approach is
required.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">American
Crows and Mourning Doves flew over as the team entered the Gardena Willows
Preserve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A large flock of tiny birds
(Bushtits) flitted through the trees, foraging for insects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The team recorded a total of 64 Bushtits during
their hour and a half survey, the most common species seen that morning. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other
insect-eating birds, including five species of Warblers, were busy feeding in
the Willow and Cottonwood trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These large
trees provide an important food source for insects and for the birds that feed
on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gJqLRfYf3xU/UPISrBYSbEI/AAAAAAAAAEg/uN_fA1IO5yA/s1600/WTKI-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gJqLRfYf3xU/UPISrBYSbEI/AAAAAAAAAEg/uN_fA1IO5yA/s400/WTKI-sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
White-tailed Kite – a new raptor for the Preserve – circled above and landed on
a nearby Willow branch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The team paused
and photographed this rare treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>White-tailed Kites were almost hunted to extinction in California in the
1930’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are slowly returning to
our area – thanks in part local nature preserves and open areas.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hummingbirds were busy feeding and gathering
nesting materials throughout the Preserve. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A small group of Cedar Waxwings were gobbling
down a preferred food – Toyon berries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the ground,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>several Hermit
Thrushes and California Towhees rustled in the leaves, searching for
ground-dwelling insects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The team did
not see these elusive birds, but their distinctive call allowed Ms. Drake to
identify them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K4OXNQ3kcUk/UPISrM6fC-I/AAAAAAAAAEk/iF3LDCssfvU/s1600/014-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K4OXNQ3kcUk/UPISrM6fC-I/AAAAAAAAAEk/iF3LDCssfvU/s400/014-sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">In total, the team identified 30 species and over 275 individual birds
in the Gardena Willows wetland Preserve and surrounding Johnson Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
count from the Gardena Site helped make the Palos Verdes/South Bay Circle one
of the top 40 sites in the United States in terms of bird species and
individual birds seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">According to the CBC Website, ‘the results of Christmas Bird Counts
provide a powerful picture of our world over time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using data from over 40 years of Christmas
Bird Counts, Audubon scientists learned that nearly 60% of birds that winter in
North America have shifted their winter ranges northward over the past 40
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is important evidence that
our winters are getting warmer.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve continues to play a role in
providing key data about our changing planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can see results of previous bird and butterfly counts at <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.gardenawillows.org/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">http://www.gardenawillows.org/</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">
and learn more about the Christmas Bird Count at: </span><a href="http://birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">http://birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">
.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">--posted by Constance M. Vadheim, Board Member, Friends of Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
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Wandering the Willowshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05601597896850742932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106227236989172633.post-79104775087481874812012-12-11T05:34:00.004-08:002012-12-11T05:35:38.599-08:00Why Do We Prune?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50emRj4V4CDOfxVMs2jOrX7ti-2DIuIOydLeuSVdwrsTZE2qroBkGJkEMDhlYsmesmuQ8T5rd-_dvsLfiM2LI9qWM3XhzEDo6hKqCUimJaOUMYt51W_CZ5olPB-874IHrHtw1h841QRE/s1600/12-12-photo-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50emRj4V4CDOfxVMs2jOrX7ti-2DIuIOydLeuSVdwrsTZE2qroBkGJkEMDhlYsmesmuQ8T5rd-_dvsLfiM2LI9qWM3XhzEDo6hKqCUimJaOUMYt51W_CZ5olPB-874IHrHtw1h841QRE/s640/12-12-photo-sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Why do we prune in gardens and in the Preserve? Some
reasons are obvious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Diseased or damaged
branches need to be removed as soon as possible to prevent the spread of
disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Growth that presents a safety hazard
must also be removed promptly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we
prune plants for reasons other than safety and health.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One
reason is to shape them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If growing a
hedge, we prune out <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>irregular branches
in the beginning and then maintain the shape by regular hedge-trimming. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly, we remove branches that grow in the
wrong direction when training a new tree to a pleasant shape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some local gardeners take plant shaping to a
high level, creating elaborately shaped shrubs in traditional Japanese or
European styles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These examples demonstrate
the degree to which certain plants can be shaped.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Gardeners
sometimes prune to control the size of trees and shrubs, often with limited
success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In general, plants continue to grow
until they achieve their natural mature size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They will keep trying to achieve this size – or die in the process.
That’s why pruning to limit size is an endless task. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s far easier to choose a plant with the
right natural size in the first place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is particularly important with California native shrubs, some of
which become quite large.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But choosing a
plant based on its mature size makes sense for any plant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Southern
California’s native trees, shrubs and even grasses need to be pruned for
another reason – to keep them youthful and healthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hikers sometimes comment that wild shrubs appear
to be pruned by an expert gardener.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a
way they are, but the ‘gardener’ is not who you might expect. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In truly wild areas, deer, rabbits, elk <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- even wildfires, wind and water - prune
plants on a regular basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deer and elk
browse the fresh growth of trees and shrubs in spring and summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rabbits eat grasses and smaller
vegetation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plants respond by producing new
growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the plant is not over-grazed,
the result is a plant that’s fuller, more youthful and more attractive to the
eye.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Fires
also play a role in plant regeneration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the past, wildfires burned local foothills and mountains every 50 to
150 years depending on the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fires
are a consequence of our long dry summers and Santa Ana winds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This weather pattern also occurs in other
mediterranean climates like the Mediterranean region, South Africa, western
Chile and western Australia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Plants
from mediterranean climates have adapted to fires over the course of thousands
of years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many mediterranean climate trees
and shrubs have the capacity to re-grow after fires, allowing them not only to
survive but also to rejuvenate themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, these plants are so
dependent on fire that they literally <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">need
</i>periodic fires to survive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without them – or their surrogate in the
garden - they die prematurely.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Native
Californians understood the need for periodic rejuvenation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the past, they regularly pruned, divided
and even burned plants to keep them young and productive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over time, Native Californians became an
integral part of the natural cycles of plant life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They literally became a force of nature. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Most
gardens and smaller nature preserves are no longer home to deer, rabbits and
other forces of nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the wind
patterns and water flow are altered in populated areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the native plants still need the yearly
and occasional catastrophic processes that keep them youthful and healthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s where proper pruning plays a role.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdcrDC3qtjzE3eWBH3QY2jbAXSMZ45LU1nlnUafjZXJATRfu8nlu3sRQfIHSNjb0vjZ8lMJZGj3uoklU6ruI1Xxpp3CK-gzkZVNLc4YYiZ0Yf0Xulw_GFs1gQiUK3L7kNfV7FRsqeU30/s1600/002sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdcrDC3qtjzE3eWBH3QY2jbAXSMZ45LU1nlnUafjZXJATRfu8nlu3sRQfIHSNjb0vjZ8lMJZGj3uoklU6ruI1Xxpp3CK-gzkZVNLc4YYiZ0Yf0Xulw_GFs1gQiUK3L7kNfV7FRsqeU30/s400/002sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Like the deer and rabbits,
we need to prune back some of the fresh growth on native shrubs to encourage
dense, well-shaped plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the
wind, we need to prune out weak and damaged growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And like fire, we occasionally need to prune
mature native grasses and some shrubs more harshly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We literally ‘become’ the deer, rabbits,
wind and fire for the native plants in our care.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Pruning native plants is
not difficult, but you do need to know how to prune each plant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prune
a native plant incorrectly – or at the wrong time of year – and you risk
damaging or killing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trick is to
imitate the natural processes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of
us have little direct experience with these processes in the wild.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That means we need to learn how to prune our
native plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">One easy way is to attend
a pruning workshop at Mother Nature’s Backyard or the Gardena Willows Wetland
Preserve. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fall/winter pruning
season is almost over, but we will have sessions in summer and again next
fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See our schedule at </span><a href="http://www.gardenawillows.org/events.htm"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">http://www.gardenawillows.org/events.htm</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or call 310-217-0681.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pruning classes are also given at CSU
Dominguez Hills (see </span><a href="http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/calendar.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/calendar.html</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">For more information on
pruning common California native plants see </span><a href="http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/2012/11/pruning-common-native-plants.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/2012/11/pruning-common-native-plants.html</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or </span></span><a href="http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2012/11/pruning-common-native-plants.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2012/11/pruning-common-native-plants.html</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A great book which includes information on
pruning is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">California Native Plants for
the Garden</i> by Carol Bornstein, David Fross & Bart O’Brien (Cachuma
Press, 2005).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Constance
M. Vadheim<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Adj. Professor of Biology –
CSU Dominguez Hills; Board Member – Friends of Gardena Willows Wetland
Preserve)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Wandering the Willowshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05601597896850742932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106227236989172633.post-82240555497708962082012-11-16T11:12:00.000-08:002012-11-16T11:12:41.879-08:00An Ugly View or Source of Inspiration?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSFDsq6du-PDnd-pyipggAsaD_5iZH2hw4jLDjUAXvXgGo7zblXUyYkEDyNyFwoizSG1df6At6KEguFfjehgu8_-iPVjrmfiXV1S7ec3Z1S9F477cko7S_ickFaMVxd-HGoSqo1Dy76Q/s1600/photo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSFDsq6du-PDnd-pyipggAsaD_5iZH2hw4jLDjUAXvXgGo7zblXUyYkEDyNyFwoizSG1df6At6KEguFfjehgu8_-iPVjrmfiXV1S7ec3Z1S9F477cko7S_ickFaMVxd-HGoSqo1Dy76Q/s640/photo1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">We’re restoring the south-western section of the
Preserve to the native Coastal Shrubland that once covered Gardena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Towards that end, we planted hundreds of locally
native plants near the amphitheater last spring. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the positive side, the new plants are
thriving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shrubs have grown several
feet; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>many have already flowered and set
seed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Insects, hummingbirds and seed-eating birds flock
to the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And a place that once was
bare – with a few non-native weeds – is well on its way to being restored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But restoration is a bit like remodeling: once
the remodel is completed, the whole house looks shabby around it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And herein lays our source of inspiration.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83c_QNaDeMdEfXHCpOmDyfLMK7eTZqRa4UJFPzy8jVxpgDR4JErdwlwTp0veWp9cX-8H2DuwooF587TQy2ENJPDRjx-djQBJnOlf4kKhnY_rFII2Wr0TbhT37nD1_4fNWmf0zkvXR1H4/s1600/photo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83c_QNaDeMdEfXHCpOmDyfLMK7eTZqRa4UJFPzy8jVxpgDR4JErdwlwTp0veWp9cX-8H2DuwooF587TQy2ENJPDRjx-djQBJnOlf4kKhnY_rFII2Wr0TbhT37nD1_4fNWmf0zkvXR1H4/s400/photo4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">English Ivy (lighter green) covering a Black Willow tree</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The Preserve’s amphitheater sits on a gentle
slope overlooking the wetlands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a
nice venue for teaching, thanks to an Eagle Scout project in 2009.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s also a great place to sit and relax
after a couple hours of weeding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the
view from the amphitheater could – quite frankly - use some work! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As seen above, a few large non-native shrubs competed
with the native willows and other wetland trees. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The area was overgrown with non-native English
Ivy <span style="color: #274e13;">(</span></span></span><span style="color: #274e13;"><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hedera helix</span></i><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> – the same ivy many people have in their yards)
was literally invading, climbing high into the trees and threatening their existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The front area was bare except for some weeds,
non-native grasses and an unsightly-looking dead branch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In short, it was <i>not</i> the kind of view
we wanted from the amphitheater.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Fortunately, our young and enthusiastic
volunteers love a challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last month
– as part of our regular restoration day on the 3<sup>rd</sup> Saturday of each
month – a group of students from the Gardena High School Honor Society and the
Circle K Club from CSU Dominguez Hills tackled the view from the amphitheater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They came in on the ground floor of the
restoration process - a process that begins with assessing the area and setting
restoration priorities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">After
preliminary discussion, we decided to explore the area before setting
restoration priorities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s what we
found:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="color: #38761d;">
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The area has lots of potential – the riparian woodland area is pretty
and could provide wetland access<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>close
to the teaching amphitheater<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">English Ivy is a huge problem – more extensive than we’d realized<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Natural pathways exist in the area, but these are overgrown<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The non-native shrubs are large and will take some work to remove<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnLq5b9JE2eSayiJLxcUaMHbK6uxHwqh6z_z_c7X-z-K1114AolMTGMWKr9DkqAtnaoPFejIglFiPDViyyAc0Chf0qRUjk5gfOjDFCO3EjGjzj390udaJM7pAzzGluhTQLS7yAIqbfVU/s1600/photo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnLq5b9JE2eSayiJLxcUaMHbK6uxHwqh6z_z_c7X-z-K1114AolMTGMWKr9DkqAtnaoPFejIglFiPDViyyAc0Chf0qRUjk5gfOjDFCO3EjGjzj390udaJM7pAzzGluhTQLS7yAIqbfVU/s400/photo3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Large ivy trunk growing up a willow tree</span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">As a group, we decided that ivy removal was the
first priority: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ivy was spreading and
threatening the native trees - and the problem would only get worse if nothing were
done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a first step we cut the trunks
of ivy growing up into the trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
took some work just to find the ivy trunks, even though some were several
inches in diameter and stretched 20 feet or more into the trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several weeks after cutting, the leaves were
starting to die making it easier to see the remaining ivy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll tackle that in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">As we cut ivy, we decided to prune branches that
were making ivy removal – and access in general – more difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The branch trimmings are now being composed in
the form of a brush pile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pile is
located near enough to be useful for teaching, but far enough off the trail to
hide it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The brush pile will provide a hiding place
for birds and lizards, as well as food for decomposing insects, worms, bacteria
and other organisms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The decomposed material will also return
nutrients to the soil rather than removing them to the landfill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll be getting years of benefit from the
pruning we did to provide access. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
that’s smart restoration!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4yR9NJYRRKpbFPMexSBpE9mQxSJUl9hFMg1sXh2lTsfJBETmHlrnlDzwU6sxs-e7k09c2BRX-A8VlN1abk9P_AgHSIyy6yzaod1gODW46SS8zcDiQ6C4aF_6smPm2zsrKVhTC7PJwOI/s1600/photo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4yR9NJYRRKpbFPMexSBpE9mQxSJUl9hFMg1sXh2lTsfJBETmHlrnlDzwU6sxs-e7k09c2BRX-A8VlN1abk9P_AgHSIyy6yzaod1gODW46SS8zcDiQ6C4aF_6smPm2zsrKVhTC7PJwOI/s400/photo2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Area after first work day - bare but much nicer appearance</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">At the end of the morning, we sat back and admired
the view from the amphitheater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could
already see improvements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The area was
less overgrown, some of the ivy was gone and the ‘ugly branch’ had been turned
into an interesting bit of native landscape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But the front area still looked plain and empty – and we wanted it to eventually
look pretty and interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decided
that the trees provided a nice backdrop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But we needed plants in front of them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we needed to plan ahead so we’d be ready
to plant when the rains came.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">We
worked together to build a list of the types of plants/plant characteristics we
wanted to include in the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s
what we came up with:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">More
leaf & flower colors<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Small
bushy purple plant (if possible)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Focus
on plants native to the Gardena area<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Increase
the diversity and number of plants – shrubs, grasses, flowering plants<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Fruit
trees (native)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Include
signage/information<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Flowers<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Include
plants found in other parts of Preserve – especially those in surrounding
Coastal shrubland area – to make the area seem part of the Preserve as a whole<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">At
our November work day we’ll review the plant choices and develop a plant
list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our goal will be to plant at least
part of the front area in December/January while still leaving access for our
on-going ivy removal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new plants
will make the area look better while we continue our restoration of the
interior sections.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">At the end of the day, our ‘ugly view’ turned
out to be something lovely – a source of inspiration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It brought together a diverse group of
students (and one professor) to solve real-life restoration challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many points of view are leading to practical
and creative solutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s a
beautiful thing indeed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">We’ll
update you with our progress in the future.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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</div>
Wandering the Willowshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05601597896850742932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106227236989172633.post-90792316305207944112012-10-13T06:32:00.000-07:002012-10-13T06:34:45.596-07:00Autumn’s Abundance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8xQYaMOru7YvGiykZglm2Vk1Cdrwh6UGdRCvpzabPY76hnL0rmg2gv4CC8YBA51vPnEtblETVHZLtQtxGVXOxM5U2H5CSC0WSuxIp_UX7NHaxoFEB0LCIYlUSfQHBzTFHA0RiaebLlc/s1600/043small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8xQYaMOru7YvGiykZglm2Vk1Cdrwh6UGdRCvpzabPY76hnL0rmg2gv4CC8YBA51vPnEtblETVHZLtQtxGVXOxM5U2H5CSC0WSuxIp_UX7NHaxoFEB0LCIYlUSfQHBzTFHA0RiaebLlc/s640/043small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Living in the city – surrounded by non-native plants and foods from around the world – it’s easy to lose a sense of our local seasons. That’s unfortunate, because the cycle of seasons connects us to the place where we live. Seasonal changes give us a sense of history and literally serve to ground us to our place on earth. Sometimes it takes a visit to nature to re-focus our attention on the joys – and the activities - of the current season. Wandering the Willows the other day, I encountered a reminder of Autumn’s abundance. What better example of the foods of Fall than a native rose bush laden with ripening fruit!</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Our local native rose, California Wild Rose (<i>Rosa californica</i>) is a plant with several distinct seasons. In early spring, it sports a set of new leaves and delicate new sprouts. The fresh foliage is bright green and not yet hard and bitter. Native Californians harvested the tender sprouts in early spring and boiled or steamed them for a fresh vegetable. </span><br />
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<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">In summer, California Wild Rose is in full glory. The leaves are green and mature. This is the perfect time to pick leaves for rose leaf tea. This delicate tea – made from fresh or dried leaves – has a flavor all its own. You can make rose leaf tea from any rose, including roses from your garden. Just be sure that the leaves haven’t been sprayed with pesticides. When you dry the leaves – and drink the tea – you’ll be participating in summer activities that have been part of many cultures for hundreds (perhaps even thousands) of years.</span><br />
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<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Summer is also when the pink rose flowers attract native bees, European Honey Bees and a variety of other pollinator insects. On a warm day, the smell of wild roses takes us back to pleasant summer days in a grandmother’s rose garden or hiking in our local wild lands. It is the essence of summer; and that fragrance and the sweet nectar is what attracts the pollinators. Wild roses are an important source of food (nectar and pollen) for summer’s insects.</span><br />
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<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Rose flowers are used and treasured in many cultures throughout the world. Like our ancestors, you can gather rose petals and dry them to preserve the fragrance of summer. The dried petals can be used in potpourri, sachets and even be used to brew a delightful pink tea. There’s nothing nicer than a cup of hot rose petal tea on a cold winter’s day. It brings back memories of summers past – and dreams of future summers.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVPmdYWG7Vu8v28yn2FX2n23p9SL4Twrq0lj0kYmhKHNtPSK_YLMa2nRc1uMe4K4dQz0hXGiMI8Oka-sRAyZGq2B2tJX5AoIiqiiAZglVbayR5DMfmisDRH4wpAD2rXLyANR9KiYR9IM/s1600/042small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVPmdYWG7Vu8v28yn2FX2n23p9SL4Twrq0lj0kYmhKHNtPSK_YLMa2nRc1uMe4K4dQz0hXGiMI8Oka-sRAyZGq2B2tJX5AoIiqiiAZglVbayR5DMfmisDRH4wpAD2rXLyANR9KiYR9IM/s400/042small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div align="justify">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The fruits of the Wild Rose (the ‘hips’) ripen in fall and winter. Rose hips are at their best when fully ripe. In colder climates, this happens after the first hard frost in the fall. In our mild climate, rose hips take a bit longer to mature. The best hint that rose hips are ripe is when the birds start to eat them - trust me, birds know when fruits are ripe!! Another hint is when the hips turn from orange-red to a dark red, become slightly soft and sweetly scented. The rose hips in the picture above are not yet fully ripe.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Rose hips are beautiful in their own right. They brighten a fall/winter landscape or garden with their dark red color in late fall. All roses produce rose hips, including garden roses. Most gardeners cut off aging rose flowers before the hips fully develop, so we don’t fully appreciate the fall season of the rose.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Roses develop hips for one purpose: to attract birds and animals which will eat the fruits and spread the seed. The rose hip is well suited this purpose. It’s red color says ‘here I am’ to passing birds and animals. The sweet taste of ripe rose hips provides a tasty treat. And the seeds are hidden inside the fruit, guaranteeing that at least some seeds will be eaten and spread, after a trip through a bird or animal’s intestinal tract (gut). Among the birds that eat rose hips are Mockingbirds and migratory Cedar Waxwings. Rabbits and small mammals also enjoy rose hips in fall/winter.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Rose hips are a treat for humans as well. Native Californians ate them fresh, cooked them for deserts and dried them whole or as ‘fruit leather’ for future use. Dried, ground rose hips make a tasty, healthy tea that’s loaded with vitamin C. Rose hip jelly is indescribably good and many old cookbooks include a recipe for this tasty treat. You can easily find recipes for making rose hip jelly on the internet. Rose hip syrup is easy to make and a tasty alternative on pancakes and desserts. All of these uses preserve autumn’s abundance for later enjoyment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Using plants in old ways connects us to the land and its bounty. And observing the seasonal changes reminds us that we are just a part of nature’s great cycles. Come out to the Preserve soon and experience the joys of Fall.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
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<div align="justify">
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</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Constance M. Vadheim (Professor of Biology – CSU Dominguez Hills; Board Member – Friends of Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve)</span>
<br />Wandering the Willowshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05601597896850742932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106227236989172633.post-33053106311955462472012-10-01T08:49:00.001-07:002012-10-01T08:51:48.937-07:00The Gardena Willows and CSU Dominguez Hills<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvvRHE89UTyvvKHxzmrXZTw23B2SlSQ4eec91hFNXhscj7RQFQLoFH-H3naN0hPK9X6QhxbcjhrTJdh2r0L9jy0s0RavG8ClXBaBQKtfyc3XcALoLZyS9IiMzVUrIZeLI8vAMm1mZ2Mg/s1600/A+sampling+site.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" kea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvvRHE89UTyvvKHxzmrXZTw23B2SlSQ4eec91hFNXhscj7RQFQLoFH-H3naN0hPK9X6QhxbcjhrTJdh2r0L9jy0s0RavG8ClXBaBQKtfyc3XcALoLZyS9IiMzVUrIZeLI8vAMm1mZ2Mg/s400/A+sampling+site.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sampling site at the Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The connection between the Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve (GWWP) and CSU Dominguez Hills goes back many years, but it has developed greatly in the last few. Two members of the board of the Friends of the GWWP are faculty members in Biology, while another is a graduate student in Environmental Sciences. For the last 3 years, a group of undergraduates from Biology has worked every month at restoration days to remove fennel and castor bean, two of the most invasive of the non-native plants present. It is now quite hard to find specimens of either of these once-abundant plants at the preserve. In addition, there are several ongoing and past research projects supervised by CSUDH Biology faculty members at the preserve, on topics as diverse as improving restoration techniques, monitoring the aquatic invertebrates that inhabit the swamp, and the insects that are found in the Arroyo Willows. We will look more at these connections in future posts.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">John Thomlinson (Chair, Department of Biology - CSUDH; BoardMember - Friends of Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve)</span>Wandering the Willowshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05601597896850742932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106227236989172633.post-45875214008931902592012-09-21T06:29:00.001-07:002012-10-20T04:47:02.978-07:00In the Cool of the Willows <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdmw8jpVmKWcBiq29-bBLsz8JXvY8Kbjuv_hGJhpolZsseWmsEvebYLJpuqGZ1Jx3TfviRGvMDIRtIANrsVMhG-mdo9OfU8xpGwK0hwDKQYec1fVN6Hkan_HAyRO5ETRMMnxdX-tPyOQ/s1600/251sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdmw8jpVmKWcBiq29-bBLsz8JXvY8Kbjuv_hGJhpolZsseWmsEvebYLJpuqGZ1Jx3TfviRGvMDIRtIANrsVMhG-mdo9OfU8xpGwK0hwDKQYec1fVN6Hkan_HAyRO5ETRMMnxdX-tPyOQ/s640/251sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today is typical September in S. California’s South Bay region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sun is warm and the humidity
rising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In short, it’s a perfect day to
wander the shady paths of the Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Preserve, located in south Gardena, is the last remaining remnant
of the Dominguez Slough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This seasonal
wetland once covered areas now included in the cities of Gardena, Hawthorn and
Carson as well as unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The waters
of Dominguez Slough once drained into Dominguez Creek and thence to the Los Angeles
River and the Pacific Ocean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The water that flows through the Gardena
Willows Wetland Preserve today still drains into the Dominguez Channel
(formerly Dominguez Creek), the Los Angeles River (also now channelized) and
into the Pacific Ocean.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Dominguez Slough has always been treasured as a cool, shady oasis
in the hot Gardena Plain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trees of
the riparian (near water) woodland could be seen for miles as a ribbon of inviting
green.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The native inhabitants of the
South Bay – the Gabrielino-Tongva people – used plants that grew in/around the
wetland for food, shelter and other essentials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>South Bay settlers enjoyed the shade of the large Willows that grew
there and favored the Slough as a place for summer picnics and boating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What made Dominguez <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slough so inviting were the large willow,
cottonwood and sycamore trees that surrounded the wetland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amazingly, you can see some of the old Willows
even today!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tXZTya-1xGKjvjcqfEp01Mgqf52ZcYWGxFve7wDx0QDMGHuT2a9HOnaj02iA_TMD_A-3hqY27caviQtKweQ0qguoTEl1Kzkj3Dv8PAA_TEqYUx2UZhL86ZT62JiWAqII0iH7WIzWpYc/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tXZTya-1xGKjvjcqfEp01Mgqf52ZcYWGxFve7wDx0QDMGHuT2a9HOnaj02iA_TMD_A-3hqY27caviQtKweQ0qguoTEl1Kzkj3Dv8PAA_TEqYUx2UZhL86ZT62JiWAqII0iH7WIzWpYc/s400/047.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">The largest – and oldest - willows in the Preserve are Goodding’s
Black Willows (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Salix goodingii</i>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>species
is native throughout the U.S. Southwest and was named for Leslie Newton
Goodding (1880-1967), a botanist and collector.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Goodding was one of the first to collect plants in what would later
become the West’s famous national parks like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and
the Great Tetons. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The common name ‘Black
Willow’ refers to the tree’s bark, which is dark gray when wet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mature <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Goodding’s
Black Willows can grow to a height and width of 50 feet or more – and we have
some large ones in the Preserve. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can
see the Black Willows towering above the other vegetation in the picture above.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Willows and other local riparian species are unique in their
ability to survive both winter flooding and summer drought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Black Willows usually grow right in the water
for at least a few weeks/months in the winter. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>trees would die if their roots were under water
for several months, but Goodding’s Willow thrives in these conditions and also
survives the dry summer months, when streams and wetlands dry up entirely. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
adequate winter moisture to recharge the deep soil water is essential for their
survival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGrZLg-FJvk4xOEEY2lghIQsHmETHb82cUaZI4V6zhnD9ecpDV_jJzyTjaYkPeDPqJRdri89awkhSwb9vdndkaFxP5-Q0qJT6WywHI-AzprEabMVTX5VrfELCQxAX0q4wdQL17j8JP0s/s1600/074sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGrZLg-FJvk4xOEEY2lghIQsHmETHb82cUaZI4V6zhnD9ecpDV_jJzyTjaYkPeDPqJRdri89awkhSwb9vdndkaFxP5-Q0qJT6WywHI-AzprEabMVTX5VrfELCQxAX0q4wdQL17j8JP0s/s400/074sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Like many willows, Goodding’s Black Willows <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are not particularly long-lived. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Compared to local native oaks (which live to
500+ years) Black Willows usually live only 50-75 years (though we have a few
on the Preserve that are probably closer to 100 years old, with enormous trunks).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
is deceptive about willows is that while individual trunks may die, new trunks
can arise from old trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So even a ‘young’
trunk can belong to a much older tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJI9lmbNkjPImMuP9scTYeQJC4Jwc5n0hhBnkjLrM30V1OJRI-oopRzTgVnPKtZHHaQpkXyyesvG_MF2Al5Xiv4ehn-7dE2fcjcLZrxwmt3jWQpnR3ejxORG1FwEJRtsw-S9PXrVZ_eA/s1600/063sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJI9lmbNkjPImMuP9scTYeQJC4Jwc5n0hhBnkjLrM30V1OJRI-oopRzTgVnPKtZHHaQpkXyyesvG_MF2Al5Xiv4ehn-7dE2fcjcLZrxwmt3jWQpnR3ejxORG1FwEJRtsw-S9PXrVZ_eA/s400/063sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Willows are dioecious, which means there are separate male and
female trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have both on the
Preserve - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the only way you can tell
them apart is when they bloom (more on the sex life of willows in the
spring).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The leaves of the Goodding’s Black Willow look
rather like a peach leaf (see below).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are thin and medium green on both sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another large willow in the Preserve – the Arroyo
Willow – has thicker leaves that are shiny on top and white underneath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both lose their leaves in winter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7crWvSHubvZYw3pWPQsa_gXItluEYi3RKMvCbZ640ZhqYeYQIo1bvFPBUOJmaZGQoSb05fPKdyrTKGXH4fKcYMSVwx3ldaXeFJ17ghqtnA-APy1jVykgl6F1jB2K_DvaQtcLibzR40p4/s1600/054sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7crWvSHubvZYw3pWPQsa_gXItluEYi3RKMvCbZ640ZhqYeYQIo1bvFPBUOJmaZGQoSb05fPKdyrTKGXH4fKcYMSVwx3ldaXeFJ17ghqtnA-APy1jVykgl6F1jB2K_DvaQtcLibzR40p4/s400/054sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Humans have used Goodding’s Black and other willows for a long
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their wood is light and was used
for making shelters/homes, cooking utensils (wood spoons) and even wooden
legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Young stems were used in basket-making.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both
the leaves and bark were used to make medicinal teas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These teas contained <span style="color: #333333;">salicin
(salicylic acid) which is the active ingredient in aspirin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
were used for pain and fevers – much like aspirin is used today.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">September 21, 2012<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Constance M. Vadheim <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Friends of Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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Wandering the Willowshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05601597896850742932noreply@blogger.com0