Happy New Year from the Site of Our New Micro-forest

We’re thrilled to announce that Nature Park will soon be home to a thriving micro-forest. In December, volunteers cleared mulch from a 1,000-square-foot area next to the golf course driving range, preparing the ground for something special. Now we’re ready for the next steps:

January 17: Micro-Forest Workshop

Join us to learn what micro-forests are, why this approach outperforms traditional plantings, and how you can apply these concepts in your own yard. Katherine Pakradouni of Seed to Landscape is leading the project and will share her expertise on this innovative method. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just curious about healing and stewarding our local landscapes, you won’t want to miss this! Learn more at LA Micro Forests.

February 21: Planting Party

Help us plant approximately 121 coastal sage scrub and oak/walnut woodland plants. All hands welcome!

A Skeptic is Ready to Try

I’ll admit—I started out skeptical. But Katherine’s patience, persistence, and track record won me over. She’s already installed five micro-forests and has thoughtfully adapted this concept (originally developed for very different climates) to meet the unique conditions of our Southern California Mediterranean ecosystems. With each installation, she refines her approach, and the results speak for themselves.

I’m now genuinely excited to be part of this movement. Join us as we heal the land, experiment with methods that reduce weeding, watering, and maintenance, and create vibrant woodland habitat faster than traditional approaches allow. Everyone is welcome—let’s grow something extraordinary together!

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: 
Friends of South Pasadena Nature Park and Seed to Landscape,
with funding from South Pasadena Beautiful.

December 2025 Volunteer Day

As mentioned above, the work has begun. The November Volunteer Day was rained out, so we rescheduled it for the third Saturday in December. The turnout was impressive, with around 50 people, many new to the park, attending. With so many hands on board, we made quick work of clearing mulch from the 1,000 square foot site. 

Rain, Rain, Rain

As I write this newsletter, rain is falling gently outside. About a week ago, I visited the park during a similar rainfall. Even then, water filled the gully along the park’s eastern edge. We’re planning to create a rain garden in this area to help more rainwater infiltrate the ground before it runs off into the Arroyo Seco flood control channel. These pictures show some of the flow we hope to capture.