Volunteer Update:  Early Fall, 2021

Volunteer Update: Early Fall, 2021

In the Rhododendron Garden, volunteers have been busy around the rock creek area and upper Summit Path. Many thousands of small weeds were pulled, lots of blackberry dug, and one bed was mulched. Combined with the fine gravel work done to repair the trails, this...
Wildflower of the Month: Early Fall, 2021

Wildflower of the Month: Early Fall, 2021

Coyote Brush (Baccharis pilularis)  Coyote Brush is a deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, medium-sized shrub that blooms at a useful time of year, providing a nectar source for skipper butterflies and other native insects in the fall. Although it is more common at the...
What’s Bloomin’: Early Fall, 2021

What’s Bloomin’: Early Fall, 2021

Korean Chrysanthemum Dendranthema sawadskii Korean Chrysanthemums are the latest blooming of all chrysanthemums, beginning their show in early autumn and lasting until a killing frost. They come in a wide variety of colors, from deep reds and magentas to pale yellows,...
Wildflower of the Month:  September, 2021

Wildflower of the Month: September, 2021

Douglas Aster (Symphyotrichum subspicatum) A long and late blooming season – August through September – makes the Douglas Aster a valuable plant for skipper butterflies and many other pollinators. The seeds are taken by small birds. Douglas Aster is easy...
Late-Summer Update: 2021

Late-Summer Update: 2021

Summer is coming to an end. After several severe heat waves and an extended drought, fall will soon arrive. Fall is a busy season for Friends activities in the park, with new Free the Forest and Walking Tour events now posted in calendars under Activities on the...