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The Prickly Pear June 2013 Newsletter For Galster Park Nature
Center, Glendora Nature Center and Santa Fe Dam Nature Center
(San Gabriel Valley NC Network)
1
The New Newsletter
As you can see the title is now The Prickly Pear Newsletter.
This newsletter now covers three Nature Cen-
ters. The Nature Centers are managed by San Gabriel Mountains
Regional Conservan-
cy (SGMRC), a nonprofit public benefit corporation. SGMRC. All
three Nature Cen-
ters are staffed by volunteers whom are knowledgeable of the
fauna and flora. All the
volunteers devote their time to the organization. There are a
number of volunteer op-
portunities that may interest you as Docents, Trail Guides,
Office Personnel, Program
Presenters and Program Assistants at the Santa Fe Dam and
Galster Wilderness Park
Nature Center. Galster Park is located at 1620 Aroma Drive
West Covina, CA 91791.
The Prickly Pear will inform the reading public of all events
that are scheduled so that
plans can be made to attend the functions.
The Prickly Pear was chosen due to the commonness of the cactus
through-out the
San Gabriel Valley. In this issue there is an article of the
Prickly Pear cactus. If there
are any comments forward them to
[email protected] if anyone
would like to purchase a patch of our nature centers they are
available at the centers for
$5.
Caught in Action at the Santa Fe Dam Nature Center
By Frank ‘Bronzeagle’ Ayala
East of the Nature Center is a service road that I have had my
eye on. With my camera in hand
and walking stick aka snake stick I headed out there. Of course
with my John Deere cap and
water. It was on the third Saturday of April after Richard
Montijo led a small band of bird
watchers but that is another story.
mailto:[email protected]
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The Prickly Pear June 2013 Newsletter For Galster Park Nature
Center, Glendora Nature Center and Santa Fe Dam Nature Center
(San Gabriel Valley NC Network)
2
On the way there I had to make sure I stayed to the right of the
pavement so the
bike riders would
have plenty of room
to go around. I found
some Mustard plants
and one Penstemon
that was flowering. I
came to the service
road wishing I had
some gaiters. Gaiters
are used for protec-
tion from snakebites,
thorns and briars.
I came across some flowering Phacelia that had a Painted Lady
Butterfly. I got my camera
ready but I was too slow, it flew off not wanting to be
photographed. Once again I spotted the
Lady and I start shooting photos. It was unknown to me that a
visitor had popped into the
photo until I got home. A Carpenter Bee was flying by and caught
both in action. I continued
on the service road. It intersected another service road that
led to the bike path where it curves
around the Nature Center. It was a great walk with some great
photos.
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The Prickly Pear June 2013 Newsletter For Galster Park Nature
Center, Glendora Nature Center and Santa Fe Dam Nature Center
(San Gabriel Valley NC Network)
3
THE PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS
By Frank ‘Bronzeagle’ Ayala
The Prickly Pear Cactus can be found through-out the Santa Fe
Dam Nature Area. It is also
found through-out the San Gabriel Valley and up in the San
Gabriel Mountains to about 2000
feet in elevation.
The flowers of the Prickly Pear come in many colors. Yellow,
Pink, Orange, Orange-Red and
Light Pink are the colors I have seen and photographed. The
yellow flower in the photo has a
bee. The pointy buds on the top of the pads are flowers that are
going to be blooming in several
days. They have been blooming since the beginning of April here
around the Nature Center.
When the flowers have bloomed they are the precursor to the
fruit of the Prickly Pear. The
fruit known better as Tunas can be used to make jams and other
sweet delicacies.
The California Thrasher and Cactus Wren both eat the fruit.
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The Prickly Pear June 2013 Newsletter For Galster Park Nature
Center, Glendora Nature Center and Santa Fe Dam Nature Center
(San Gabriel Valley NC Network)
4
Santa Fe Dam Nature Center Events June 2013
Saturday June 1, 2013 Nature Walk 10am – 11am Come and join the
nature walk
and learn of the plants and nature of the Nature Center. Bring
water and of course your cam-
era. Also comfortable shoes and smell the wonderful scents of
the blooming flowers.
Saturday June 8, 2013 Special Speakers Presentation: Living in
Alaska. 10am – 11am
Come and hear Don and Xochitl Horton talk about living in
Alaska. Don a lifelong resident of
Alaska and Xochitl a Los Angeles transplant will talk of the
adventures of Alaska. If you have
ever wanted to visit Alaska you have to come to this. If you
ever wondered what Alaska was
like come hear first-hand.
Saturday June 15, 2013 Bird Walk 10am – 11am This walk will be
led by Richard
Montijo. Come and see as well as hear the different sounds of
each bird.
Saturday June 22, 2013 Habitat Rangers and S.T.E.M with Nancy
Begg 10am – 11am
Saturday June 29, 2013 Summer Buggy Day 10am – 11am Come and see
what is bug-
ging the Nature Center. Terry Young will teach what bugs are out
for the summer. This class
happens every three month so don’t miss this one.
Upcoming Events at Glaster Park
1620 Aroma, Ave West Covina 91791
2013 FREE SUMMER PROGRAMS
Friday, June 28th 7pm-9pm Equestrian Night. Gotta love horsey
business!!!
Come meet Ashley Munson, our guest speaker, and her horse
Gibson. Ashley knows every-
thing there is to know about horses. You will also learn about
the West Covina Horse-
Mounted Enforcement Team, and if you are lucky you will even get
to see what a horse
dressed in “uniform” looks like.
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The Prickly Pear June 2013 Newsletter For Galster Park Nature
Center, Glendora Nature Center and Santa Fe Dam Nature Center
(San Gabriel Valley NC Network)
5
Friday, July 12th 7pm-9pm Bugs Are Your Friends! Come join
us
for this fun presentation on the ins and outs of bugs. Teresa
Young from the San
Gabriel Mountains Regional Conservancy (SGMRC) will teach us
about spineless critters that
are most commonly found in the Los Angeles Basin.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Call us at (626) 919‐0715
Email us at [email protected]
My First Cactus Wren
By Frank ‘Bronzeagle’ Ayala
I joined the Bird Walk this past Saturday that was led by
Richard Montijo Master Field Orni-
thologist. We were on the west side loop trail just past the
crossover when I heard Richard
whisper, There’s a Cactus
Wren. I turned around
with camera at the ready
and seen the Cactus Wren
fly up to the bare branches.
I had the zoom lens so I was
able to get a decent photo. I
had the camera set so the
shutter would keep shoot-
ing photos as long as I had
the trigger pressed.
mailto:[email protected]
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The Prickly Pear June 2013 Newsletter For Galster Park Nature
Center, Glendora Nature Center and Santa Fe Dam Nature Center
(San Gabriel Valley NC Network)
6
Everyone in the group turned around with binoculars at the ready
to see the elu-
sive Cactus Wren. It stayed on the tree for a couple of minutes
letting everyone
in the group get a great look at him. Later we came upon his
nest. A job well done goes out to
Richard Montijo!
Girls Scouts Visit the Nature Center
The Girls Scouts were camping at the Group Camping area and
several troops came over to
see the Nature Center. Norma Ayala informed the Ladies of the
Troops of all the exhibits. Af-
terwards I took the Girl
Scouts on a short nature
walk. In the photo sup-
plied by Troop 1905 from
Hermosa Beach. The Girl
Scouts were given a hands
on tour.
They were able to smell
the differences between
Black, Purple and White
Sage. They were given a
small amount of each and
White Sage was the favor-
ite of the three.
Wild Cucumber gourd was a hit with the Troops as well as the
leaders and parents.
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The Prickly Pear June 2013 Newsletter For Galster Park Nature
Center, Glendora Nature Center and Santa Fe Dam Nature Center
(San Gabriel Valley NC Network)
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The Prickly Pear June 2013 Newsletter For Galster Park Nature
Center, Glendora Nature Center and Santa Fe Dam Nature Center
(San Gabriel Valley NC Network)
8
CTUC PROUDLY PRESENTS
OPERATION SUPER
CANYON SWEEP-2013
WE NEED YOU
SATURDAY, JUNE 8th, 2013 8 A.M. TO 3 P.M.
WE WILL BE CLEANING UP THE SAN GABRIEL CANYON.
SAN GABRIEL, OHV AREA, SAN GABRIEL CANYON ROAD,
HWY 39, JUST NORTH OF THE EAST FORK BRIDGE AND
NORTH OF AZUSA
LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED TO VOLUNTEER AND FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
PLEASE CONTACT:
BARRY WETHERBY AT 818-957-1455 E-MAIL [email protected]
3700 Santa Carlotta St., La Crescenta, Ca. 91214
TERRY KAISER at 818-262-0315 E-MAIL [email protected]
WE NEED LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS.
CTUC IS A 501 [C] (3) NON-PROFIT CORPORATION,
ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE!
ID # 95-4690961 & 2028091
BBB #13191248
mailto:[email protected]
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The Prickly Pear June 2013 Newsletter For Galster Park Nature
Center, Glendora Nature Center and Santa Fe Dam Nature Center
(San Gabriel Valley NC Network)
9