caught in action at the santa fe dam nature center · the prickly pear june 2013 newsletter for...

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 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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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 CACTUS


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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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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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


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.




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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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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




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