The weather didn’t cooperate for our last fall volunteer workday on December 7. The temperature was in the low 40s, and just at 10 a.m. when the workday was beginning, it started raining and didn’t quit until the workday was over. Brrrrr! Nonetheless, a great team of dedicated volunteers, including a large contingent of students from Mt. San Antonio College, were determined to complete the work we had planned, and they did!
Because of the rain, we don’t have photos of the volunteers at work, but these “before” and “after” photos show what they did.
The first project was to remove a few Trees-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) that the crew couldn’t quite get to on the November 2 workday. This task was not as easy as it might seem – some of those “little” trees were attached to gigantic roots! They’re all gone now. We’ll have to see if any more spring up next year.
Top: Emerging Trees-of-Heaven in the Foothill Blvd parkway east of the main gate. Bottom: The same area with Trees-of-Heaven removed. ©Nancy Hamlett.
Top: Emerging Trees-of-Heaven in the Foothill Blvd parkway west of the main gate. Bottom: The same area with Trees-of-Heaven removed. ©Nancy Hamlett.
The second project was clear overgrown vegetation from a little wash just west of the entry drive. The wash is also used as a trail, so we want to keep it clear both for accessibility and water flow. It was overdue for clearing, but now both students and water can pass freely. With the rain, we even go to see the wash in action!
Wash before (left) and after (right) clearing. ©Nancy Hamlett.
Wash before (left) and after (right) clearing. ©Nancy Hamlett.
Wash before (left) and after (right) clearing. ©Nancy Hamlett.
Wash before (left) and after (right) clearing. ©Nancy Hamlett.
Wash before (left) and after (right) clearing. ©Nancy Hamlett.
Spring semester workdays will begin with clearing the lake trail on January 18, when the weather promises to be more cooperative – 70° and sunny with zero chance of rain. We hope you can join us!