Community Volunteers Under the Rain
January 20, 2024, was our first community volunteer event of the New Year at the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook State Park. Every third Saturday of the month, Nature Nexus Institute and California State Parks Foundation work together to bring the community together for habitat restoration. The morning started with bluish-gray clouds that mixed with the darker gray clouds. The temperature was cool, and the ground was dewy. You could smell that the rains were coming. It was quiet, but the nature around us was anything but quiet. The Northern Mockingbird called out to be heard, asserting its presence and stared as the NNI Fellows hauled the tools for the work site. We praised the weather. Los Angeles does not get rained on often, and we waited patiently for the first drops of rain to fall on our heads.
The soft raindrops began when the volunteers arrived and gathered around CSPF’s sign-in table. Excitement peaked through our smiles that many volunteers showed up this cold, wet morning. Walking down the hill and arriving at the work site, returning volunteers grabbed their gloves and handpicks, beginning the first removal of invasive vegetation of the year. New volunteers gathered patiently under the EZ-up as NNI fellows gave introductions and instructions. Black mustard, wild radish, and garland chrysanthemum had been sprouting out of the ground, still small enough that they had not yet flowered. Volunteers worked carefully to remove the whole plant from the roots. Little invertebrates would crawl out from where the invasive plants once sat.
The rain teased us. It fell gently on our heads and shoulders at first. Then, it fell quickly and heavier. For those of us with no hoods, the raindrops began to coil and shape our hair. Then, the rain decided to go on and off about three times before deciding just to continue its soft raindrops for the rest of the event. The soil, with the rainfall, started a reaction, creating mud. Nature became a mad scientist. We were wet and muddy, but we did not care.
California bush-sunflower, Coastal goldenbush, California buckwheat, and Bladderpod were carefully selected to be planted at the work site. These native plants lovingly grown in the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook greenhouse were eager to be planted in the ground. Volunteers worked together to find places where the native plants would thrive. The ground became soft with the will of the rain. Gently removing the native plants from their shells, their soil bed softly falling and their roots dangling as each volunteer placed them into their new soil beds. Wire gopher cages surround the native plants, protecting them from harm.
In the end, the volunteers and nature worked together in the continuance of healing our local environment. The older native plants embraced the rain along with their younger sisters, who were newly planted. The stream of rainwater ran against the asphalt road. Volunteers stood in the stream, and the stream slowly cleaned the mud off their shoes. We laughed at the fact that the rain really got us wet. Who would’ve thought LA’s rainfall would come down on us after so many days of pure sunshine? We praised the rain once again as each of us went our separate ways. It is truly inspiring when our communities come together to be in nature.
If you feel inspired to join us and broaden our community in nature, you are very welcome to join our community volunteer events and nature walks at the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. We would love to have you there.
We thank the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for their funding and support for NNI programs like this.
