Advice from Owlie - California Biodiversity Week 2024

 Q: Dear Owlie, 

I’m new to your blog, and I’m so excited to have discovered your column! There’s so much valuable information here, and I can’t wait to share it with my friends and family. I’m currently studying ecosystems in school, and after a recent visit to the Chino Creek Wetlands Park, I’ve been wondering—what exactly is biodiversity, and why is it so important for places like the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park?

Sincerely, 
Wetlands Wonderer

A: Dear Wetlands Wonderer,
 
What a great question! 🌍 At the Park, we are actually celebrating California’s biodiversity this week. 😊 Let me break it down for you. 🌿

Biodiversity is the variety of all life on Earth, and it is what makes Earth so special! California boasts more species of plants and animals than any other state in the nation. From the tiniest insects to the tallest trees, every species plays a role in keeping our ecosystem healthy.
In fact, California’s communities and economy depend on its biodiversity, which forms the complex ecosystem that makes up California’s iconic landscapes. At the Chino Creek Wetlands, our diverse habitats support a vast array of life—plants, animals, and even microscopic organisms.

🌱 Why does biodiversity matter?

Some examples that may paint you a more vivid picture can be found in my home, the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park.

• Bees and butterflies are pollinator friends and are part of the ecosystem. Their work help pollinate the plants that give us food.
• Wetlands filter and clean water naturally, including the duckweed you can occasionally find on the surface of our Park ponds during warmer months.

Another often overlooked reason biodiversity matters is soil health. Diverse, climate-appropriate plants contribute to richer, more fertile soil, which in turn grows large, healthy plants that fill the atmosphere with rich oxygen for people and for all of my wetland pals! 🦉🦆🐰🐝🦋🐞🦎

Did you know that 75% of Earth’s land and 85% of the Earth’s wetland areas are significantly altered by human activities, leading to a loss in biodiversity? Let us work together to protect and preserve the interconnected web of life that sustains us all.

👧👦 Please share these three tips with your friends and family to help contribute toward the Earth’s biodiversity health:

• Consider planting California native plants: They provide food and shelter for local wildlife.
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Less waste means healthier habitats.
• No littering: Keep our Park and communities clean for all species by throwing away your trash and recyclables in the appropriate bins.

Let’s work together to protect California’s amazing biodiversity – not just during California Biodiversity Week, but every week!🌎✨

Thanks for your question, Wetlands Wonderer! Stay curious and keep exploring the wonders of nature at the Chino Creek Wetlands!
 
I’ll talk to you all soo(HOO)n!
 
Owlie

Advice from Owlie – World Water Week

Hi Owlie,

I just learned that this month we are celebrating World Water Week! Can you tell me more about it so I can tell all my friends and family! How can we get involved?

Sincerely,

Water-wise Warrior

Hi Water-wise Warrior,

So glad you're excited to learn about world water week! It’s going to be a total Hoot! World Water Week began in 1991, when Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) first introduced this week-long convention. According to SIWI, they are responsible for creating content and hosting an annual conference to discuss water-related topics, development and climate. They work together to raise awareness of the importance of water conservation. Kind of like my friend Wally and I do with all of you!

There are plenty of ways for you to participate as well! You can do simple things at home like educating yourself on water conservation and environmental stewardship! You can do this by playing waterwise games, reading educational books, watching documentaries or your local news, and especially by getting involved with your local water partners. This way you can learn various cool facts that you can share with your family and friends so they can be environmental stewards too!

Being mind-full of our water is key, friends. Try new habits like turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth, and reusing water when you can to do things like water our plants instead of letting that water go to waste!

These are both things you can do year-round to help conserve water! Here at the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park (CCW), we are always working towards responsible water use and conservation. We do this through the natural filtration of water in our ponds, planting California native and drought resistant plants, and of course using recycled water throughout the Park!

Thank you so much for being an environmental steward and participating in World Water Week, and don't forget to share everything you’ve learned with your friends and family!

Sincerely,

Owlie

P.S. Remember that purple pipes mean recycled water, do you see purple pipes in your neighborhood?

Advice from Owlie - The Spooky Special (Jumping Spider)

Q: Dear Owlie,

This week, I visited the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park with my Scout troop to earn my Water Scout badge, and guess what? I saw the spookiest spider I have ever seen! It was super tiny like the size of a dime, but that’s not all, this spider looked like it could fly! Can you help me figure out what type of spider this is?

Thanks Owlie!

Sincerely,

Spooky Spider Scout 

A: Dear Spooky Spider Scout,

HOO-HOO-Hurray! Congratulations on earning your Water Scout badge! Taking part in the Water Scout Badge Program is a great way to explore everything that the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park has to offer.

Now, to answer your question, it seems that the spooky spider you are describing is a jumping spider! These curious little spiders have two features that make them super unique. First, jumping spiders have amazing vision! Unlike most spiders, jumping spiders do not spin a web to catch prey. Instead, jumping spiders rely on their front set of eyes to measure the distance they need to leap and catch prey.

Second, as the name suggests, jumping spiders like to jump! In fact, they can jump up to 40 times their body size! Scientists suggest that jumping spiders can rapidly increase the blood pressure in their legs which gives them the boost they need to leap through great distances effortlessly.

Be on the lookout for the jumping spider during your next visit to the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

Advice from Owlie - Water Quality Month

Q: Dear Owlie,

I am officially back in school and am so excited! I think my teacher is planning to book a field trip to the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park this school year so that I can come visit you again! My teacher also told me that the month of August is National Water Quality Month. How can I celebrate? Thanks, Owlie!

Sincerely,

Swimming Sixth Grader

A: Dear Swimming Sixth Grader,

Welcome back to school! I hope you can come visit me as well! Be sure to let your teacher know there is also a virtual field trip option where you can visit me, learn about water, participate in engaging activities, and take a virtual tour of the Wetlands all from the comfort of your own classroom. In the meantime- Yes! I’d love to tell you about National Water Quality Month and how you can help celebrate.

In case you didn’t know, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the United Nations founded August as Water Quality Month in 2005. Since then, Water Quality Month has been dedicated to raising awareness of water-use efficiency and the importance of clean water on individual health, collective agricultural needs, and the needs of our environment.

IEUA's Water Quality Laboratory

My friends over at IEUA do this in a variety of ways from groundwater recharge to wastewater treatment and more, but they ALL help to secure a clean, reliable, and high-quality source of water for the region. There are many ways you can contribute as well such as picking up your trash (and recycling when possible!), taking shorter showers instead of baths, turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth, as well as collecting cold shower water while you wait for it to heat up and using it to water your plants.

Thank you for doing your part to be water-wise! I’ll talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

Advice from Owlie - California Ground Squirrel

Q: Dear Owlie,

I recently learned about keystone species. Can you help me understand what that is and if there are any keystone species at the Chino Creek Wetlands? Thank you!

Sincerely,

Species Specialist

A: Dear Species Specialist,

What an exciting topic! A keystone species is an organism that helps define an entire ecosystem. This means that if that organism were removed from the ecosystem, the environments they live in would change drastically.

One of the keystone species that can be found at the Chino Creek Wetlands is the California ground squirrel. California ground squirrels have a gray, brown, and white coat. Its shoulders, neck, and sides are a lighter gray, and its bushy tail is a combination of the colors that appear on its back. California ground squirrels are a keystone species because of its digging. Their digging helps to turn soil and move seeds, and their abandoned burrows serve as homes to many animals like burrowing owls and endangered frogs and salamanders.

Be sure to let me know if you see a California ground squirrel during your next trip to the wetlands!

I’ll talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

Advice From Owlie – Smart Irrigation Month

Q: Dear Owlie,

I heard that next month is Smart Irrigation Month. Can you help me understand what Smart Irrigation Month is and how I can participate? Thanks, Owlie!

Sincerely,

Water-Wise Wonderer

 

A: Dear Water-Wise Wonderer,

I am so glad you asked! Smart Irrigation Month is celebrated throughout the month of July and recognizes water-wise practices in our lawns and gardens and celebrates the technologies, products, and services that allow us to do so.

Not only is practicing smart irrigation beneficial to help alleviate our current drought, it’s also easy! Encourage your family and friends to celebrate Smart Irrigation Month by implementing smart irrigation practices such as adjusting sprinkler heads so that they hit the desired area, upgrading your sprinkler controller to a weather-based controller, repairing leaks, planting California natives, using mulch instead of grass, and grouping your plants by similar watering needs. My friends at the Inland Empire Utilities Agency also offer free water-use efficiency rebates and programs to help with all of the above! Be sure to tell them Owlie sent you 😉.

Thanks for the great question! I’ll talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

Advice from Owlie – Mallard Duck

Q: Dear Owlie,

I recently visited the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park and noticed two ducks that looked very similar but were different colors! One was all brown, while the other had green on its head. Can you help me figure out what ducks these are? Thanks, Owlie!

Sincerely,

Dabbling Duck

A: Dear Dabbling Duck,

I would be happy to assist you in figuring out what type of ducks these are!

It seems that you have come across one of the most popular duck species in the wetlands, the Mallard Duck! Mallards are large ducks with hefty bodies, rounded heads, and wide, flat bills. The reason the ducks looked very similar but had different colors is due to something called sexual dimorphism. This is when there is a difference in appearance between males and females in the same species.

For the Mallard Duck, males have iridescent green heads, bright yellow bills, and brown and black bodies. Female Mallards are a light brown color with orange and brown bills! Now you may be wondering…what is the reason for this difference in color? Let’s find out!

Male Mallards are a bright color because they want to attract mates, while female Mallards are a dull color because they want to camouflage in order to protect their babies during nesting season!

Keep an eye out for the Mallard Duck on your next visit to the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

Advice from Owlie – What’s an aquifer?

 Q: Dear Owlie,

This week in school we learned more about aquifers. I think aquifers are really interesting and I want to teach my brothers and sisters about them at home! Do you have any resources that can help me demonstrate how an aquifer works? Thanks Owlie!

Sincerely, 

Amazing Aquifers

A: Dear Amazing Aquifers,

I am happy to hear that you enjoyed learning about aquifers and want to teach your family about them. First, I’ll start by giving a brief introduction to what an aquifer is. An aquifer is an underground layer of rocks and soil holding water. Aquifers can be just a few feet under the soil or can sit hundreds of feet deep.

 We have an At-Home Activity that will demonstrate how an aquifer works. Our Edible Aquifer activity is a perfect way for you to learn all about aquifers and make your own yummy aquifer that you can eat after! This activity can be delicious, but please get permission from your parents or guardians before using any food products. It can be found here, on our YouTube page.

For this activity, you will need:

• 
  Edible aquifer visual aid
• Vanilla ice cream
• Clear soda
• Crushed chocolate cookies
• Sprinkles
• Gummy bears
• Drinking straws
• Spoons
• Clear cups
• Trash bags
• Paper towels

The cup represents the basin. The materials that go inside of the cup represent rainwater, grass, gravel and soil, clay, rock, and water! Watch our YouTube video to see how it all comes together to demonstrate how an aquifer works.

I hope you enjoy this tasty activity while you teach your family about aquifers!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

Advice from Owlie - Education Newsletters

Hi friends, I have an exciting announcement!
We started an Education Newsletter! The CCW Quarterly is the official education newsletter released quarterly by the Inland Empire Utilities Agency. Each edition includes education program updates, water awareness activities, blog posts, educational resources, and more. The CCW Quarterly Newsletter can be found on the IEUA website. We now have three editions for the months of July 2021,  October 2021 and January 2022.

We have many fun activities, including word scrambles, word searches, a coloring sheet, and more! You can download each one on our website. Don’t forget to send a picture of your completed activity to @ieuawater on Instagram to win a prize!

I hope you enjoy our newsletters and all the activity sheet inside!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

Advice from Owlie – Black Crowned Night Heron

Q: Dear Owlie,

I have been really interested in learning about birds lately! Can you teach me about a bird that can be found at the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park? Thanks, Owlie!

Sincerely,

Blue Bird

 

A: Dear Blue Bird,

 I would be happy to teach you about one of the many birds we have at the park! Today, let’s learn about the Black Crowned Night Heron! If you want to learn more about the other birds we have at the park, check out our previous blog posts or our Instagram @chinocreekwetlands.

The Black Crowned Night Heron is one of the few species of Herons that can be found at the park. While visiting the park, you may see not only the Black Crowned Night Heron, but the Great Blue Heron or Green Heron too! To tell the difference between this heron and other herons, remember this species has black on their heads and down their back, like the name “Black Crowned” says. These are shorter birds and often can be found sitting perched in the ponds. When Black Crowned Night Herons fly, they tilt their head which makes it look like they do not have a neck. This species of heron can be found in wetlands throughout North America.

Keep an eye out for the Black Crowned Night Heron on your next visit to the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

Advice from Owlie – California Buckwheat

Q: Dear Owlie,

I recently visited the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park. There were so many really cool plants, but one specifically stood out to me. It was red AND white, and it had what looked like little bunches of flowers. The last time I was at the park, I remember seeing it, but it was only a dark red color. 

Now, it looks a little different, but I know it is the same plant. Do you know what plant this is Owlie?

Sincerely,

Plant Power

A: Dear Plant Power,

I agree, there are so many amazing plants in the park! We have 1.7 miles of trails with about 22,000 various water-wise plants throughout the park.

The one you are referring to sounds like California Buckwheat! California Buckwheat is a water-wise plant species that is native to California. As you mentioned, this plant can look different in each season.

In the summer and fall when it is hot and dry out, it can be seen looking mostly dark red (pictured in the top left circle). Sometimes it will have a few white flowers, but not as many as it has during the spring. Towards the end of fall and winter, it can be seen as dark red and white, just as you described (pictured in the middle circle). During the end of winter and through spring, it can be seen looking mostly white and pink (pictured in the top right circle).

Butterflies and bees love California Buckwheat! You can find them on California Buckwheat throughout the year, but will see a lot of them during the springtime when its flowers are white and pink.

This is a really cool plant to keep an eye out for as you visit the park throughout each season to watch it change colors!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

 

Advice from Owlie –What’s a watershed?

Q: Dear Owlie,

I recently learned a little bit about what a watershed is! I found it so interesting to learn about, but I am having a little trouble fully understanding them. Do you know of any activities I can do at home to help me understand watersheds better? Thanks Owlie!

Sincerely,

                                                          Watershed Wonderer

A: Dear Watershed Wonderer,

I am so happy that you learned what a watershed is and want to know more! For our friends who may not be too sure what a watershed is, it is any area of land that drains into a lake, river, or ocean! Watersheds also include all of the people, houses, farms, roads, factories, animals, mountains, and deserts. Here at the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park, we are part of the Santa Ana River Watershed.

We have an At Home Activity that teaches all about watersheds. Our Enviroscape activity is a perfect way for you to learn all about watersheds and make your own! It can be found here, on our YouTube page.

This activity will guide you through how pollutants, anything that is added to the environment and can be harmful, move through our watersheds.

To do this activity, you will need:

• Aluminum foil
• Different sized cups
• A medium sized plastic container
• 2 different colored Kool-Aid mixes
• Chocolate sprinkles
• A spray bottle
• Markers
• Paper towels

You can find a printout of a watershed to color and label on our website if you would like to follow along this way instead.

Did you know that everything that we do impacts our watershed? That’s why it is so important to pick up our trash and keep harmful chemicals out of our water to keep it clean!

I hope you have lots of fun doing this activity and learning about watersheds!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

Advice from Owlie - A Walk in the Park

Q: Dear Owlie,

My family and I are planning another trip out to the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park soon! I am so excited to spend time outside, and I love seeing all of the plants and birds in the park! What is your favorite part of the park Owlie?

Sincerely,

Eager Explorer

A: Dear Eager Explorer,

I am so happy you and your family are going to visit the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park! There is always so much to see while visiting.

My favorite part of the park? That’s definitely a hard one! I agree that I love seeing all my animal friends in the park and all the beautiful plants too, but I also enjoy relaxing in different areas of the park! Some of my favorite spots are the Pipe Garden, Observation Tower and Watershed Bridge. Today I am going to tell you about the Watershed Bridge.

The Watershed Bridge is a demonstration of how water falls from the top of the watershed (mountains) to the end of the watershed into the ocean (water). This is a perfect spot to stop and watch the birds and ducks from afar!

Did you know that September 25 is National Public Lands Day? That would be a perfect day for you and your family to visit the park!

I hope you enjoy your visit, and say hi to all of my animal friends for me!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

Advice From Owlie - World Water Week

Q: Dear Owlie,

I just went back to school, and we are learning about wetlands! My teacher taught us that wetlands can help make water clean. I really enjoyed learning about this, and wanted to ask if you can tell me more about it?

Sincerely,

Wetland Warrior

A: Dear Wetland Warrior,

I love talking about wetlands! I am excited to hear that you are learning about them in school. Before we talk about how wetlands keep water clean, let’s remind our friends what a wetland is. A wetland is an area characterized by the existence of water, soil and vegetation (plants). Wetlands can be both wet and dry. 

It’s perfect timing that you bring this up because August 23-27 is World Water Week! Wetlands provide many services that help our environment such as providing a habitat for wildlife, act as a resting point for migratory birds and storing floodwaters. For now, we are going to focus in on how they help keep our water clean. 

Wetlands act as natural filtration systems. They can trap and neutralize sewage waste as well as help break down toxic substances. The plants found in wetlands absorb nutrients and make sure the environment does not reach toxic levels. This helps keep a safe and clean environment for us and the wildlife that live in wetlands. 

Another way wetlands help our water supply, is by acting like a big sponge. Wetlands soak up water and slow the water flow to prevent flooding. This also helps silt settle out of the water.

Now when you visit our Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park, you can tell your friends and family all about how wetlands help keep water clean!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

Advice from Owlie- Hamburger Water Model

Q: Dear Owlie,

My family and I have been having a lot of BBQs this summer! It is so fun and I always enjoy having a yummy cheeseburger! There are so many ingredients that make up a cheeseburger, but I started thinking... it must take a lot of water to make everything that goes inside! Can you please tell me about the amount of water it takes to make a cheeseburger? Thanks Owlie! 

Sincerely,

Cheerful Cheeseburger 

A: Dear Cheerful Cheeseburger,

You are correct! It does take a lot of water to make a cheeseburger. When making a cheeseburger, there are many ingredients that require a specific amount of water. For example, we have the bread, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and the hamburger patty. 

Before I tell you, do you want to guess how many gallons it takes to make a cheeseburger??

*Drum roll*… It takes about 698 gallons of water to make a cheeseburger! That is a lot of water! The item that takes the most amount of water to make is the hamburger patty. This is because the meat comes from cows, and cows need to drink a lot of water to live. 

Since cheeseburgers are so yummy and popular, we created an at home activity all about them! In this activity, you’ll get to color your own cheeseburger while you learn about the amount of water it takes to make one.

You can watch our Hamburger At Home Activity Video on YouTube and access the corresponding worksheet on the IEUA website!

I hope you enjoy your summer! Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

Advice from Owlie – Garden in Every School® Program

Q: Dear Owlie,

A friend of mine told me about a water-wise garden their class recently applied for as part of the Garden in Every School® Program. I’d love to learn more about that program and see if it’s something my class can apply for too! Thanks Owlie!

Sincerely,

Garden Guru

A: Dear Garden Guru,

The Garden in Every School® Program is one of my favorite educational programs offered by my friends at the Inland Empire Utilities Agency. I’d be happy to give you some more information!

Since 2004, IEUA has reached over 19,000 students with its award-winning Garden in Every School® program. This program educates students about water-wise usage through a beautiful garden landscape filled with water-wise plants and efficient irrigation!

In order to apply, applicants must first participate in a mandatory introductory workshop. Then, selected applicants are awarded a grant for IEUA to assist in the installation of their water-wise garden! The garden is designed, created and installed through a series of hands-on work sessions with teachers, parents, students, and program staff.

In fact, my friends at St. Joseph School in Upland recently held their own garden dedication ceremony to celebrate the installation of their first water-wise garden! Check out photos of their garden below! It might even give you inspiration for a garden of your own! 😉

I highly encourage you to talk to your teacher about applying for this awesome program. Interested applicants can visit IEUA’s website for more information!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

Advice From Owlie - Cinnamon Teal

Q: Dear Owlie,

A couple months ago you taught us about one of your favorite animals at the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park – the American Coot! Can you please tell us about another animal we might expect to see at the park? I’m looking forward to visiting again soon! Thank you Owlie!

Sincerely,

Wetland Fanatic

A: Dear Wetland Fanatic,

I’d love to! This month let’s talk about a duck called the Cinnamon Teal!

Like Mallard ducks, male Cinnamon Teals look visibly different than female Cinnamon Teals. Males are a cinnamon color with red eyes and a black beak while females have brown colored feathers in order to camouflage with her surroundings- something that helps protect herself and her babies. In fact, females are so protective of their offspring that they may put on something called a “broken wing act” to distract prey from their young. While Cinnamon Teals do not migrate very far, they may migrate to new locations daily. However, they love being close to water so the Chino Creek Wetlands is the perfect spot for them!

See if you can spot a Cinnamon Teal on your next visit to the park and let me know what species you’d like me to talk about next!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

Advice from Owlie - Virtual Field Trips

Q: Dear Owlie,

Last school year, my class and I took a really fun field trip to the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park! Since we are currently doing virtual learning, is there a way for my class to take a virtual field trip instead? I would love to share this information with my teacher!

Sincerely,

                                                          Park Pro

A: Dear Park Pro,

I am so glad you asked! Yes, IEUA offers virtual field trips through Owlie’s Virtual Adventures!

Scheduling a virtual field trip is as easy as scheduling one of our in-person field trips (which are not currently offered). First, visit the Owlie’s Virtual Adventures webpage on IEUA’s website and scroll down until you see the option to book a virtual field trip. From there, you will be redirected to a survey where your teacher can choose the type of field trip (fully pre-recorded or a hybrid of pre-recordings with a live Q&A), the activities that best fit their curriculum and grade level as well as the date and time. Once they click submit, a member of our team will reach out to them with any materials or information they might need and then they’re good to go! How coo(HOO)l is that!

I hope to see you and your class in a virtual field trip soon and be sure to come back and let me know how it was afterwards!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

Advice From Owlie - How to Become a Water Scout

Hi everyone! This month’s post is an exciting one! For the past couple of months, my good friends at the Inland Empire Utilities Agency and I have been working together to offer a brand new badge program for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts called… the Water Scout Badge Program! Woo(HOO)!

The Water Scout Badge Program is a fun way to learn all about our water resources, water conservation methods, environmental stewardship, native plants, and even takes you on an exciting scavenger hunt through the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park. (My favorite part of the book!) Plus, once you’ve completed the workbook, you’ll receive your very own Water Scout badge and become a certified Water Scout!

To take advantage of this new program and earn your Water Scout badge, download the Water Scout Workbook from IEUA’s website. Be sure to check out the other programs offered through Owlie’s Virtual Adventures, too!  

I can’t wait to see all of your smiling faces at the park! While you’re there,
please be sure to stay safe by adhering to local safety guidelines.

Have fun on your journey to become a Water Scout and I’ll talk to you soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

 

Advice From Owlie - Sage

Q: Dear Owlie,

What is your favorite plant at the Chino Creek Wetlands? Mine is the sage because of its refreshing scent! Do you have any of those at the park?

Sincerely,

Petal to the Metal

A: Dear Petal to the Metal,

That’s a great question! It’s hard to pick a favorite plant, but I’d have to agree that sage is one of my favorites! In fact, the park is home to both white sage and purple sage, so you’ll surely see sage upon your next visit!

Sage is actually quite interesting. Did you know white sage is part of the “mint” family? Many Native American tribes in the region considered it to be a sacred plant that cleanses, purifies and provides protection. The leaves of the plant are whitish-green and when you rub them between your thumb and forefinger, a refreshing, cleansing scent is released, which is the same scent you mentioned! Native Americans used this to make medicines for many illnesses and to ward off negative energy.

Who knew one plant could have so much history? Thank you for the great question!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie