Agata Popęda here, ready for spring. Trees and bushes outside my house are in full bloom. While winter has so far been dry (not a good sign for nature), it’s hard to not enjoy flowers, birds and warm weather.
There are a lot of outside activities that involve preparing gardens, parks and beaches for the spring season. Most of them take place this Saturday, Feb. 22. Energetic volunteers will plant, rake and clean up; no previous experience is required.
Salinas Valley Pride is partnering again with the California State Parks – Monterey District, organizing a morning of volunteer work and queer community fun 9am-noon this Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Fort Ord Dunes State Park. “For our sixth LGBTQ+ volunteer day, we'll be heading to the CA State Parks’ bunker restoration plot for our final planting event of the season,” the organizers wrote in an email. The volunteers will be rewarded with coffee and breakfast burritos.
And that is only the beginning. The same Saturday, 10am-1pm, planting at Marina Dunes Preserve is taking place, organized by the Habitat Stewardship Project, working with the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District. Volunteers are needed to help plant native plants in the park. This is an all-ages event. Tools, gloves and snacks will be provided.
A parallel event will take place in Natividad Creek Park in Salinas (10am-1pm this Saturday, Feb. 22), which includes picking up litter, pruning shrubs and pulling harmful invasive weeds throughout the park. Snacks, water and tools will be provided. Bring a reusable water bottle if possible.
Also this Saturday, Central Coast Wetlands Group and Coastal Conservation and Research Inc. hold a native plant planting day in Castroville called Wetlands in Bloom: A Planting Day for Pollinators—9am-1pm. These ecosystems are home to an abundance of wildlife, the organizers say.
If this Saturday doesn’t work for you, you can volunteer at Garrapata State Park south of Carmel from 9am-noon on Tuesday, Feb. 25. This project helps support sensitive wildlife, like the Smith’s blue butterfly and multiple rare plants that call Garrapata home. Volunteers will plant native species such as Seacliff buckwheat and California sagebrush. Ages 8 and older are welcome. Also coming up, Fort Ord National Monument Planting will take place 10am-1pm on Saturday, March 1.
If you know about any other spring prep events, let us know. Have a great weekend.
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