Dispatch From the Restoration

Dispatch from the Restoration

The reward of rewilding

For the past year, I have been on a quest to plant more native plants in the local park. The land was habitat for the endangered Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly. The habitat was lost when some ball fields were built at the park. At one time, the butterfly was thought to be extinct; it had not been seen since the early eighties, but was rediscovered on March 10, 1994, in San Pedro, California. Although I don’t expect the butterfly to return anytime soon, I am working to continue the previous efforts of a neighbor to plant more natives in the park. Other species, such as the Coastal Cactus Wren and California Gnatcatcher, which are threatened due to habitat loss, also benefit from the addition of native plants. Despite initial challenges, working in the park and witnessing its changes continues to motivate me.

In April 2025, despite my efforts to flag the plants and notify City staff that I had done so, some plants were destroyed when the maintenance crew conducted its annual plowing of the lower park.

Native lupines blooming in the park. All photos by the author.

Results of an April 2025 mowing of the park the blue represents what is left of the flags I planted to mark the native plants I transplanted.

But a year onward, and it’s not all despair. I gather hope in nature’s and my resilience.

The native ahsy leaf buckwheat planted by a neighbor responded well to my weeding efforts:

Ashy Leaf Buckwheat Summer 2024, clashing with non native grasses and non native prickly ox tongue

Summer 2024 when non native grass and ashy leaf buckwheat met

Summer 2025, the same ashy leaf buckwheat.

The survival and health of the five California Sagebrushes are also inspiring. My regular watering and weeding have seemed to pay off.

March 2025 California Sage Brush volunteers for transplanting

California Sage Brush transplants

April 2025 California Sage Brush

September 2025 California Sage Brush in the same location

The same location in May 2026

Although gophers destroyed a rare locoweed earlier this year. I came across an ally in the form of a gopher snake during one of my late afternoon walks. I hope it has found time to visit the western part of the park.

An ally in the restoration, gopher snake looking for take out.

The park has been a source of resolve. The growth of the plants, the maintenance crew's care not to harm the native plants this year, seeing birds among the shrubs, and bumblebees enjoying a Purple Sage only inspire me onward.