By Jason KUROSU

After a long period of fundraising and reclamation of the 7.75 acres residing at the top of Rosemont Avenue, the Rosemont Preserve has reached its one-year anniversary. The Friends of the Rosemont Preserve, a committee of the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy, purchased the land last June after concerns mounted over the potential development of the land. Since June, the property has been transformed into a sanctuary for the native plants and animals.

On the morning of June 8, the Friends of the Rosemont Preserve will be celebrating the anniversary of the preserve’s purchase with a series of tours of the surrounding wildlife.

Volunteers (like those pictured at right) have spent the months since the purchase of the property removing invasive plant species from the area, such as the Castor bean plant and the Arundo. Those volunteers will be honored and thanked in a presentation held at the onset of the celebration. According to Barbara Goto of the Friends of the Rosemont Preserve, the first trail of the preserve will be dedicated to the people of La Crescenta.

Tours will then commence under the guidance of expert docents.

“We are fortunate to have access to several docents with areas of expertise pertinent to the Preserve such as earth sciences and local history,” said Goto.

Other docents leading the walking tours were trained by Ethnobotanist Richard Toyon. Goto said there is still a need for volunteers and docents.

“We are seeking interested docents for our next docent training to be held in September,” said Goto.

The Friends of the Rosemont Preserve recommend that all those who want to attend park their cars at Two Strike Park, 5107 Rosemont Ave., and walk up to the preserve. The gate will be open at 9:30 a.m. and the festivities begin at 10 a.m.

  Jason Kurosu