Flash Flood Watch today and tomorrow!
Taken from the National Weather Service https://www.weather.gov/sgx/
Archive for Around the District
The Monarchs are HERE!!
We are so excited to see the Monarch Butterflies coming back to enjoy our butterfly garden. Board member Rose was gracious enough to bring some caterpillars from her garden to ours since we weren’t seeing any and she had an abundance. They almost immediately went into a chrysalis stage and we are awaiting the release.
This year, we have a gate around the garden that they are forming on and we have decided to let nature take it’s course rather than bringing them inside. They look like they’re doing a pretty good job of camouflaging themselves. We’ll keep you updated on their progress.
What’s in your garden?
Over the winter I watched squirrels burry peanuts in our butterfly garden, never thinking they would sprout. Surprisingly enough, as I was pulling weeds, I pulled one that had PEANUTS as it’s roots! I was so excited to see so many more still planted. I looked it up and can’t wait to see the final results. Thanks squirrels!
If you’re interested in the video I watched, click here.
Has Mother Nature gifted you with any unexpected foliage? We’d love to see it.
Update from The PCWD Office
Welcome to Summer!!
The sun is shining, the plants are blooming, and we are looking forward to seeing happy faces outside.
While the mask requirements have eased across the state, we are still staying extra diligent with asking people to mask up before coming into the office and limit amount of people that are in at a time.
Have you lost a pair of reader glasses? We have a pair here in the office that were left.
Bills are due July 1st. There is a $15.00 late fee that will be applied to all accounts that are not paid by the due date.
At this point, I’m not sure I would rely on the postal service to get your check to us in time but you can always drop off your payment night or day by coming in and saying hi or thru the slot on the front door.
You can log onto your account online and pay with a Visa/Mastercard/Discover, or E-check. There is a merchant fee of $3.00 per hundred spent for this option. To register your account online, you will need your account number and the Municipality Code of PineCoveWDCA. Go to our website at www.pcwd.org and click the “Billing” tab. Follow the links from there.
If you are signed up for the ACH Auto Draft payment option, your bill will be automatically paid on the 1st.
Spring has Sprung at PCWD
The sun is shining and things are starting to bloom!
It’s not too late to start your own Monarch Butterfly garden. Come by the office for FREE milkweed seeds.
We’ll keep you updated here on the status of our garden(s).
Mulch and Wood Chips Available
Thinking gardening time is just around the corner? Just in time for spring cleaning, the PCWD offers free mulch and wood chips to its customers. If you are interested in either wood chips or mulch just come on by the Dutch Flats location anytime. Both are great for gardening, holding in moisture of soil and they make a nice added touch to spruce up your yard or potted plants.
You must bring your own materials to gather or shovel and haul the mulch or wood chips away. If you are planning on gathering a large amount on your own, please let us know in the office as we want to be sure there is enough for everyone.
If you need a larger load of either call the office and we can deliver a dump truck load for $125 delivery charge.
APRIL SPECIAL
Get a dump truck load of WOOD CHIPS for ONLY $75.00
Our deliveries are around 9 cubic yards and you just need to indicate where to leave the pile.
Xeriscaping
I recently came across this term and wanted to learn more about it. Xeriscaping is a way to landscape with using minimal water.
When searching xeriscaping, I found that there are 7 basic principles:
* Sound landscape planning and design.
* Limitation of turf (commonly referred to as lawn) to appropriate, functional areas.
* Use of water efficient plants.
* Efficient irrigation.
* Soil amendments.
* Use of mulches.
* Appropriate landscape maintenance.
There are many plants that can survive with little to no irrigation. I recommend either having a local expert help with finding the right plants or doing an online search.
The main thing to look for is “drought-resistant plants”.
The ones I found listed on TheSpruce.com are Hens and chicks, Aloe Vera, and Autumn Joy sedum, or “stonecrop”. If you are looking for a little more color, I found that Verbena, Marigold, Lavender, Daffodils, and Iris are low maintenance plants as well.
The LA Times did an article in February 2020 about xeriscaping and why you should try it. They mention that even when plants are labeled as a “California native plant”, there are many different climates in California. In Southern California, we should be look for plants around our Mediterranean climate, similar to central Chile, the Western Cape province of South Africa, and southern and western Australia.
They recommend some of the same principles as I found above such as taking stock of your lawn but also add things like visiting a Southern California botanic garden, nurseries devoted to Caliornia native plants, and The California Native Plant Society’s Calscape database.
I have no doubt that the experts at Idyllwild Community Garden are a great resource to learn more and advise on what plants grow well on our little mountain. Just looking at their website I came across this page that has multiple resources – choosing-what-to-plant.
However you start your spring, we hope it brings you joy!
Celebrate the Heart of Nature with RivCoParks!
Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District posted a Facebook event (https://www.facebook.com/events/404287604008432/) that caught my attention. Being a new full time resident and employee of the water district I have been interested in learning as much as I can about our fabulous water and here is an excellent opportunity.
Information below copied from the Facebook event page linked above:
Love is in the Air ❤ Come Celebrate the Heart of Nature with RivCoParks! We’re sharing our love of the Santa Ana River Watershed that flows through our communities and provides habitat for our local wildlife. Each day we will be posting videos, crafts and fun activities to our Facebook Page for you and your family to participate in “I LOVE MY WATERSHED” week!
Here’s the schedule of events:
MON 2/15 – 10 AM: What is a Watershed?
Join Park Aide Sami Whitcher and find out what exactly a watershed is and why RivcoParks is Celebrating their love for the Santa Ana Watershed!
TUES 2/16 – 10 AM: I Love My Watershed Demonstration
How do we affect the watershed and what can we do to help keep our watershed a healthy and thriving place for all who call it home? Find out with Park Aide Sami Whitcher for a watershed demonstration.
WED 2/17 – 10 AM: Watershed Model Craft with Bald Eagle
Join Miss Sue from Hidden Valley Nature Center and create your own watershed model complete with a bald Eagle flying overhead. You may pick up a free craft kit every Saturday from 10am-1pm this month in front of Hidden Valley’s Outdoor Classroom at our Discovery Station while supplies last.
THURS 2/18 – 10 AM: I Love My Watershed Storytime
Story time for the littlest nature lovers with Miss Sami reading, The Little Raindrop by, Joanna Gray.
FRI 2/19 – 10 AM: Bald Eagles Love the Watershed too!
Soar on in to join Park Aide Charity Hagen, learn all about extraordinary bald eagles, their reliance on, as well as, contribution to a healthy watershed, and their elaborate courting display!
Posted in: Around the District, Community
Leave a Comment (0) →Local Covid Testing coming in February
Another COVID-19 testing date has been announced.
Walk-up testing will be available for one day in Idyllwild. The test site is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 4 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Idyllwild Library (54401 Village Center Dr.). Appointments can be made through the following link: http://bit.ly/IdyllwildTesting. Please wear your mask and follow directions given by staff.
~information supplied by Supervisor Chuck Washington on Facebook
Posted in: Around the District, Community
Leave a Comment (0) →How to Fight Covid at Home
This was shared on a Covid survivor group…have heard many of these before but it seems helpful: I copied this from someone else.
HOW TO FIGHT COVID AT HOME
No one ever talks about how to fight Covid at home. I came down with Covid in November. I went to the hospital, running a fever of 103, a rapid heart beat, and other common symptoms that come with Covid. While I was there they treated me for the high fever, dehydration and pneumonia.
The doctor sent me home to fight Covid with two prescriptions – Azithromycin 250mg & Dexamethason 6mg. When the nurse came in to discharge me, I asked her, “What can I do to help fight this at home?” She said, “Sleep on your stomach at all times with Covid. If you can’t sleep on your stomach because of heath issues sleep on your side. Do not lay on your back no matter what because it smashes your lungs and that will allow fluid to set in.
Set your clock every two hours while sleeping on your stomach, then get out of bed and walk for 15-30 min, no matter how tired or weak that you are. Also move your arms around frequently, it helps to open your lungs. Breathe in thru your nose, and out thru your mouth. This will help build up your lungs, plus help get rid of the Pneumonia or other fluid you may have.
When sitting in a recliner, sit up straight – do not lay back in the recliner, again this will smash your lungs. While watching TV – get up and walk during every commercial.
Eat at least 1 – 2 eggs a day, plus bananas, avocado and asparagus. These are good for Potassium. Drink Pedialyte, Gatorade Zero, Powerade Zero & Water with Electrolytes to prevent you from becoming dehydrated. Do not drink anything cold – have it at room temperature or warm it up. Water with lemon, and little honey, peppermint tea, apple cider are good suggestions for getting in fluids. No milk products, or pork. Vitamin’s D3, C, B, Zinc, Probiotic One-Day are good ideas. Tylenol for fever. Mucinex, or Mucinex DM for drainage, plus helps the cough. Pepcid helps for cramps in your legs. One baby aspirin everyday can help prevent getting a blood clot, which can occur from low activity. “
Drink a smoothie of blueberries, strawberries, bananas, honey, tea and a spoon or two of peanut butter.
We always hear of how Covid takes lives, but there isn’t a lot of information out there regarding how to fight Covid. I hope this helps you or someone you know, just as it has helped me.
Posted in: Around the District, Community
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