Monarchs Part 2

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We have had an exciting season of hatching monarch butterflies. We are proud to be certified and registered as an official Monarch Waystation through www.monarchwatch.org.

Our new sign reads: This site provides milkweeds, nectar sources, and shelter needed to sustain monarch butterflies as they migrate through North America.


We really enjoy watching the process from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to hatching. Over the last week, we have released almost 20 healthy monarch butterflies and we still have a baker’s dozen more chrysalis’. I hope you enjoy our pictures through this journey.


Click here to read a story about another beautiful soul trying to raise the population of monarch butterflies.

Want to help the monarch community? Keep your eyes out on our blog and newsletters for a fun give away coming up soon.

What’s the difference between a chrysalis and a cocoon?

The words cocoon and chrysalis are often used interchangibly when talking about monarchs and other butterflies. However, they are two completely different things! Cocoons are specific to moths, while chryslises are formed by butterflies. Moths spin silk around themselves and molt inside the silk casing. This provides extra warmth and protection from the surrounding environment. You can usually find cocoons attached to the side of something or burried under ground or in leaf litter. 

Chrysalises, on the other hand, are not silk. Butterflies molt into a chrysalis, which is a hard exoskeleton covering that protects the developing butterfly beneath. Chrysalises are typically found hanging from something. For example, monarchs spin a small silk button to hang upside down from before molting from head to abdomen!
(information taken from Monarch Joint Venture)

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Posted in: Animals, Garden, Monarch Butterflies, Pets and Animals, The Garden

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Winterizing Tips

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Prepare and protect your home for winter.
Your October 1st mailing included a pamphlet that has all of this information.

Conserve water and always use wisely.
When temperatures begin to lower in the fall, it’s time to get ready for winter. Every winter season, homeowners in mountain communities are at risk of the damage and expense caused by frozen pipes. However, just a few precautions can greatly reduce your risk (and may even help with your winter heating efficiency)!

Disconnect and Drain
Detaching hoses from outdoor faucets allows water to drain from the pipe.

Insulate Pipes or Faucets in Unheated Areas
If you have pipelines in an unheated garage or cold crawl space under the house, wrap the water pipes before temperatures plummet.

Seal Off Access Doors, Air Vents and Cracks
Winter winds whistling through overlooked openings can quickly freeze exposed water pipes. Don’t plug air vents. Your furnace and water heater need proper ventilation.

Find the Master Shutoff
In case of a leak, everyone in the family needs to know where it is and what it does. It’s usually where the water line comes into your house from the street.

Remember, all water that passes through the meter is the homeowner’s responsibility, even water lost due to frozen/broken pipes.

Vacant Home?
Turn Off Your Water!
Homes should have a “customer” shut-off valve just outside the District’s meter box at the street. All homes have a “District” shut off valve before the meter. Before vacating your home, always turn off your water at your customer shut off valve, located next to the District valve. It is not necessary to have the District valve shut off if your customer valve is shut off and operational. Please remember that ONLY authorized District personnel may turn off/on the District water meter shut-off valve. If you need help or can’t locate your customer valve, contact your local District.

Once your water is turned off, open and drain ALL household and irrigation lines. Any trapped water can freeze causing pipes to expand and break. Once all the lines have been drained, it is important to close all household and irrigation lines again before leaving your home.

Keep in mind that maintaining low heat in your home does not necessarily ensure that your pipes will not freeze. This is especially true if you are not a full-time resident. If you have any questions about winterizing or a Customer Shut-Off Valve, please contact your District office.

Pine Cove Water District 951-659-2675

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Posted in: Uncategorized, Water Conservation, Weather, Winter, winterizing

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Local Services for Seniors

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As we continue through this pandemic and head into the fall and winter seasons, our senior community residents are relying more and more on services that are available on the hill. Here is a listing of services I have found to be helpful and even fun.

Idy’s Helping Hands
Website: IdysHelpingHands.org
Phone: 619-219-9866
Email: Admin@IdysHelpingHands.org
Mailing: PO Box 1501, Idyllwild CA 92549

Services: Transportation Services, Resource Connections & Paperwork Assistance, Local Food Bank Pickup & Delivery, Home Visits, Wellness Checks & Companionship, Respite Services for Caregivers, Shopping & Errands Assistance, Companionship & Socialization, Outreach Phone Calls, Events & Outings, and my personal favorite that I signed my grandmother up for – Meals for Seniors (click here to enroll).

They also have a Directory of Services on their page that they have developed a relationships with to assist in remaining healthy at home here on the hill.

Idyllwild Community Center
Website: https://www.idyllwildcommunitycenter.org/
Phone: 951-965-0456
Email: info@idyllwildcommunitycenter.org

Services: In addition to The Kinder Program and Youth Sports, they also have Adult Activities that include Fit After Fifty, Wii Bowling, Community Lunch, and more (Covid dependent of course).

Although most services are limited due to Covid, they are still currently continuing with their Food Share program Feeding America, Farmers Market every Sunday, and free Covid testings.

Forest Folk
Website: https://forestfolk.org/
Email: info@forestfolk.org
Shuttle Bus Phone: 951-426-9688
Shuttle Email: manager@idyllwildshuttle.com

Services: Shuttle Bus, Warming Center, Informational Meetings, Additional Resources as available.

You will find monthly schedules here, and any changes to the schedule due to road conditions, etc., are posted as soon as possible. You will find quarterly brochures that include connection information to other transit options in the desert and in Hemet. Recreational events and other events of community interest are also posted there. You will also find this information on their Facebook page.

Currently the Idyllwild Shuttle Bus is running Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am-4pm for Door-to-Door Service from Pine Cove to Mountain Center by calling 951-426-9688 on the day you need a ride; Off the hill for medical appointments only on Mondays to Palm Desert and Palm Springs via Mountain Center, and Wednesdays to Hemet via Mountain Center. Reservations are Required by calling 951-426-9688 between 9am and 5pm one week in advance at the earliest, and 3pm the day before travel at the latest.

They also have a Helpful Resources page with helpful phone numbers and internet addresses.

Idyllwild Help Center
Website: https://www.idyhelpcenter.org/
Email: TSM@idyllwildhelpcenter.org
Phone: 951-659-3000
Physical Address: 26330 CA-243, Idyllwild CA 92549

Services: 1 weekly bag of non-perishable food items, firewood for heating, health and hygiene products and when grant funding is available: utility assistance and medical assistance.

Additionally, there is the Mountain Disaster Preparedness group and the American Legion Post 800 for Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.

What other services do you know of? We would love to add to our list.

Stay safe and keep an eye out on others as best you can. We are a community here!

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Just when we thought we were done…

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We were so excited this morning when we went out to look at our milkweed and found 16 NEW MONARCH CATERPILLARS!

We get to start over! They are SO cute.

Of course we are very careful about what we use to take care of our garden. Did you know that there are reports saying glyphosate weedkiller like Roundup is killing the Monarch butterfly growth?

According to a recent article from Genetic Literacy Project; media and advocacy groups are not fully reflecting the issue.
“Why are Monarchs in decline? It’s a hotly-debate issue, with many studies with competing conclusions. Anti-biotechnology activist groups have singled out the herbicide glyphosate as a major driver of the decline, so the issue is embedded in a wider, inflamed debate over the controversial weedkiller. Which makes it all the more important that any new science on this issue should be contextualized and reported with nuance.”

From what I’ve read, it seems to be a domino effect with the weedkiller being used on the milkweed and killing that, leaving nothing for the caterpillars and butterflies to eat and lay their eggs on.

Of course there are conflicting studies that say there is a much bigger issue than the glyphosate theory. Some say the real issue is ‘how do we restore weeds’.
My definition of weeds has always been a plant that I don’t want growing in my garden bed. But milkweeds are ALWAYS welcome.

Bottom line in my mind – use natural remedies on your plants to maintain the natural balance of nature.
And I always recommend that people read multiple sources if interested in a “controversial” subject and form your own conclusion.

In the meantime – enjoy our little guys.

A little baby caterpillar we re-located to the milkweed
A bigger caterpillar on the milkweed

Looking for a Halloween hand out to promote milkweeds and future Monarchs? I came across this promotion: Milkweed seed Halloween Promotion.
(I have never ordered from them before and cannot validate their product)

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Posted in: Garden, Monarch Butterflies, Pine Cove Water District, The Garden

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Helping the Monarch Community

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We are trying our best to help the Monarch Butterfly population with planting milk weeds, bringing the caterpillars in to a safe habitat when they look like they are about to form a chrysalis, and releasing them into our garden when the butterflies emerge.

Our season looks like it’s complete as all of the caterpillars we had have hatched and flown away. We are happy that a couple have decided to stick around and play in our milkweeds and look forward to next year when we can help the community more.

Here are some pictures of the development.

Caterpillars starting to ‘J’ and form chrysalises
A chrysalis almost ready to open
Just hatched
Beautiful Monarch released
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Local COVID-19 testing

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Riverside County will host another free COVID-19 testing day at the Idyllwild Library from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Visit https://gettested.ruhealth.org/ to make an appointment or call 800-945-6171.

COVID-19 testing is available for those with or without symptoms. Testing is free and available for everyone.

Additional testing
Residents can also visit www.rivcoph.org/coronavirus/testing to schedule an appointment online or call 800-945-6171 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. to make an appointment over the phone for drive-up testing. Looking for a shorter wait time when calling to make an appointment? The county suggests calling between the hours of 5 and 10 p.m.

State testing sites are also operational in Riverside County. To make an appointment, visit https://lhi.care/covidtesting or call 888-634-1123.

Fern Creek Medical Center in Idyllwild offers a COVID-19 antibody test.

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HAPPY LABOR DAY

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The Pine Cove Water District office will be closed on Monday, September 7th in honor of Labor Day.  We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, September 8th at 9 a.m.  If you have a water emergency, there will be someone on call.  You can call the office and listen to the recorded message or call 951-294-8282, which is our emergency number.  Remember, this number is for true water emergencies only.  Please wait until Tuesday to call about an other water issues.  Our normal business hours will continue Tuesday through Friday, from 9 am until 4 pm.
Happy Labor Day!!!

Labor Day: What it Means

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. 

More information can be found at https://www.dol.gov/general/laborday/history

Celebrate Safely

The American Red Cross regularly puts out safety precautions and as this coming weekend is going to be another hot one, there are additional precautions to consider.

  • Stay hydrated with water
  • If traveling; check on road conditions, buckle up, slow down, and don’t drink and drive
  • Designate a driver who won’t drink or plan on staying where you are celebrating
  • Carry a Disaster Supply Kit
  • Don’t let your vehicle’s gas tank get too low
  • Check with weather alerts before doing any bbqing or campfires
  • Grills should only be used outdoors
  • Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays
  • Have outdoor activities and games at a time when it’s not so hot
  • Apply sunscreen before you head out in the sun and reapply as necessary
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Water Saving Kits available for FREE at PCWD

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Did you know?
We have FREE Water Saving Kits for Pine Cove residents available at the Pine Cove Water District.

We appreciate everything you do to help us save and conserve water and here is an additional way to make sure we are all doing our part.

This kit includes:
Earth Massage 1.5 gpm Showerhead – 2 setting massage spray showerhead
Kitchen Swivel 1.5 gpm Aerator – Dual-spray functionality, with wide-spray radius and water pausing on/off valve
( 2 ) Bathroom Faucet 1.0 gpm Aerators – Half the flow, twice the power. Commercial grade aerators for the home
Toilet Water Saver (Fill Cycle Diverter) – This patented water saver takes excess water from the bowl and diverts it to the tank to reduce water consumption. (This is NOT a flow restricting device)
Toilet Leak Detection Tablets – FDA-certified, non-toxic dye tablets used to detect leaks in toilets
Flow Meter Bag – Kit bag doubles as a flow meter to identify water wasters throughout the home
Water Conservation Wheel – Provides useful ways to conserve water around the house
Installation Instructions

To get your kit, come visit us in the office. We are open to the public (masks are required, 1 person in the office at a time). Or you can call us at 951-659-2675 or email info@pcwd.org.

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Are you Prepared? (Part 2)

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In addition to the Basic Emergency Evacuation Kit mentioned in last week’s post, here are more items that can be added based on your individual needs.

Additional Emergency Supplies:

  • Soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, etc.
  • Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids or laxatives
  • Prescription eyeglasses and contact lens solution
  • Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream
  • Pet food and extra water for your pet
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Matches in a waterproof container
  • Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
  • Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels, and plastic utensils
  • Paper and pencil
  • Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Maintaining Your Kit:
After assembling your kit, remember to maintain it so it’s ready when needed:

  • Keep canned food in a cool, dry place
  • Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers
  • Replace expired items as needed
  • Re-think your needs every 6-months to a year and update your kit as needs change

Kit Storage Locations:
Since you do not know where you will be when an emergency occurs, prepare supplies for your home, work, and vehicles.

  • Home: Keep in a designated place and have it ready in case you need to leave quickly. Make sure all family members know where it is.
  • Work: Be prepared to shelter at work for at least 24 hours. Your work kit should at least include food, water, medications, comfortable walking shoes in a “grab and go” case.
  • Car: In case you are stranded, keep a kit of emergency supplies in your car

As mentioned before:
Talk to your family and friends, make a plan!  Decide where to meet, where to stay, where you are going. If you have pets or seniors to consider, plan ahead for them as well and have specific prepared go bags. If you do not have a car, make a plan ahead of time… ask a friend or a neighbor if you can ride off the hill with them if needed. If you have a car, keep 1/2 tank of gas in it at all times.  If the power goes out, the stations may not be able to pump gas unless they have a generator and even then they may only be able to take cash payments.

Remember, in case of an emergency the number one priority is safety first. Proper advanced preparations can ease the stress of evacuation and help you make sure all the necessities are not left behind or forgotten.

You can get more detailed information at https://www.ready.gov/kit

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Posted in: Around the District, Community, Emergencies, Fire

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