Native SCV plants and those who fight for them

Along the trail at Placerita Canyon Nature Center, bushes of tan buckwheat plants populate the ground and the scent of vinegar plants wafts through the air, attracting bees, butterflies and other wildlife. But nature guide Robert Grzesiak knows it hasn't always been easy for these native plants to regrow—he's been battling invasive weeds in the park for nearly 10 years.

“I was bothered by the amount of weeds,” Grzesiak said. “Every time you cut weeds, someone brings weeds with them, either on their shoes or on their bike.”

Every Thursday at 9 a.m., Grzesiak and other naturalists attempt to clear areas at the Placerita Canyon Nature Center that are heavily overgrown with weeds such as briar thistles and mustard plants. They roll buckets, garbage bags and other gardening tools up the trails and work on specific problem areas for about an hour to an hour and a half per visit.

Gresiak said the presence of this weed poses a fire hazard and prevents the growth of some native species.

“Most of what we weed are basically noxious weeds,” Grzesiak said. “The star thistle is painful and the mustard gets ugly and is a fire hazard. These weeds don't care about soil conditions. They just grow. And eventually the support system for the native plants in the soil is destroyed.”