Hahamongna Nursery
4550 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91103


Established:
2014
Size:
Not super big
Features:
Public Programing
Native Plant Nursery
Watershed Restoration
Local Propagation
Hiking Trails
You can see horses from the parking lot.
Best Time to visit:
All Year:
The demonstration garden that surrounds the nursery is at its most spectacular in spring. The yerba santa, showy penstemons, coast sunflowers and bladder pods are overwhelming beautiful. The summer brings a different beauty to the gardens. The bladder pods, who bloom all year and have gorgeous blues foliage, start to contrast with the golden brown of the summer dormant plants. However, fall and winter may arguably be the best time to visit. Fall is the start of our planting seasons in the west, and is the ideal time to go buy some plants.
This little gem of a nursery was created by the Arroyo Secco Foundation to propagate plants for the restoration of the Devil’s Gate Dam area in 2014. It was opened to the public not long afterward. The small nursery, demonstration gardens, and public programing are mostly run by volunteers.
The area around the nursery site is planted with a joyful collection of native plants. The area that runs between the parking and the site is filled with the most gorgeous bladderpods that many of us will see. This hardy and striking plant has bluish foliage, yellow flowers (that last into summer) and these weird little seed bladders. The plants also have a striking smell that to quote calscape “it is highly fragrant, though opinion is divided on whether the scent is pleasant or unpleasant.”
The gardens also have stunning Yerba Santa, penstemons, coastal sunflowers and a big basin sage brush. Because the site is much closer to a yard size, it gives a better understanding to how the plants will function and look in more compact spaces.
“Hahamongna nursery is more than just a nursery but also an education center. “
In addition to plants the nursery has a small selection of books and gifts. During the summer it hosts a program called “Native Nights” which covers topics like soil health, water conservation as well as plants. Hahamongna nursery is more than just a nursery but also an education center.


Bearing the name of the Tongva tribe that lived in the Pasadena and Altadena area, the Hahamongna watershed marks the beginning of the Arroyo Seco. This beautiful riparian habitat is home to bobcats (not to brag but I totally saw a cub there once), grey foxes, mountain lions, the arroyo toad, the endangered Least Bell’s Vireo, and rainbow trout. Because the watershed connects to the San Gabriel Mountains and has a variety of habitats, including the increasingly rare alluvial forest, it contains an incredible amount of biodiversity.
Hahamongna Watershed and its park are one of the few remaining spreading basins in Southern California. If you have heard about the loss of ground water and the draining of aquifers, then this would be a solution. The spreading basin is engineered to catch water and then allow it to return to the ground water table. This is better for pretty much everyone, animals, plants and people, alike. This system mimics how many of our streams and the LA River would naturally function.
The Arroyo Secco was once a major tributary of the LA river. This was the path the rainbow trout would take to the ocean and back,
subsequently making that strange transformation to steelhead trout. This connection was severed with the construction of the Devil’s gate dam in 1920. There are still rainbow trout in the upper arroyo. They are of course threatened and are further threatened by fire and drought. The Arroyo Secco Foundation has a team they call “Trout Scouts” who find and count the fish at various times during the year.
“The Hahamongna Watershed and the ongoing restoration represent a hopeful change in the way that we understand our water systems and our threatened riparian habitats.”
The Hahamongna Watershed combination of mule and black willow makes it a critically important breeding habitat for birds. According to California Fish and Game, 55 species breed in the area. Two of these species, the Yellow Warbler and the Yellow-breasted Chat are listed as “California bird species of special concern” and the Least Bell’s Vireo, is listed as federally endangered.
The Hahamongna Watershed and the ongoing restoration represent a hopeful change in the way that we understand our water systems and our threatened riparian habitats.


More Information
Opening Hours:
Saturday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM





























Hahamongna Nursery
4550 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91103


Established:
2014
Size:
Not super big
Features:
Public Programing
Native Plant Nursery
Watershed Restoration
Local Propagation
Hiking Trails
You can see horses from the parking lot.
Best Time to visit:
All Year:
The demonstration garden that surrounds the nursery is at its most spectacular in spring. The yerba santa, showy penstemons, coast sunflowers and bladder pods are overwhelming beautiful. The summer brings a different beauty to the gardens. The bladder pods, who bloom all year and have gorgeous blues foliage, start to contrast with the golden brown of the summer dormant plants. However, fall and winter may arguably be the best time to visit. Fall is the start of our planting seasons in the west, and is the ideal time to go buy some plants.
This little gem of a nursery was created by the Arroyo Secco Foundation to propagate plants for the restoration of the Devil’s Gate Dam area in 2014. It was opened to the public not long afterward. The small nursery, demonstration gardens, and public programing are mostly run by volunteers.
The area around the nursery site is planted with a joyful collection of native plants. The area that runs between the parking and the site is filled with the most gorgeous bladderpods that many of us will see. This hardy and striking plant has bluish foliage, yellow flowers (that last into summer) and these weird little seed bladders. The plants also have a striking smell that to quote calscape “it is highly fragrant, though opinion is divided on whether the scent is pleasant or unpleasant.”
The gardens also have stunning Yerba Santa, penstemons, coastal sunflowers and a big basin sage brush. Because the site is much closer to a yard size, it gives a better understanding to how the plants will function and look in more compact spaces.
“Hahamongna nursery is more than just a nursery but also an education center.”
In addition to plants the nursery has a small selection of books and gifts. During the summer it hosts a program called “Native Nights” which covers topics like soil health, water conservation as well as plants. Hahamongna nursery is more than just a nursery but also an education center.


Bearing the name of the Tongva tribe that lived in the Pasadena and Altadena area, the Hahamongna watershed marks the beginning of the Arroyo Seco. This beautiful riparian habitat is home to bobcats (not to brag but I totally saw a cub there once), grey foxes, mountain lions, the arroyo toad, the endangered Least Bell’s Vireo, and rainbow trout. Because the watershed connects to the San Gabriel Mountains and has a variety of habitats, including the increasingly rare alluvial forest, it contains an incredible amount of biodiversity.
Hahamongna Watershed and its park are one of the few remaining spreading basins in Southern California. If you have heard about the loss of ground water and the draining of aquifers, then this would be a solution. The spreading basin is engineered to catch water and then allow it to return to the ground water table. This is better for pretty much everyone, animals, plants and people, alike. This system mimics how many of our streams and the LA River would naturally function.
The Arroyo Secco was once a major tributary of the LA river. This was the path the rainbow trout would take to the ocean and back,
subsequently making that strange transformation to steelhead trout. This connection was severed with the construction of the Devil’s gate dam in 1920. There are still rainbow trout in the upper arroyo. They are of course threatened and are further threatened by fire and drought. The Arroyo Secco has a team they call “Trout Scouts” who find and count the fish at various times during the year.
“The Hahamongna Watershed and the ongoing restoration represent a hopeful change in the way that we understand our water systems and our threatened riparian habitats.”
The Hahamongna Watershed combination of mule and black willow makes it a critically important breeding habitat for birds. According to California Fish and Game, 55 species breed in the area. Two of these species, the Yellow Warbler and the Yellow-breasted Chat are listed as “California bird species of special concern” and the Least Bell’s Vireo, is listed as federally endangered.
The Hahamongna Watershed and the ongoing restoration represent a hopeful change in the way that we understand our water systems and our threatened riparian habitats.


More Information
Opening Hours:
Saturday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM





























Hahmongna Nursery
4550 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91103

Established:
2014
Size:
Not
super big
Features:
Public Programing
Native Plant Nursery
Watershed Restoration
Local Propagation
Hiking Trails
You can see horses
from the parking lot.
Best Time to visit:
All Year:
The demonstration garden that surrounds the nursery is at its most spectacular in spring. The yerba santa,, showy penstemons, coast sunflowers and bladder pods are overwhelming beautiful. The summer brings a different beauty to the gardens. The bladder pods, who bloom all year and have gorgeous blues foliage, start to contrast with the golden brown of the summer dormant plants. However, fall and winter may arguably be the best time to visit. Fall is the start of our planting seasons in the west, and is the ideal time to go buy some plants.
This little gem of a nursery was created by the Arroyo Secco Foundation to propagate plants for the restoration of the Devil’s Gate Dam area in 2014. It was opened to the public not long afterward. The small nursery, demonstration gardens, and public programing are mostly run by volunteers.
The area around the nursery site is planted with a joyful collection of native plants. The area that runs between the parking and the site is filled with the most gorgeous bladderpods that many of us will see. This hardy and striking plant has bluish foliage, yellow flowers (that last into summer) and these weird little seed bladders. The plants also have a striking smell that to quote calscape “it is highly fragrant, though opinion is divided on whether the scent is pleasant or unpleasant.”

The gardens also have stunning Yerba Santa, penstemons, coastal sunflowers and a big basin sage brush. Because the site is much closer to a yard size, it gives a better understanding to how the plants will function and look in more compact spaces.
“Hahamongna nursery is more than just a nursery but also an education center. “
In addition to plants the nursery has a small selection of books and gifts. During the summer it hosts a program called “Native Nights” which covers topics like soil health, water conservation as well as plants. Hahamongna nursery is more than just a nursery but also an education center.


Bearing the name of the Tongva tribe that lived in the Pasadena and Altadena area, the Hahamongna watershed marks the beginning of the Arroyo Seco. This beautiful riparian habitat is home to bobcats (not to brag but I totally saw a cub there once), grey foxes, mountain lions, the arroyo toad, the endangered Least Bell’s Vireo, and rainbow trout. Because the watershed connects to the San Gabriel Mountains and has a variety of habitats, including the increasingly rare alluvial forest, it contains an incredible amount of biodiversity.
Hahamongna Watershed and its park are one of the few remaining spreading basins in Southern California. If you have heard about the loss of ground water and the draining of aquifers, then this would be a solution. The spreading basin is engineered to catch water and then allow it to return to the ground water table. This is better for pretty much everyone, animals, plants and people, alike. This system mimics how many of our streams and the LA River would naturally function.
“The Hahamongna Watershed and the ongoing restoration represent a hopeful change in the way that we understand our water systems and our threatened riparian habitats”
The Arroyo Secco was once a major tributary of the LA river. This was the path the rainbow trout would take to the ocean and back, subsequently making that strange transformation to steelhead trout. This connection was severed with the construction of the Devil’s gate dam in 1920. There are still rainbow trout in the upper arroyo. They are of course threatened and are further threatened by fire and drought.

The Arroyo Secco has a team they call “Trout Scouts” who find and count the fish at various times during the year.
The Hahamongna Watershed combination of mule and black willow makes it a critically important breeding habitat for birds. According to California Fish and Game, 55 species breed in the area. Two of these species, the Yellow Warbler and the Yellow-breasted Chat are listed as “California bird species of special concern” and the Least Bell’s Vireo, is listed as federally endangered.
The Hahamongna Watershed and the ongoing restoration represent a hopeful change in the way that we understand our water systems and our threatened riparian habitats.

More Information
Opening Hours:
Saturday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM




























