Hahamongna Detail Week, 3

Hahamongna is often called "open space," but that's not quite right. The open land area serves many purposes, and has done so for a long time. Pasadena's city website has a good description of the park's many uses:

"Hahamongna Watershed Park is a 300 acre park which provides a transition from the urban land uses in Pasadena and its neighboring foothill communities to the vast open space areas of the Angeles National Forest. Here, one can find an interconnected system of hiking trails, prime oak woodland, picnic facilities, restrooms, equestrian gathering areas, a multi-purpose playing field, and the world’s first disc golf course. The flood basin behind Devil’s Gate Dam supports water conservation, a rich diversity of plant habitat, and a refuge for numerous wildlife and bird species."

There's more detail at the link.

Boz doesn't notice any of the Public Works stuff. He notices the blue sky, the grass, and the lizards. He also knows the coyotes are there, but he sticks with his own pack.


This week, Boz is giving you a tour of Hahamongna Watershed Park to show you some of his favorite details. I'll check in and respond to comments as much as possible. It shouldn't be too hard. I hope you're having a week full of wonders.

Utilitarian

Usually the way I work the blog is to choose a photo and let it dictate what I write. Not always, but usually.

I don't know what these meters measure--water or power use, I'm pretty sure. I can't think what else it could be. But they inspire me to write about purses.

I carry a purse because I must have my stuff with me at all times, in case of, uh...in case. It's easy to grab and take the whole shebang wherever I go. But I don't like purses--aesthetically, I mean. To me they're unattractive objects.

This may be one of those times when I need to think outside the box (or the purse) and find a stand-in. Not a water meter, but--I don't know, a shoe bag? Do you have any ideas? Do you carry a purse?

The Best Laid Pipes

Boz and I had planned to hike yesterday. We were going to head to Johnson Field, where this pipe stands. Or stood. We're not sure. A lot's been going on at Johnson Field lately, and for all we know this above-ground access to water has been buried under the mounds of silt being moved from behind Devil's Gate Dam to what we hope is temporary storage in Johnson Field.

But we didn't find out for sure last night, as we had to postpone our hike. We'll find out later today, though, and bring you a report.

Fun news for the meantime: the September issue of Pasadena Magazine features the Dena's daily photo bloggers. For her article, "Daily Affirmations," Kelly Shimabukuro interviewed me, Laurie Allee (Glimpses of South Pasadena), Kat Likkel (Pasadena, 91105 and Beyond) and our already sorely missed Ben Wideman (The Sky is Big in Pasadena and wherever else he goes). Thank you, Kelly!

It was Ben who turned me on to our newest daily photo blogger. She's a bit anonymous, but she's got style. Check out All Over Pasadena.

Ubiquitous Utilities

At first I didn't see pipes like these.

Then I noticed one. It stuck out above ground. Someone had painted it a bright color.

Then I saw them everywhere. I mean, they are everywhere. All different colors and sizes and shapes.

I exagerrate. They're not everywhere. I don't have one at my house, for example. But I'm thinking of getting one.

Power

These power poles line up alongside the 134 Freeway as you head into (or out of) Eagle Rock. It's a bad idea to stop on the freeway, so I pulled off to take this photo. The poles are actually a creamy color, but the shadows were just right, or just wrong, when I took this.

More on Eagle Rock one of these days. It's Pasadena's neighbor to the immediate west, and it's got a lot goin' on.