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Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 28, 2014. A 1" Green June Beetle (also known as a June Bug) flew loudly in to the yard and began crawling around the mulch. (Click on photos to enlarge.)
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 28, 2014. Both dogs were immediately attracted to the iridescent blue-green-gold visitor & tried to play with it, approaching the scarab beetle from behind. Each time they would get within about a foot or less, both dogs started sneezing & shaking their heads. It must have emitted some defensive scent only the dogs could smell since neither my neighbor nor I could detect it. And I was pretty close trying to get decent photos with my phone.
The scent only excited the dogs more. They chased the bug more aggressively, while keeping a good 12" distance from it, as it alternately flew & walked around the yard.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 28, 2014. The June Bug flew into a nearby spider web, struggled briefly, buzzing loudly before freeing itself. It flew over to some dense leaf matter quickly disappeared digging into it. It was likely looking for a place to lay its eggs. The dogs were kept a close eye, but did not go digging after it.
This was a very small, 1" Green June Beetle (Cotinus nitida). The dogs usually won't go near the more typical 2" long June Bugs we see in our yard. Apparently, we're lucky we don't see swarms of these giant but beautiful scarab beetles, as they do in other parts of the country: What's That Bug?
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 25, 2014. The female Checkered White Butterfly (Pontia protodice) is more dramatically patterned than the male. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
I'd never seen this butterfly before in the neighborhood, but I knew I'd seen it online. The distinctive pattern on its rear wings caught my eye, while I was walking on the Corralitas end of the Red Car Property.
Neighbors report a seeing an increase in butterflies of all species this year. Click here for all the species we've documented in the neighborhood. There are likely many more, but we just haven't gotten clear photos of them yet.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 28, 2014. Gulf Fritillaries (Argaulis vanillae) are suddenly all over the backyard. They do like the Passion Flower vine between neighbors' fences. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
Learn more about Gulf Fritillary butterflies on Bug Guide.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 16, 2014. If you look closely among the knee-high dry brush, just off the trail, you'll see spots of color, wildflowers blooming in mid-summer. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
I have no idea what these are, possibly a native dandelion, as there are several similar yellow varieties on CalFlora.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 19, 2014. A tiny golden brown butterfly, a Skipper (don't ask me what kind), seemed to be just resting for a while near the historic viaduct footings. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
Photos: Diane Edwardson, July 22, 2014. An approximately 3' diameter slab of concrete, not only shifts loudly under the weight of passing vehicles, it shifted under my body weight alone. (Click on photos to enlarge.)
There are 3 "DWP Water" caps in the street directly adjacent to the shifting concrete. The DWP has been digging up and replacing the same concrete for a very long time. At the very least, they should have some warning signs up on this very narrow segment of the street for unsuspecting drivers. If it shifts under my body weight, a big truck might cause damage not only to the concrete, but the water lines below. The DWP seems to be negligent here.
A few houses north, at 2508 Lake View Ave, the street is completely buckled with the number of times its been dug up and put back. Its crumbling horribly.
As far back as 2009 & 2011, there were promises of repaving & geotechnical studies & excuses by then City Councilmember (now Mayor) Eric Garcetti's staff. We've contacted City Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell's staff on today's conditions. We'll keep you posted.
See earlier posts:
Urgent Repairs Needed: Nov. 29, 2011
Needed Paving More Than 25 Years: Nov. 30, 2011
Hazard Repaired: Nov. 30, 2011
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 21, 2014. A TV has been lurking behind the trashcans at the India St entrance to the Red Car Property since at least April. (Click on photos to enlarge.)
Other dumping has come and gone, but the TV remains. Technically, this is part of the Red Car Property, "Lot C." Yet the City trash trucks drive up onto the property to pick the trash here, in addition to using it as a turn around, as India St is so substandard. So the City should pick up the dumping at India St too. *7-23-14 UPDATE: Yesterday, a neighbor called in the pile adjacent to the India Street trashcans, including the TV. Today the City picked up the bookshelf, basket & other debris, but not the TV.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 21, 2014. That office chair has been making the rounds on "Lot C" for the past few months too. All of the other debris has been there for years.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 21, 2014. The baby carriage has been working its way around the north end of the property for a while too. It's currently stopped on a California Black Walnut sapling behind the Arco Station.
The City won't pick up dumping on private property. It's the property owner's responsibility. But if you witness someone dumping on the Red Car Property or anywhere else, get a vehicle/person description, license plate, photo if you can, and call 1-877-ASK-LAPD and make a report immediately.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 16, 2014. About a week ago, someone pushed all the random dumping (refrigerator parts, car seats, random trash) from behind one Riverside Place neighbor's house to another's. It's still there. (Click on photos to enlarge.)
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 18, 2014. Similarly, some of the dumping that was spilling down the hillside from a house on Adelbert was piled up on the the Red Car Property, a few days ago.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 27, 2014. That TV, along with new dumping is still behind the trashcans at India St.
If you see someone dumping on the Red Car Property, or anywhere else, get a description of the vehicle, license plate and/or person(s) & call 1-877-ASK-LAPD immediately.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 14, 2014. Despite the fact this tiny butterfly with an inch wide wingspan is mostly brownish, it is a Marine Blue. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
The blue is positively iridescent in the sun & is barely visible on the backside of the wings, near the body in this photo. Thanks again to The Bugman of Mt Washington for identifying this Plumbago loving species.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 15, 2014. Brown Widow Spiders are a non-native invasive species that are displacing the native Black Widow Spiders. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
A couple of years ago, there was a lot of panic over Brown Widow Spiders, particularly from neighbors with young children. It turns out, Brown Widow venom, while stronger than Black Widow venom, is less dangerous because they don't inject as much of it when they bite.
Learn more about Brown Widow Spiders & their very distinctive egg sacs (with some really spectacular photos): UC Riverside Center for Invasive Species Research
Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 27, 2014. From the Historic Landmark Viaduct Footings looking toward Griffith Park (the second hill in the background). (Click on photos to enlarge.)
Yesterday, I walked the Red Car Property with Daniel Marlos, A.K.A. "The Bugman of Mt. Washington." The bugs at the north end of the property put on quite a show for him. Marlos immediately spotted a swarm of large green dragonflies around one of the California Black Walnut Trees growing above the viaduct footings. In 24 years of walking the Red Car Property I have never seen a swarm of dragonflies. I was unable to get a clear photo. See photos & read about Green Darner Dragonflies swarming: What's That Bug?
Photo: Diane Edwardson May 24, 2014. California Harvester Ants above the viaduct footings.
The Harvester Ants were very busy collecting seeds & plant matter, bringing oversized bounty back to their nests. We looked at 2 colonies, but acknowledged we were not sure if they were separate colonies or part of a supercolony. The entrances to the colonies were several hundred feet apart. Read more about this important "indicator species:" What's That Bug
Marlos caught sight of a large Tarantula Hawk, "flying casually" under the heritage Coast Live Oak Tree on Lot C. I noted we've been seeing a lot more Tarantula Hawks than ever before on the Red Car Property, especially on the north end, where the soil is less compacted & the habitat includes more native plant species. Marlos commented that we must have a lot of tarantulas or even trapdoor spiders in the neighborhood since those are their preferred hosts for egg laying.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 10, 2014. There are countless tiny bees on Bug Guide. The native Morning Glories seem to attract them. We've even seen green bees on these flowers. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 9, 2014. The Arco Station only ever seems to paint out their graffiti once a year, maybe. According to LA Municipal Code it's supposed to be painted out by the property owner within 24 hours. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
Submit graffiti removal requests to the City: MyLA311
Download the City's MyLA311 smartphone app
And the brush clearance on the Red Car Property should have been done by May 1.
*July 21, 2014 UPDATE: The graffiti was painted out by the owner at the request of LAPD Senior Lead Officer for Silver Lake, Lenny Davis. Thanks Officer Davis!
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 13, 2014. The tiniest little lizard (mostly likely a Fence Lizard) raced down the Corralitas Public Staircase before posing for a few photos. It measured about 2" nose to tail. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 1, 2014. Of course that new seating area comes with a fabulous view. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 1, 2014. Some neighbors persist in treating the Red Car Property as a dumping ground. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 7, 2014. For weeks, I'd been trying to catch a photo of one of these tiny butterflies that flash brilliant blue in the bright sun. They never stand still long enough, until I found this one, dead, in the dog's water bowl. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
Wingtip to wingtip, the butterfly might measure an entire inch across. In the sun they look more gray than brown and their blue is iridescent. They particularly like the Plumbago (blue flowers) growing all over the hill.
I am not even going to try to ID this little butterfly. There are a number of blues with brownish wings.
Butterfly resources:
What's That Bug?
Bug Guide
Butterflies and Moths of North America
Butterflies of Orange County (I know Orange County is not LA County, but it has a simple, easy to use photo index.)
*7-10-14, UPDATE: After perusing the blue butterflies found in Los Angeles on What's That Bug?, I submitted the photo and story. The Bugman of Mt Washington thinks it might be a Marine Blue (Leptotes marina). Thanks Daniel!
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 7, 2014. Many of the native Blue Elderberry Trees (Sambucus nigra) are dying out in the neighborhood. However, this one on the top of Red Car Canyon on Corralitas Drive is one of the few doing quite well. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
According to UC Berkeley, Blue Elderberries in California are not "Mexican Elderberries:" The Jepson Flora Project
According to Cal Flora & California Poison Control, Blue Elderberry Trees are majorly toxic, however the ripe fruit is not. Eat at your own risk.
Disclaimer: The Corralitas Red Car Property Blog prefers to quote reliable sources, such as CalFlora and California Poison Control on the issue of toxicity. We often get email suggesting some plants are edible. If you are eating your way through the Red Car Property, we DO NOT recommend you eat any plant you find in the Red Car Property neighborhood without first doing your own research.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 7, 2014. Mushrooms are generally a winter work of art on the Red Car Property. This one is about 12" in diameter, growing at the base of a tree behind Rose Scharlin Preschool. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
Disclaimer: We often get emails suggesting some plants are edible. The Corralitas Red Car Property Blog prefers to quote reliable sources, such as CalFlora and California Poison Control on the issue of toxicity. MykoWeb is the resource everyone seems to refer to for mushrooms. The Los Angeles Mycological Society has a recommended reading list.
If you are eating your way through the Red Car Property, we DO NOT recommend you eat any plant you find in the Red Car Property neighborhood without first doing your own research.
Click here for all the fungus fun in the Red Car Property neighborhood.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 27, 2014. It's not unusual to see Mockingbirds harassing Red Tailed Hawks in the neighborhood. It is unusual to see the Red Tail scream right back at the Mockingbird. (Click on photos to enlarge.)
Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 27, 2014. The Mockingbird has been routinely chasing the same large Red Tail, who does not seem very confident in flying or soaring. A couple of neighbors who have also shot lots of photos of our resident hawks, agree this one is does not appear to be one of the nesting pair. It doesn't hunt squirrels. It may be injured because it seems to be very "flappy" when it flies. It does not soar normally either. It is very awkward, but definitely not a freshly fledged hawk.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 27, 2014. The hawk screamed almost as much as the Mockinbird. If it was a younger hawk, I would say it was calling to be fed (you know you've lived near nesting hawks for too long when...)
Learn more about Red Tailed Hawks: Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 4, 2014. Despite the lights being left on at Elysian Valley Rec Center, a few fireworks were fired off from there. This is the first time I've ever seen the lights left on at both the Rec Center & at Taylor Yard. Usually they are mysteriously out on the 4th of July. (Click on photos to enlarge.)
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 4, 2014. I noticed an awful lot of folks who have a view of the LA River from the hills seemed to be having parties to watch the illegal fireworks show (that sounds more like a war zone when you live closer to it). Of course, there were some idiots on top of Echo Park Ave & Landa as well as Cerro Gordo & Fellowship Parkway who seemed to feel the need to participate in shooting off the illegal explosives in the hills in a year of record drought.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 4, 2014. Late July 4th, I exchanged emails with a Fellowship Parkway neighbor, who remarked there seemed to be a lot more fireworks than recent years. (The economy is doing better.)
I also noticed the fireworks seemed more concentrated on the east bank of the LA River in Glassell Park. Gentrification seems to be changing Elysian Valley. However, the northern part of Elysian Valley near the 2 Freeway had its usual massive displays shot from backyards, just below my hill. Unfortunately for good photos, the trees block the view.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 3, 2014. The day after the City picked up the last illegally dumped TV on Corralitas Drive - 2 more showed up - all seemed to have been taken apart and something removed prior to dumping. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
Last night, neighbors above this portion of the street, upon hearing the sounds of dumping, reported seeing a dark gray or black Toyota pick-up truck pulling away from the curb. A truck with a similar description has been witnessed in other parts of the neighborhood in conjunction with dumping incidents.
If you witness dumping anywhere, take a photo with your cell phone. It not only records vital descriptions & license plate, it also records time & date. Call the police immediately, tell them what you are witnessing.
There is no excuse for dumping. You can take TV's to the City's LA-Glendale S.A.F.E. eWaste Center FOR FREE. It's ludicrously close to our neighborhood. They even take it out of your car for you.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 4, 2013. That giant airborne explosion is not a professional fireworks show, but illegal fireworks shot off by some idiot on the south (Silver Lake & Elysian Heights) side of the 5 Freeway, close to Corralitas Drive. (Click on photos to enlarge.)
It seems every year we see more people shooting off illegal fireworks in the hills. You can hear the gunpowder raining down on your roof, patios & trees - as I witnessed on Corralitas a couple years ago. That same year, another neighbor was dumbstruck when he saw drunken hipsters shooting off similar fireworks way up on top of Micheltorena.
ALL FIREWORKS ARE ILLEGAL IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, UNLESS THEY ARE IN A PROFESSIONAL FIREWORKS SHOW.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 27, 2014. The dying Eucalyptus tree is still hanging above Red Car Canyon today. (APN 5440-030-033)
In fact, only 2 of the dozen or so dead and dying Eucalyptus we highlighted in May trees were significantly trimmed back.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 27, 2014. The dead weeds are taller than the allowed 3" within 100' of homes.
Links: LAFD Brush Clearance Unit
All our brush clearance posts
Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 27, 2014. Sometime between 10 AM & 6:30 PM, in broad daylight someone bothered to dump a TV where there are no addresses on Corralitas Drive so it is hard for us to call in the illegal dumping to the City. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
There's no excuse - you didn't walk your old TV here. Rather than drive & dump your TV in someone's neighborhood, drive to the LA-Glendale S.A.F.E. e-Waste Center just up the the 5 Freeway off Colorado Blvd exit FOR FREE!
If you witness someone dumping, take a photo with your cell phone of their truck/license plate or write down as many details of the make/model/year plates/ suspect(s) description(s) etc as possible, and call the police 1-877-ASK-LAPD.
