As the Brodiaea Bloom, Conservancy Celebrates 20-Year Anniversary

In 1991, a group of local environmental enthusiasts got together to save a trail in the Glendora foothills with a panoramic view of the city from a proposed housing development.

Not only did the Glendora Community Conservancy succeed in preserving the Colby Trail, they also rescued a rare and endangered flower from extinction. Every year in May, the frail yet vibrant violet brodiaea bloom in the foothills of Glendora. The brodiaea flower is found in only seven places in the world, with Glendora being the only location in the San Gabriel Valley.

Twenty years later after the group was formed, the Conservancy is celebrating their anniversary in a month-long celebration of events in honor of the city’s famed brodiaea

This Wednesday, the Conservancy will host a presentation on the history and heritage of Bluebird Ranch. The Ferguson family purchased the property in the early 1900s. The ranch, now a watershed preserve, is owned by the Conservancy as part of its continuing land preservation mission. The roundtable is Wednesday, May 25 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Village Bookstore.

“We started the Conservancy just wanting to save the trail for the children,” said Ann Croissant, one of the founding members of the Conservancy. “With grant money, we try to purchase and preserve land we believe future generations can learn from…This is valuable education for the kids.”

The Conservancy maintains the Colby Trail, which at times can be an. But aside from land preservation and trail maintenance, the Conservancy owns a nature center on North Loraine Avenue where they host watershed workshops, science camp for children, and other environmental activities. The Conservancy also hosts regular interpretative hikes along Colby Trail.

The Conservancy’s efforts have gone beyond local land preservation. The group has formed 15 other conservancies and land trusts throughout the San Gabriel Valley.

This Saturday, the Conservancy will host an interpretative hike on Colby Trail from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The hike is free and open to the public. Those interested can meet at the trailhead at the very end of North Lorraine Avenue.

This Saturday at 4 p.m. the Conservancy is also hosting a community barbecue and potluck at the Stone House at Bluebird Ranch on Bluebird Mountain Preserve, 5000 Bluebird Rd. A program will follow.

To register for the barbecue and potluck, e-mail glcroissant@csupomona.edu. Directions to the Stone House will be provided upon registration.

Visit http://www.glendoraconservancy.org/ for more updates on upcoming events.