Park Visitors Beware: Please, Please, Don't Eat the Daisies . . .

Susan Heavilin
Jan 8
5 min read

As we arrived for the John McCann Press Conference on Tuesday, the City Workers were in the process of spraying pesticide and you could smell it in the air. Whenever I see people garbed in hazmat-like clothing, I pay attention.

Apparently, one hand doesn't know what the other is doing as is often the case.

The city employees did stop immediately. We were told that the arena was not sprayed but the area perimeters were.

No entrance until dry. We were already inside the "hazardous" area. Fortunately, the press conference was on the dirt and had not been sprayed (I hope). I just wanted to let you all know that the area was in the process of being sprayed when everyone arrived.

What were they spraying? According to their sign, the weeds were being treated with Pendulum AquaCap™, Round Up Pro™ and Speed Zone™.

'Warning Herbicide Treatment' | Click on image to enlarge | Photo by Sunnyside Common Sense

The warning was posted on a construction cone, close to the entrance gate and close to the ground (cone height). If you weren't looking for it, you may not see it.

They did close the car gate but you could still enter from the west.

The sign says 3 hours to dry. The employee told us 4 hours to dry. The Pendulum warning below reports 24 hours to dry.

We did not read the sign until we were leaving. We were walking around on this stuff during the time period when it was still "dangerous". Would walking in our homes with this poison on the soles of our shoes cause any ill effects to our own pets?

Are There Any Negative Effects of Exposure to These Herbicides?

Pendulum™ Warnings

Pendulum AquaCap warnings emphasize toxicity to aquatic life, requiring strict avoidance of water bodies; it's also toxic if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through skin, necessitating PPE (gloves, eye protection) and ventilation during application. Key warnings include: Do not apply near water, avoid drift, keep children/pets away until dry (24 hrs), don't breathe mist/vapor, and avoid skin/eye contact. Misuse can harm non-target plants, pollinators, and aquatic organisms.

Round Up Pro™ Warnings

Round Up Pro warnings focus on avoiding contact (skin, eyes, ingestion) by wearing PPE (gloves, glasses, long clothes), preventing drift to desirable plants (apply on calm days), keeping kids/pets away until dry, and using proper equipment (avoid steel/galvanized tanks due to hydrogen gas risk). Inhalation or ingestion can cause irritation, vomiting, or worse, so always follow label instructions for safe handling, storage (away from food/children), and disposal.

Potential Health Concerns (Glyphosate Exposure):

Eye Irritation: Can cause significant irritation.
Cancer Risk: The World Health Organization (WHO) classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans," with links to Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) and leukemia in some studies, especially with long-term, high exposure.
Other Risks: Associated with inflammation, hormone disruption, and potential links to Parkinson's disease in some research.

Speed Zone™ Warnings

Speed Zone warnings emphasize protecting people, pets, and the environment by avoiding drift, runoff, and contact with skin/eyes, requiring PPE like gloves and long sleeves, keeping kids/pets off treated areas until dry, and preventing water contamination due to its potential harm to aquatic life and groundwater. Key warnings include not applying when windy, avoiding water bodies, not using on certain grasses (like St. Augustine), and observing application rates to prevent turf injury or groundwater contamination, especially in areas with shallow water tables.

The Pendulum and Speed Zone Herbicides can be bad news for aquatic life and groundwater. Water contamination can be a problem.

Please note the proximity of the Horse Arena to that substantial body of water shown below.

Google image | Please click on image to enlarge.

Is there any possibility that the rain we're getting could activate the herbicides? Could they traverse across the land into the pond? How about wind? Just asking.

Am I Overreacting?

Possibly. But let me elaborate on why these herbicides concern me.

Early every morning, the little dog next door would slip under my fence. He would stand on the mesa like he was the "King of the Hill." You could sense in his stance that my property was his happy place.

Then with a burst of energy, he would race around doing donuts in the dirt.

It was such a joy to watch him that I found myself getting up earlier than I normally do just to catch his act.

One day he was a no-show. And then the next day and the next and the next.

I finally had the opportunity to talk to one of the horse boarders next door. I inquired if the mini-dog was in the house or had gotten a new pen that he couldn't escape.

She sadly informed me that the owner had sprayed Round Up and the pup had nibbled on the grass as dogs often do. And it killed him.

This stuff can be lethal.

Poison Protection Strategies

Is there a way to better protect the population from these chemicals? I have a few ideas. Maybe you have more.

First, when they are going to spray, they could post yellow DANGER tape on the gates at both ends before they begin. Attach a paper with the chemicals used and the time the spraying was completed and the time of safe access. Leave it in place for 24 hours. The park visitor would then be made aware of the spraying that had taken place and could make an informed decision to enter or not.

Secondly, the city employees could spray at dusk when there would be less foot traffic at the park. They would not spray during peak usage times.

Finally, they could eliminate the procedure all together. "Weed Patrols" could be organized from local social clubs rather than have horses, dogs and humans exposed to these potentially toxic chemicals. A sign could display an organization's name (Bonita Valley Horsemen | Bonita Optimist's Club | Bonita Valley Garden Club, etc.) and that group would be responsible for keeping their assigned area weed-free. Great community involvement and this idea would encourage local residents to take ownership of the health of the park.