Nature's New Year Brings Hope and a Hawk

The new year arrived on time in the botanical garden as it always does -- in it's slow and beautiful way. The rains revealed that plants who seemed to be sleeping were actually just waiting for a new beginning. New growth in the garden seems to deliver a hopeful message.

This January's visit of an Immature Red-tailed Hawk is also a good sign. Sometimes the garden is a place of learning, sometimes it's a place to pull weeds, and then sometimes it's just a place to sit and enjoy the accomplishment of doing absolutely nothing but watching nature and listening closely.

Just writing this post, I am thinking the message the garden is telling me lately is that change is a natural process I should expect and embrace. I love that about the garden.

All of us at the MBBG wish you a new year of beauty, wonder and new beginnings and we sincerely hope you get a chance to do nothing in the botanical garden sometime soon.

Pictured above: This stunning photo of an Immature Red-Tailed Hawk was taken by Julie Gonella.

Tis the Season to Migrate One and All

This time of year in Southern California many of us make a sort of seasonal migration which often entails an arduous slog through local jungles of traffic on our way out to family, friends or places of procurement.

Then there is the migratory patterns of birds such as the Bar-tailed Godwits who have the longest known non-stop flight of any migrant, flying 11,000 km from Alaska to their New Zealand non-breeding areas. Prior to migration, 55 percent of their bodyweight is stored fat to fuel this uninterrupted journey.

Okay once again it feels like nature has trumped and taught - here are these amazing birds putting forth what seems an annual fantastical effort of airborne grace which require neither fossil fuels nor the latest gps technology or a bank account to arrive on time and in the place they need to be looking quite unstressed. Even the polliwog park paparazzi (ppp) has not fazed them.

Here are a pair of celebrity Widgeon's, a well-known Northern Shoveler, avid birder Dennis giving Mimi tips and a few more shots of the now infamous Cedar Waxwings. Photos by Julie Gonella, ppp.

Annual Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast at Julie's

This year the long-awaited rains arrived the morning of the annual MBBG Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast so we gratefully accepted the venue change from the garden to Julie's cozy house down by the pier.

It was so nice to see everyone together and all agreed this year's presents were super. Thanks to Julie the volunteers now have white t-shirts with a ladybug tag on the front and the MBBG yellow flower logo on the back along with a nifty hose nozzle and seed packets.

I have to mention here that the buffet was exceptional with a mouth-watering frittata ala Charlotte, Julie's cheesy quiche and the papaya balls and yogurt with granola being my favorite.

Besides partying the real purpose of the Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast was to let all our MBBG volunteers know just how much they are loved and that without them we would not have a garden. So thanks again to all the garden volunteers - you are incredible. Note: If you did not make the breakfast please make sure to stop by the garden on any Friday and pick up your presents and get properly thanked!

Cedar Waxwings for the Holidays

This December, the migratory Cedar Waxwings (bombycilla cedrorum) arrived at the garden just as the Toyon aka Christmas Berry shrub was bursting with red berries. The berries are one of their favorite treats - they aren't dummies.

Local birder extraordinaire and owner of Wildbirds Unlimited, Bob Shanman, says they also eat the unripe berries and get a bit tipsy. We aren't certain if they were intoxicated but did get a shot of them imbibing at the garden's local watering hole. Click on the photo to view larger version. Photo by Julie Gonella.

Want to hang with BIRDS of a feather in the South Bay?

Then don't miss out on Sunday Morning Birds Walks at Polliwog Park with Bob Shanman, details:

Sunday Morning Bird Walks at Polliwog Park

-- > All but the 3rd Sunday morning if each month @ 8am

Meet Bob on the corner of Manhattan Beach Blvd and Redondo Ave. @ 8:00 ---anyone is welcome. Binoculars and walking shoes are recommended.

Say Goodbye to the Chain Link Fence

This past month we tore out the old chainlink fence along the northside of the garden and replaced it with a beautiful split rail design. (See featured photo to the right top of blog). If you haven't been by lately come on over and see what a difference it makes!

Many thanks to Jim Catella for the design and installation, Ann Barklow and Julie Gonella for making it happen, Mike Garcia and his guys from Enviroscape for making the site ready and detailing the area so beautifully and to the guys in MB Parks and Rec for removing the old fence and hauling it away. Well done!

Photo by Julie Gonella

California Native Plant Lovers

You have fallen in love with California native plants - go ahead and admit it. You became a member of MBBG and cannot go back to your previous unfulfilled life of water-sucking pest-ridden tropicals. You volunteer on Fridays at the garden - but it's not enough. You need more.

A few ideas:

- Check out the events on the local South Coast Calif. Native Plant Societies Calendar Page

- Sign up for a Tree of Life Nursery Workshop (plant nursery is open!)

- Visit the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (plant nursery is open Weds-Sun)

- Visit the Theodore Payne Foundation (plant nursery is open Tues-Sat)

- Visit the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (plant nursery open daily)

Tree Trimming Class at the Garden

Tree Trimming Guidelines Class

Nov. 14, 10-11 am

Greg Monfette, Certified Arborist

Join certified Arborist, Greg Monfette, and take a walk through the trees in Polliwog Park and the Botanical Garden to learn about tree care. You will learn how to recognize a hazardous tree limb or tree; best pruning practices; and what you need to know about the City’s tree ordinance.

For complete information, please go to the MBBG Homepage