Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Sunset Magazine: Lose the Lawn
Julie sent in a link to this great article in Sunset magazine about getting rid of your lawn. If that isn't enough to convince you read Tree of Life's Kill your Lawn webpage. We are planning our own Get Rid of the Lawn class for our Fall Series - so stay tuned!
MBBG is on the Map
Like Spring Hummingbirds on Red Gooseberry the garden attracts talent at the right time. We've been eyeing the property just South of the garden along the lower path that runs from the lower entrance through Polliwog Park out to Manhattan Beach Blvd. for an extension to the garden - but we really wanted a good aerial map to show the garden and the new area combined. Enter Chad Flynn, volunteer cartographer, map maker and spatial analysis guru. We are not sure exactly what he really does or what that means but we are so glad for his talent and our wonderful new map! Thanks Chad!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Insects: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Class
Insects: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
May 9, 10-11 am
Gretchen Renshaw-Zwissler, UCLA Instructor
Are you a little squeamish about bugs in your garden, squishing or spraying everything in sight? You may be eliminating insects that turn into beautiful butterflies, or food that could attract colorful birds to your garden. Learn how to identify the good ones and what can be done about the bad ones in an eco-friendly manner. Find out what those ugly ones have to offer and what their purpose is in nature. To have a specific insect identified, bring it to class in a sealed plastic bag.
Meet at the Garden amphitheater, located in Polliwog Park on Peck Ave. just north of Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Photo of Digger Wasp by Julie Gonella
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The Garden Goes Viral
Thanks to the folks at DailyMotion.com we have our own promo. video hosted by our our very own Gretchen Renshaw.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Poppies Appear in the Sage Meadow
Without a care, this month the annual orange California Poppies marched right through the purple perennial Bees Bliss Sages. With a color combo so stunning one can forgive the arrogance of the poppies and the reticent nature of the sages. The ever-silver Canyon Prince Giant Rye Grass agrees.
The Formula:
7 ea - Bee's Bliss Sage (Salvia 'Bee's Bliss) planted 4-5' apart
1-2 ea - Seed Packet of California Poppies sprinkled starting in Nov. or w/ the rains
3 ea - Canyon Prince Giant Rye Grass (Leymus condensatus 'Canyon Prince') planted 4-5' apart
Photo by Julie Gonella
Friday, March 27, 2009
Volunteers are Gold
With over 12 volunteers this past Friday, the garden was bustling like a Sonoran bumble bee in a California Poppy. They planted new grasses by the stream. They laid down tons of mulch. They weeded the wildflower area. We love our volunteers!
Volunteers Juan, Lee and Celeste pictured planting grasses. Photo by Julie Gonella.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Hunting for Native Plants
We know you. You are a South Bay plant geek on the lookout for the best local places to buy California native plants. That is why you are reading this post. Where are they you ask? You already know that Armstrong's used to carry some but the search there this month was fruitless. You know that Annie's in MB used to have some but they are gone. You know unless you are a landscaper you can't get them at Kobata's in Gardena anymore. You know that International Gardens in El Segundo sometimes has some - but will they have a Catalina Ironwood Tree or that Manzanita you read about in Sunset Magazine? You missed the native plant sales at Theodore Payne and The South Coast Botanic Garden. You are tempted to go to Home Depot but you know the only thing there is Red Fountain Grass - and you know it's invasive and not a native. Bite the bullet. You have to drive out of town. Get your list together, fill up the tank and make an adventure of it. What could be better?
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Tree of Life Nursery
33201 Ortega Highway
P.O. Box 635
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693
949-728-0685 call for retail hours
Las Pilitas Nursery
8331 Nelson Way,
Escondido, CA 92026
760-749-5930 call for retail hours
El Nativo Growers
626-969-8449
Plants may be ordered via e-mail @
retailsales@elnativogrowers.com and then picked up in Azusa, CA
LOS ANGELES
Theodore Payne Foundation
10459 Tuxford Street
Sun Valley, CA 91352
818-768-1802 call for days & hours
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