Posts Tagged ‘native plants’
Parkman Triangle Park in Silver Lake
January 30th, 2010 | 
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At the corner of Silver Lake Boulevard and Parkman Avenue lies a 2000-square foot patch of asphalt that has lain empty for decades. Occasionally, trash is strewn across it; sometimes there are unpermitted weekend yard sales or flea markets; often cars are parked on it illegally. Years ago this space was paved over to make right turns off of Parkman to Silver Lake Blvd. safer, but the redesign left wasted space that currently does nothing for the local community.But soon, after two years of research, phone calls, and neighborhood activism, this barren space in Silver Lake, south of Sunset Boulevard, will become a vibrant park, thanks to the Parkman Triangle Improvement Project. (more...)
The Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden
Rio is one of those must visit cities, so you should be sure to visit before the 2016 Summer Olympics in case its leaders decide to erase its wonderful retro sheen.Naturally the beaches are lovely, but you must visit the Botanical Garden, at the foot of Corvocado mountain. When we visited in 2004, we happened to visit there on a very rainy day, but we loved every moment of it. Whether you are into orchids, palms, carnivorous plants, cacti, or flowers, you will be in heaven.
The Brazilian Decade?
Happy New Year and New Decade! From the "buzz" I've heard, 2010 will be a pivotal year for those involved in the sustainability movement. New technologies advancing smart grid and electric vehicles may (or may not) take off, and investment and opportunities in renewable and alternative fuels may (or may not) surge. GreenGoPost plans on also focusing on one of the world's most important nations that may (or may not) have an even greater role on the global scene: Brazil. (more...)Guerrillas in the Midst
Activism. Activist. They are words that many people love to shout out. To me, they often give me the creeps.How many times have you heard someone say, "I don't eat THIS" or "I don't buy THAT" or "I don't do ALLOFTHEABOVE."
My response is: it's always easier to NOT do something. It takes a lot more commitment to actually do, or COUNTER, something to which you are opposed.
Well, Saturday night, as we returned home from dinner in Silver Lake, we saw a group of folks on a corner up to something that looked pretty good. We pulled over, and we saw about 20 folks, of all ages, plowing, hacking, and digging away. Some looked retired; others probably hadn't even started Kindergarten. They all were having a blast. (more...)
Bleed Dodger Blue. Feel Sustainably Green.
Rooting for the Los Angeles Dodgers is almost like begging for physical abuse in the Bay Area, where I grew up. Well, now that my favorite adopted baseball team (I'm not abandoning the Oakland A's, despite their recent sad performance), is the Dodgers, let me rave about this organization. After all, with all the debate over energy efficiency and global warming, I need some light-hearted fare once in a while. Plus the Dodgers just won their division after a late-season scare, so let's celebrate! (more...)
Posted in art and culture, construction and architecture, energy, transportation, water | 
Tags: Dodger Stadium, LEED, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Dodgers, native plants, vegetarian | 
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The Tree of Hell
Invasive species are difficult to eliminate once you plant them. I admit I was eco-punked once: I went to a trusted nursery and asked for good ground cover, and after I planted these shrubs where I was living at the time. Later, I found out that I planted . . . an invasive species from New Zealand. I was mortified, and furious at the nursery (I haven’t returned since), but had already planted them, and well, it’s just a small section. Many of these invasive species took root when state transportation agencies planted them along highways because they required little watering. There’s one monster, however, that vexes us year-round: The Tree of Heaven, or Ailanthus altissima. (more...)
Palms Away
When one thinks of Los Angeles, palm trees immediately come to mind. Hardly a city block lacks a business with Palm in its name, and whether you’re in affluent Brentwood or the effluent neighborhoods near downtown, palms line the streets. When visitors send postcards home, most likely they’re showing off palm trees. We’ve got a few on our property. They are an LA icon.
But they are not native to Los Angeles.
And they are dying off.
(more...)
Posted in air - land - quality of life |
Tags: air pollution, invasive species, Los Angeles, native plants, palm trees, Silver Lake |
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Just Say Bye to Your Lawns
We've been talking for decades about greening L.A., so it doesn't make sense to put forth a policy that's going to make everyone's lawns go brown.
- Matt Myerhoff, spokesman for LA City Councilman Greig Smith
Huh? (more...)
Posted in air - land - quality of life, politics, water |
Tags: grass, Greig Smith, ladwp, landscaping, lawns, Los Angeles, native plants, Rachel Carson |
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