2017 Theodore Payne Native Plant Garden Tour seeks native gardens

The Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants is looking for those with outstanding native landscapes to participate in their 2017 Native Plant Garden Tour, held on April 1 & 2, 2017. This Garden Tour is Theodore Payne’s largest annual outreach event, and has been helping Angeleno’s experience the authentic and sustainable beauty of California native gardens first-hand for nearly fifteen years!

Garden owners or designers interested in participating must complete an online application located here: nativeplantgardentour.org/apply The application period ends October 1, 2016.

Gardens must be planted with at least 50% California native plants, and ideally be at least three years old as of 2017. More detailed information is found in the online application.

2017-GT-Call-for-Gardens

First Annual GWNC Drought-Tolerant Garden Tour

Drought-Tolerant Garden TourPresented by the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council Sustainability Committee

Sunday, June 26, 2016
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Meet at Harold A. Henry Park, 890 S. Lucerne Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90005

  • Explore prime examples of drought-tolerant and sustainable gardens
  • Engage in discussions with landscape designers, landscape architects, and homeowners about their creations
  • Enjoy presentation on drought-tolerant plants by the Theodore Payne Foundation
  • Learn about gardens created using Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Rebates
  • See how sustainable landscaping is going beyond home gardening with a presentation on the landscaping at Harold A. Henry Park and the Ridgewood-Wilton medians
  • Experience the Greater Wilshire area!

For more information, please email sustainability@greaterwilshire.org

GWNC Drought Tolerant Garden Tour GWNC Drought Tolerant Garden Tour 2016

Resilient Landscape Design for Residential Parkways Presentation

during a look at how different homeowners have gardened in the strip of ground between the sidewalk and the street, Tuesday in Venice, May 09, 2006. We're showing different ways readers can approach this difficult spot of ground with its particular challenges -- watering, opening doors, etc.

Environmental & Sustainability Committee Special Presentation

Join us this Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. when Mike Meador, CEO of California Greenworks, Inc. will discuss sustainable landscape design for residential parkways emphasizing the use of drought-tolerant plants and stormwater capture systems. Mr. Meador will also discuss the importance of enhancing Los Angeles’ urban forest and the planting of parkway trees to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance home energy savings.

When: Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Youth Chapel Room
Wilshire United Methodist Church
4350 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90005

Follow this event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1093787700692431/

GWNC Sustainability Committee First Annual Sustainable Garden Tour

The Los Angeles Basin will continue to experience drought and higher temperatures for the foreseeable future.  In response, many people are removing water intensive turf in favor of drought tolerant landscapes.  In order to help provide inspiration for those thinking of making changes, The Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council Sustainability Committee is pleased to announce its first Annual Sustainable Garden Tour.  The tour will be free and take place on Sunday, June 26, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and will also include educational seminars. 

We are soliciting nominations for gardens to be included on the tour. Self-nominations are acceptable.  The gardens can be homeowner designed or professionally designed, but should meet the following criteria:

I. Location
Within the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council comprised of Brookside, Citrus Square, Country Club Heights, Fremont Place, Hancock Park, La Brea Hancock, Larchmont Village, Melrose, Oakwood-Maplewood-St. Andrews, Ridgewood-Wilton-St. Andrews Square, Sycamore Square, Western-Wilton, Wilshire Park, Windsor Square, and Windsor Village.

II. Size
Small and intimate or large
Front yard only, back yard only, or both

III.  Irrigation
Primarily drip irrigation

IV. Plants
Drought tolerant plant palette drawing upon plants from South Africa, Australia, the Mediterranean, and California natives.
Garden turf not to exceed 50%.
Use of mulch to retain moisture.

V. (Optional) Water Capture:
Use of rain barrels, cisterns, bioswales, etc.

VI. (Optional) Pollinator Plants:
Attracts birds, bees, and butterflies.

 Nomination Procedure:

Nominate your yard, your neighbor’s yard, or a  sustainable landscape in the Greater Wilshire area that you admire! 

Please send your application(s) to sustainability@greaterwilshire.org by May 20, 2016.

Please include the following information:

Name; Address; Email; Phone; One paragraph narrative description and 2-3 photos.

For questions, please email sustainability@greaterwilshire.org