OCtOBeR 15, 2010
COMMUnitY
Garden Variety
October: a rare month for plants Jennifer E. Beaver Columnist
The title of this week’s column is adapted from one of my favorite books, Bradbury’s Ray Something Wicked This Way Comes. “First of all, it was October, a rare month for boys,” writes Bradbury in his prologue. The novel is full of light and shadow, cold and heat– all the things that also make up an October planting season in southern California. One brisk day last week, I made soup and chili and traded my sandals for boots. By Halloween, the Santa Ana winds will scorch jack o’ lanterns left grinning on front steps.
Despite these contrasts– or perhaps because of them– October is indeed a rare month for plants. It’s when we put finishing touches on winter vegetable gardens envied by those who live east of the Rockies. And it’s when we plant perennials and ornamental grasses so they develop strong root systems thanks to winter rain. My raised bed will certainly include kale, a vegetable with a mysteriously ardent fan club. Whenever I mention this leafy cabbage relative, someone yells, “I love kale!” They must appreciate its immune-boosting power and its affinity for garlic in soups, sautés and salads. I’m also yearning for broccolini, a slender cross between broccoli and kale that shows up on menus swathed in olive oil or tossed with pasta. I’m hunting
for broccolini plants because I’m too lazy to grow it from seed. I’m a sucker for ornamental grasses and planted them along the new decomposed granite path that winds through my front yard. They’re part of the drought-tolerant palette favored by the Long Beach Water Department. On one side of the path, there’s Mexican feather grass, a twofoot-high confection of spring green and maize-y yellow; on the other, mop-top fescue with its foot-high blue-green leaves. What’s not to love? Ornamental grasses are idiot proof, resist bugs, wave in the breeze, and always look great as long as you chop them down once or twice a year. That’s my kind of plant. Got fruit trees? Cleaning up dropped fruit will discourage insects
Helping others help themselves is mission of new LB nonprofit A new nonprofit named America Lends a Hand is now in the forming stage and will kick off with a benefit brunch on Sunday, Dec. 5. America Lends a Hand will be a 501.c3 organization which will distribute funds to community-level organizations to support their projects and programs, and it will be volunteer led. Long Beach resident Brad Shore is the founder and president of the organization. “I see an incredible need to help others help themselves,” he said. “When we
come together as a community, as a nation, to help, we all benefit.” The issues on which America Lends a Hand will focus will be determined locally because of the diversity of the communities to be served. However, the main focus areas will involve three primary areas: mental health, education and “Research4Cures.” “I am thrilled to get this off the ground and have been wanting to do so for a long time,” Shore said. “My goal is to get this going at the local level and eventually have it spread across the country.”
The kick-off champagne potluck brunch will benefit local Long Beach foster kids and will take place at a private Long Beach residence from 11:30am to 2:30pm. For more information about ‘America Lends A Hand’ or the brunch, or to volunteer, contact Shore at (562) 225-6548 or email AmericaLendsA Hand@gmail.com.
SignAL tRiBUne
as well as more serious predators: coyotes. In Wrigley, at least five cats have been killed by coyotes in the past two weeks. Coyotes are attracted by any kind of food, including fruit, pet food left outside, and stray animals.
with Pat Andersen Sunday, 10/17 @ 1:30pm
Belly Dance — Sunday, Oct. 24 at 4pm
3910 Atlantic Ave.• Bixby Knolls Parking & entrance in back
(562) 989-9959 • www.freespirityoga.com
EvEry Thursday 3pm - 6:30pm • 46th and atlantic
in Bixby Knolls - Just South of Del Amo
AREA R O B R A H
Jennifer E. Beaver, a Wrigley resident, is a master gardener and author of Container Gardening for California. ß
Port offering grant to help health facilities limit air pollution The Port of Long Beach is seeking applicants for a new $5-million community grant program designed to help medical centers, senior facilities and health organizations improve health by limiting exposure to air pollution and increasing health awareness in areas of Long Beach closest to the Port and its trade corridors. In this second round of Port Grant Programs, the Port is reaching out to medical centers, convalescent homes and other health-care sites to reduce indoor air pollution. Health organizations and agencies would also be invited to seek funding for outreach and screening programs that address respiratory and cardiopulmonary issues. The first round of the Port’s community grants
recently announced nearly $5 million in aid to local schools and day-care facilities. The applications for the program are now available, and a series of three workshops to help the public apply for grants will be • Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2pm to 3:30pm, Cesar Chavez Park, 401 Golden Ave. • Thursday, Oct. 21, 6pm to7:30pm, Miller Family Health Education Center, 3820 Cherry Ave. • Thursday, Oct. 28, 6pm to 7:30pm, Mark Twain Library, 1401 E. Anaheim St. ----------------------------------------MORE INFORMATION polb.com/healthgrants 1-888-789-GRANT (4726)
pected to start in summer 2011. Since 2004, the City of Long Beach has worked to gain public support, secure funding, coordinate with Los Angeles County and prepare construction plans for the project. Other funds that have been secured include: a $2.5 million California Resources Agency grant announced last month; $1,217,593 from the California Coastal Conservancy; and $2.5 million from Los Angeles County Prop A River Fund/Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe. ß
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“I would like to thank the board of the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy for authorizing this funding. This wonderful partnership will have a positive impact on this area for many years to come,” said 8th District Councilwoman Rae Gabelich. “Our community will be thrilled to know that we now have the ability to move forward with this very exciting project,” said 9th District Long Beach City Councilmember Steven Neal. “Residents for generations to come will be able to enjoy the beauty and recreational amenities of this restored wetlands area.” The DeForest Wetlands are located along the lower Los Angeles River, south of DeForest Park to Del Amo Boulevard and are bisected by Long Beach Boulevard. The project design is 60-percent complete, with construction ex-
Animal Care Services has named Wrigley as a Wildlife Watch Designation and will be coming through the neighborhood to tell us how to discourage coyotes and keep pets safe. ß
Foam Roller/Myofascial Release Workshop
DeForest Wetlands Restoration project receives final grant needed for its completion The DeForest Wetlands Restoration secured the last piece of funding needed to complete the project when the Board of the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC) authorized a $1 million grant in September. The grant secures the total project funding of $7 million required to restore the 34-acre flooddetention basin through planting native flora and creating trails, overlooks and interpretive displays. The project will improve water quality while retaining flood-control properties to create a river parkway along the lower Los Angeles River. In addition, the project will connect the Dominguez Gap Wetlands project to the south and DeForest Park to the north, providing more than 90 acres and direct public access to the 51-mile Lower Los Angeles River Parkway Bike Trail.
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