Tag Archive
Gardening: Saving Water and Bees in San Jose
For many reasons plants native to California are quickly disappearing, urban development being just one. Citizen groups are encouraging homeowners to use native plants in their landscaping. Not only do these plants look natural and save water, they may be beneficial to birds, butterflies, and play a role in saving the bee population. “If the... »
Help You Can The Pelican
This is the second time in about as many weeks that I’ve been up-close and personal with a dead brown pelican along Ballona Creek. Maybe you’ve heard the big birds — recently de-listed from their endangered status — have been having a really rough time of it through the storms of these last couple... »
The Going Native Garden Tour 2010
This free tour features plants native to California which can flourish with as little water, chemical, and pesticide use as possible. Registration for the April 18, 2010 Going Native Garden Tour is now open. It (Registration) will close on Sun, April 18, 2010 @ 3:00pm or when the tour reaches capacity, whichever comes first. Each... »
Gorgeous Los Angeles
As the temperature soared near 80 degrees today, I took a stroll around my neighborhood and snapped some pictures (more after the jump) of this perfectly amazing February day. Man, I love LA. »
Win A $25 Trader Joe’s Gift Card
I have been shopping at the same Trader Joe’s in Silver Lake for years and somehow never knew about their weekly drawing for a $25 gift card. All you have to do is bring your own bag, or basically not use their paper or disposable bags when you check out, and the cashier will give... »
L.A. River Reading
After reading Zach Behrens’ post on LAist last week about the man seen fishing in the L.A. River, I began to consider how little I know about the often hidden natural habitat of our city. Living in such urban surroundings, dwarfed by skyscrapers and barricaded by strip malls, it’s easy to forget that the... »
Morning Snap: From Dante’s View, Griffith Park, 8:38 a.m.
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A Vertical Garden Is Sprouting On Sunset
An update on Natural Mind, the new salon that is moving into the former Video Market space at 3607 Sunset Blvd in Silver Lake. As you can see in the photos here, a vertical garden has begun to sprout all over the walls of the building. This project has been in the... »
Storm Watch 2010 – This Time It’s Personal
Below is a copy of the storm alert that was distributed by U.S. Geological Survey/Pacific Science Center. You gotta love a guy who closes a lengthy memo like this with, “In short,” (thanks to Karineh for the attachment): “Currently, the strong El Nino is reaching its peak in the Eastern Pacific, and now finally appears... »
It Caught My Eye: A Big-Ass & Growing Plume Of Smoke Along The Coast
I just double-taked like a pro looking out my 10th-floor Westchester office window and seeing this towering smoke monster growing out in the direction of LAX (click to biggify): I’m going to assume it’s some sort of enviornmentally toxic discharge (isn’t THAT a relief!?) from one of the oil refineries out there nearer the coastline.... »
Recycle That Tree!
I know, it’s only three days after Christmas, but it’s the most wonderful time to discuss Christmas Tree Recycling in the City of Los Angeles. Let’s prepare for 2010 by doing the right thing with your tree. First of all, if you live in a house with a green bin, the best thing to do... »
It Caught My Eye: Ballona Creek Guppy/Tsunami Watch!
In a stroke of serendipitousnessiosity this morning on my way to work, I happened to look down into the shallow channelized waters of Ballona Creek, which I was biking across via the Inglewood Boulevard bridge, and what to my wondering eyes should appear but a couple you-don’t-see-that-everyday surprises that I managed to capture on... »
This is Why I Have a Brita
Pop quiz, hotshot: Where do you think Los Angeles tap water ranks on a list compared to, say, 99 other cities in the United States? Let’s designate #1 as “good quality,” and #100 as “more of an industrial-strength varnish removal agent than a potable source of human hydration.” Go on, guess. Number 12, maybe?... »
Judge Thomas McKnew (LA Superior Court) Suspends LA’s Trap-and-Release Programs for Feral Cats
You know the great clinic I told you about (click for pics of cute kittens) some months ago that will spay & neuter your kitties for free? Fix Nation? They’ve now been suspended from providing those free services. Here’s what happened: “Wild bird groups sued the City of Los Angeles in 2008 to stop its support... »
Local School Club Gets Award
Minutes 6-13 of the City Council meeting shows a portion of the Horace Mann Recycle Club getting an award, from either HP Pavilion or Allied Waste, not sure. This is an effort over the last few years at a local school, and the lengths and breadth of this program is pretty neat. Each... »