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Summer 2012
The Gardener’s Grapevine
www.manhattanbeachbotanicalgarden.org
President’s Message Celebrating 100 and 20 years! By Martha Andreani, MBBG Secretary
There’s nothing quite like a hometown parade to
celebrate 100 and 20 years! And celebrate we did
in Manhattan Beach’s Centennial Parade on May
19. Not only did the Botanical Garden walk in
the parade to help the City honor its 100th birth‐
day, but we walked to celebrate the Garden’s
20th birthday this year, too!
During the parade line‐
up we could feel the
“buzz” in the air…
Charlotte Marshall was
cutely dressed as a bee,
several others were
wearing bumble bee
wings. Heidi Halverson
‐Gordon was dressed as
a bee‐keeper and her
Great Dane dog, Mimi,
was dressed as the tall‐
est bee you ever did
see. Kathy Clark was
wearing a sunflower
hat she made, and
Marilyn Beaumont was
smartly dressed as
“Mother Earth.” Also
busy as bees were Julie
and Roy Gonella, Renata and Chris Eubank, Bet‐
tycarol Kostan, and Linda Morey. Gretchen
Renshaw was driving our “float,” brimming
with native wildflowers just bursting to show
themselves off in the parade. At her side was
UCLA Jazz student and Mira Costa graduate
Matt Gafney skillfully playing “Flight of the
Bumble Bee” on his saxophone.
Leading the way down the parade route from
Pacific School to Polliwog Park were Martha An‐
dreani and Kerry Harling carrying the M.B. Bo‐
tanical Garden banner. All our “bee‐utiful” pa‐
rade volunteers were definitely crowd‐pleasers,
with our friendly bees distributing California
Poppy seed packets to a smiling, waving crowd!
Fittingly from that clever Centennial Parade
Committee, there were 100 entries in the parade,
and we were delighted to be a part of this
memorable event. To those of you who had the
opportunity to enjoy celebrating our commu‐
nity’s Centennial as a spectator along the parade
route, plant your California Poppy seeds and
continue celebrating your Botanical Garden’s
20th year.
Roy Gonella and Marilyn Beaumont passed out seed packets along the MB Cen-tennial parade route.
Gretchen Renshaw drove the MBBG “float” with sax player Matt Gafney.
2
The Gardener’s Grapevine Published since 1996
Collaborative Editors:
Julie Gonella Ann Barklow
Martha Andreani Charlotte Marshall
Layout Editor:
Suzanne Schultz
The Gardener’s Grapevine is published seasonally by volunteers of the Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden, a nonprofit corporation whose membership includes amateur and professional gardeners. Other organizations may reprint an article if credit is given and the editor is sent a copy. We are grateful to Chevron, the City of Manhattan Beach, Rotary of Manhattan Beach, and VOICE for their generous sponsorship. Manhattan Beach Botani-cal Garden is located in Polliwog Park on Peck Avenue, just north of Manhattan Beach Boulevard.
Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden P.O. Box 1156
Manhattan Beach, CA 90267-1156 (310) 546-1354
MBBG Board of Directors
Charlotte Marshall, President Julie Gonella, Vice President Martha Andreani, Secretary
Roy Gonella, Treasurer Mimi Andersen Jill Brunkhardt
Mike Garcia Dave Harris Eve Kelso
Gretchen Renshaw John Scott
MBBG Board of Advisors
Melanie Baer-Keeley, Horticulturist Tony Baker, Horticulturist
Ann Barklow, Arborist Kathleen Bullard, Environmental Consultant
Greg Monfette, Arborist David Moody, Naturalist
Joyce Haraughty, PR Andrew Pedersen, Entomologist
Bob Shanman, Bird Expert Lisa Ryder Moore, Composting
Committees
Garden Maintenance Friday Volunteer Directors:
Mimi Andersen, Julie Gonella, and Gretchen Renshaw
Large Jobs: Mike Garcia & Enviroscape
Mulch Delivery: Wally Miglin
Volunteers: Julie Gonella
Outreach PR: Charlotte Marshall
Rotary: Dave Harris City Liaison: Eve Kelso
Chevron Liaison: Jill Brunkhardt
Education Interpretive Signs: John Scott
Classes: Martha Andreani Garden Tours: Gretchen Renshaw
Our Mission Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden is a non‐
profit public education organization dedicated
to promoting earth‐friendly gardening tech‐
niques, encouraging the use of California na‐
tive and drought‐tolerant plants, and conserv‐
ing our natural resources.
Please join our all‐volunteer‐run organization
by helping maintain the Garden on Fridays
from 9:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. No need to sign up;
just drop in. We’ll teach you earth‐friendly gar‐
dening techniques and provide the needed
tools. Non‐gardening tasks are available as
well. To learn more about MBBG, visit
www.manhattanbeachbotanicalgarden.org.
New & Improved: www.manhattanbeachbotanicalgarden.org or www.mbbgarden.org
3
Thank You… Volunteers who helped MBBG prepare and partici‐
pate in the Manhattan Beach Centennial Parade:
Martha Andreani; Gretchen Renshaw; Charlotte
Marshall; Julie and Roy Gonella; Kerry Harling;
Marilyn Beaumont; Linda Morey; Kathy Clark; Bet‐
tycarol Kostan; Heidi Halverson‐Gordon and her
Great Dane, Mimi; Matt Gafney; and Chris and Re‐
nata Eubank.
MBBG volunteers who helped the Leadership Manhattan
Beach Class of 2012 with their landscape makeover: Mike
Garcia and Enviroscape: irrigation and water feature; Mimi
Andersen: design and oversight; Jim Catella: demo, gypsum,
and pavers; Julie Gonella: LMB class member, landscape
committee lead; Gretchen Renshaw: plant installation; Roy
Gonella, Marilyn Beaumont, Linda Morey, Sylvia Reyner,
Ellen Sosin, and Bruce Johnson: demo and construction. The
finished Sustainable Garden Project is located at the down‐
town MB Post Office on 15th and Valley.
Gretchen Renshaw and Charlotte Marshall for the lovely watering can bou‐
quets for the Leadership Manhattan Beach graduation dinner.
Bruce Johnson for making
name tags for all the Friday volunteers.
Charlotte Marshall for creating a delicious blackberry (MBBG grown) cob‐
bler for the Friday volunteers.
New & Improved: www.manhattanbeachbotanicalgarden.org or www.mbbgarden.org
Marilyn Beaumont with parade goers.
Bruce Johnson with the Friday volunteer nametags.
Mike Garcia (right) ensured the landscape’s irrigation system and water feature are low-water use and easy maintenance.
4
Worm Suppliers The City of Manhattan Beach offers free composting
classes at MBBG three times each year (check
www.mbbgarden.org for schedule). Also discussed are
worm bins, a great way for gardeners with limited space,
to create Earth‐friendly organic fertilizer from their
kitchen scraps. Here’s a list of worm suppliers in CA
from the CalRecycle website:
http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/worms/
WormSupply.htm
There is also a worm supplier at the Torrance Farmers
Market located at Charles H. Wilson Park, 2200 Crenshaw Blvd. (between Sepulveda Blvd. and Car‐
son St). It is open Tuesdays, 8:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M., and Saturdays, 8:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
Do You Need Soil Testing? Twenty years ago when the Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden site was being prepared, a soil test
was performed once the unwanted vegetation was removed and the ground was leveled and graded.
The soil test established pH and salt levels, and reflected the need for phosphate and potash fertiliz‐
ers. Gypsum powder was applied based on the finding. If you are preparing for a complete yard
makeover or are frustrated by a multitude of sick plants, you may be wondering if performing a soil
test would be beneficial to you.
According to Colorado State Extension Service, “It is important to know that a standard soil test will
not identify the most common garden problems related to overwatering, underwatering, poor soil
drainage, soil compaction, diseases, insects, weed competition, environmental disorders, too much
shade, poor varieties, or basic neglect.” In addition, “Soil testing for nitrogen has limited use for the
home gardener because the nitrogen level constantly changes in response to soil organic matter addi‐
tions, soil microorganism activity, and temperature and moisture levels.”
MBBG board member Gretchen Renshaw tells us that, except for the homeowner with an older build‐
ing who suspects there may be run‐off from lead‐based paint seeping into the yard and causing con‐
tamination, pH level is the most important information to be gained by a soil test. All other values will
need expert interpretation.
To learn more about soil testing, check out this excellent page
from the Orange County Master Gardeners: http://uccemg.com/
Soils‐Fertilizers‐Compost/?uid=1&ds=547.
The Rapitest can be purchased at a reasonable price online: http://
www.amazon.com/Luster‐Leaf‐1601‐Rapitest‐Soil/dp/
B0000DI845/ref=sr_1_1?s=lawn‐
garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1332951424&sr=1‐1.
Gardening Tips
New & Improved: www.manhattanbeachbotanicalgarden.org or www.mbbgarden.org
Red Wigglers are favorites of worm composters.
5
Pest Patrol What to Do About Earwigs? By Andrew Pedersen, En‐
tomologist and MBBG Ad‐
visor
Most of us are familiar with “pincher bugs” that
we usually see under rocks or around our
homes. These insects are called earwigs and the
species we most commonly see in California is
the European earwig, Forficula auriculara. Adult
earwigs are ¾‐inch long, have a brownish color,
and a large pair of “pincers” or cerci that are on
the end of the abdomen. They have two pairs of
wings but these are typically folded up and they
seldom fly. Perhaps the most unique aspect of
earwigs is the females’ tendency to protect and
care for their young after hatching.
Despite their maternal instincts, earwigs can be
significant pests in the garden. They are gener‐
ally a problem on either seedlings or soft‐bodied
fruits, especially strawberries, which are low to
the ground. Their chewing mouth parts create
small, irregular holes. Earwig damage can be
distinguished from that of caterpillars or slugs
by the absence of webbing or slime, respectively.
A great way to manage earwigs in your garden
is to put out traps. You can fill a tuna can with
either fish oil or vegetable oil with bacon grease
to attract and drown earwigs. Another trap type
is any kind of small tubing including rolled up
newspaper. Check your tubing early in the
morning and dump the accumulated earwigs in
some soapy water. Traps should always be
placed near earwigs’ preferred habitats like
wood mulch or dense low growing vegetation.
Another option is to remove these types of habi‐
tats. It is worth noting that earwigs can be bene‐
ficial as they are voracious predators of soft bod‐
ied insects like aphids. It is always best to con‐
firm that earwigs are actually causing damage
before attempting to control them.
New & Improved: www.manhattanbeachbotanicalgarden.org or www.mbbgarden.org
Enjoy the following poem sent to MBBG by Carol
Jacobson about our local dune native, Beach Primrose.
She enjoys watching them spring to life, in spite of
the challenges brought by modern society.
On the Hill By Carol Jacobson
I spring up out of dry hard dirt
heedless of exhaust fumes on a landslide
hill – hardened by a century of ozone
and smog, surrounded by tough natives.
Photosynthesis is thy Name – survivor of
ruggedest – stamen and petals spread
open to catch moist sunshine.
I reflect sand dunes 300 years
ago. My roots grapple, grasp
whatever they need to suck, suckle –
a foundation as I sprout
like so many family trees—close to
earth—bound by Nature’s gravity.
Green selfish leaves intertwine, spread
along my tangled paths. At my tips
Glory is announced, amber orange
tightly enclosed buds, embryo to
come.
Riding high: Sunshine matriarch
four petals strong yet buttersoft.
6
Organizational News The Manhattan Beach Historical Society (MBHS) requested the help of MBBG this spring to advise
and assist in the creation of a new “historical dune” landscape surrounding its cottage in Polliwog
Park. MBHS board member Gary McAulay recruited Julie Gonella from MBBG for the project, and
A.J. Shoemaker of MB Boy Scout troop 849 who was seeking an Eagle Scout project.
The site preparation was extensive and, in addition to removing all the non‐native, water‐intensive
vegetation, the City was required to relocate the wheelchair ramp from the front to the side of the
building. This greatly enlarged the “front yard,” providing plenty of space for dune natives such as
Giant coreopsis, Seaside daisy, Dune lupine, Dune tansy, Coyote brush, and Dune poppies. Some
grassy sedges, a type of grass similar to those that graced the Polliwog Park area years ago when it
was a seasonally flooded vernal pool were also added, as well as the new official Manhattan Beach
City flower, Beach primrose. Ice plant was installed along the west side of the house as a historically
significant plant. Since the early 1900s, this South African native has been used extensively along
South Bay dunes to stabilize the sand.
A.J. and his troop finished the Eagle project just in time for the Manhattan Beach Centennial parade
celebration on May 19. The parade terminated at Polliwog Park, providing an opportunity for hun‐
dreds of locals to view a new and unique display relating to the history of Manhattan Beach. If you
haven’t already done so, stop by the “Little Red House” at 1601 Manhattan Beach Blvd. and check it
out. The cottage museum is open Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 3:00 P.M. The new garden can
be viewed any time.
New & Improved: www.manhattanbeachbotanicalgarden.org or www.mbbgarden.org
7
New & Improved: www.manhattanbeachbotanicalgarden.org or www.mbbgarden.org
Do You Need Your Lawn? By Tony Baker, Natural Landscapes
America loves turf. In fact it’s a downright obsession. Sadly, the
vast majority of lawns have no other use than to be green. While
driving around the South Bay, I am constantly amazed by the vast
expanses of lawn area blanketing our landscapes when we live in a
unique Mediterranean climate in which we can grow almost any
plant we care to. As a landscaper, I sometimes incorporate small lawn areas into otherwise drought
tolerant landscapes. A surface of soft grass can’t be beat for frolicking with your dog, as a setting for
the backyard barbeque, or kicking around a soccer ball with your kids. But do we really need a half
acre of it around the house, covering the parkway strip, or a vast expanse surrounding an industrial
park? The monoculture that we know of as the modern lawn wastes precious resources and has al‐
most zero habitat value. Maintaining a perfect green carpet of turf requires applications of chemical
fertilizers, broadleaf herbicides, pesticides, and copious amounts of water.
Some H₂0 facts to ponder:
Home water use in America is estimated to average about 43 billion gallons per day. About half is
used outside the house and much of that is used to irrigate lawns.
The total lawn area of home landscapes, golf courses, and sports fields in America adds up to ap‐
proximately 63,000 square miles, an area larger than many states.
In order to keep all this turf green, Americans use 19 trillion gallons of water per year.
In California, it is estimated that residential lawns take up 300,000 acres.
The average California lawn uses about 45,000 gallons of water per year.
The amount of water used by California homeowners to irrigate their lawns is equal to the yearly
flow of the Kern and Owens Rivers combined.
We over water our lawns by up to 50 percent with much of the excess running off into waterways
and oceans, polluting them with fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.
Sod is the largest crop in America and supports a $60 billion turf grass industry.
Thirteen percent of the electricity generated in the U.S. is used to pump, treat, and move water
from one place to another.
Over the next 25 years, the bill nationwide for water treatment and delivery system upgrades is
estimated to be about $1 trillion.
Due to diversions, the Colorado River no longer reaches the Gulf of California, Owens Lake is dry,
and the San Joaquin/Sacramento River Delta faces environmental catastrophe.
What’s a responsible green citizen to do? Well, we can shrink our lawns or lose them altogether and
encourage others to do the same. An alternative could be to plant a native California grass or natural
meadow that will use much less water than the standard sod. To help you, obtain a copy of Reimagin‐
ing the California Lawn by Carol Bornstein, David Fross, and Bart O’Brien. This valuable book contains
a wealth of information on removing existing lawns and designing and implementing drought toler‐
ant options.
8
Landscape Transformation at the Post Office
New & Improved: www.manhattanbeachbotanicalgarden.org or www.mbbgarden.org
Old Post Office Landscape. The 2011 Manhattan Beach Envi‐
ronmental Task Force, including two MBBG board members,
chose the downtown Post Office site to demonstrate sustainable
landscaping. Leadership Manhattan Beach (LMB), Class of
2012, took on the funding and labor of the “Sustainable Garden
Project.”
Site Demo and Grading. Once diseased trees, grass, and old
shrubs were removed, the mounded site was leveled to prevent
water runoff into streets leading to the ocean. Truckloads of soil
were removed along with tree stumps and piles of roots.
Smothered with Mulch. Due to time constraints, weeds and the
top layer of lawn were removed early on with a backhoe. Their
roots were then killed using the “smother method” (newspapers
topped with six inches of tree trimming mulch), which denied
them sunlight, oxygen, and water. This was left in place for ap‐
proximately two months. (To save the backhoe step, the smoth‐
ering layer can be applied to a closely mowed lawn and left on
for two to six months during the dry summer/fall seasons).
Conduits and Permeable Paths. With the Art Commission’s
approval, the large metal sculpture was moved closer to the
building and lowered to put it in scale with the building.
Trenches for the main water lines and power conduits were dug
and the pipes installed underground. Using Epic Benderboard,
a product created from recycled plastic, “circulation” paths
were laid out, directing pedestrians through the landscape.
These paths were filled with three to four inches of decomposed
granite (DG), a porous material that allows rain water to soak
into the ground where it can be naturally filtered before reach‐
ing the water table.
9
Garden and Soil Enhancements. Boulders were strategically
placed throughout the garden and the soil was fortified with
donated amendment and gypsum.
Plants and Irrigation. Fifty‐four different species of climate ap‐
propriate shrubs and trees were installed including succulents,
native ceanothus, sages, bunch grasses, Western redbuds, and a
donated Western Sycamore. An area of sod was planted for dog
owners. Lines of underground drip irrigation donated by Rain
Bird were placed near each plant. A rock fountain was added to
provide interest for people and a drink for wildlife.
Pavers and Benches. Cement pavers were laid in heavy traffic
areas. They were installed without cement in order to maintain
as much permeability as possible during rain. Sparkling recy‐
cled glass was added to accent pavers and two custom made
benches.
Ribbon Cutting, Enjoy, and Learn. At the May 12 ribbon cut‐
ting ceremony, Mayor Wayne Powell congratulated LMB and
the more than 150 volunteers, including many MBBG members,
who contributed to the new sustainable garden. The community
is invited to enjoy and learn from this project.
10
www.manhattanbeachbotanicalgarden.org
Oak ($5,000)
Chevron Corporation
Alder ($1,000)
Mike Garcia
Helen Ristani
Rotary Club of MB
Redbud ($500)
Julie & Roy Gonella
Bruce Johnson
David Lesser & Family
Kim Lewis
MB Property Owners Association
John Scott
Sage ($250)
Martha Andreani
Charlotte & John Barry
Kathy Clark
Kristie Daniel‐DiGregorio
Hermosa Garden Club
Kellie Hunter
Edie Merrifield & Family
Neptunian Women’s Club
Deborah & John Porter & Family
Bob Shanman of Wild Birds
Unlimited: Free Birdseed
Buckwheat ($100)
Ann Barklow
Janet Brownlee
Kathleen Bullard
Dr. Maria Capaldo
Ann Dalkey
Maria Doiev
The Goshtigian Family
Dave Harris
Deborah & Will Hass
Russ & Charlotte Lesser
Marina del Rey Garden Center
Cheryll Lynn & Scott McNabb
Lisa & Patrick Moore
Robin & Sharon Nakazaki & Family
Laura & Layton Pace
Bernard & Shirley Reyner
Hans & Rachel Vandenberg
Geoffrey Yarema
Zwissler Family
Poppy ($50)
Anonymous
Isa & Barry Anderson
Diane & Lou Charbonneau
Jim Catella
Cathy Clous
Thomas Conroy & Alice
Neuhauser
Stana Edgington
Virginia Evans
Gail & Wayne Fenner
Kaye Gagnon
Georgette Gantner
Stephanie & Gabriel
Goshtigian
Mike Gumino
Joyce & Ken Haraughty
Betty Keel
Kris Lauritson
Liza Levine
Charlotte Marshall
Ann Martin
McAree Family
Don & Jeanne McPherson
Pamela McManus
Meyers Family
Andrea Miller
Vickie Ruch
Dixie Roy
Carol Tanner
Temple Shalom
Phyllis & John Wormington
Thank You MBBG Sponsors!
Printed on Recycled Paper Printing Courtesy of Chevron
The Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden is located in Polliwog Park on Peck Avenue, just north of Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Become a Sponsor and/or Member of Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden—P.O. Box 1156, Manhattan Beach, CA 90267‐1156
Name _______________________________________________ Telephone _________________________
Mailing Address ___________________________________________________________________________
E‐Mail Address if you would like to receive The Gardener’s Grapevine electronically along with
occasional bulletins_________________________________________________________________________
Membership: Student, $12 Senior, $18 Regular, $24 Family (Household), $36
New Member Renewal
Sponsorship Levels: Poppy $50 Buckwheat $100 Sage $250 Redbud $500 Alder $1,000 Oak $5,000
Please support our all‐volunteer organization. Dues and donations to the Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden are tax de‐
ductible and are used for outreach and education, as well as for the purchase of new plants, the replacement of garden
tools and materials and occasional special projects requiring hired contractors.
