Streetside Gardening

Starting to see an interesting trend here in the San Fernando Valley and other parts of Los Angeles. Through a series of grants and programs, garden islands have been springing up in the middle of busy streets. In my case, the car dealers that line Van Nuys Boulevard have funded the work. It appears that various teen work groups are providing the labor and maintenance.

My only fear is that the lousy economy and non-existent budgets will leave the islands to turn into just another weed patch, but so far, so good. I know it does my heart good to find a bit of nature in the big city. Maybe it will help reduce the amount of Road Rage. One can hope!

Busy, busy, busy

It has been busy in all sorts of ways here at the Welch Homestead. Even with all the work going on Rosanne still found time to move a shrub rose to make room for a small herb garden. I cleaned up all the grass and weeds sprouted by the Spring rains and pruned all six of our small Monterey pines to keep them smaller and develop the gnarled and twisted limbs that give them some character. Still many more projects to do before our annual summer potluck in June.