What does the park tell us about the drought?

Xochitl, Ashley Wells, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly; Jed Kim (SCPR); Wildflowering.org

What was Los Angeles at the time of Native Americans and what can it be again? (WF)

After some rain earlier in the week, Griffith Park is a greener (Maya Sugarman/KPCC)

 

Dirty cops accused of planting guns

The drought has some people thinking: What would L.A. look like without lawns and sprinklers? Above its watered golf courses and picnic areas, Griffith Park is a snapshot of Southern California without the lattice of plastic and rusted irrigation pipes.

 

At the moment, LA's "central park" is a shining emerald of green, which may seem counterintuitive given that the state as a whole is experiencing one of the worst droughts on record.

Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants (theodorepayne.org)

• April 26: Kill Your Lawn
• May 2: Two-part Herbarium Workshop
• May 3: Native Plant Identification 
• May 10: 3-part Native Garden Design
• May 10: Many Uses of Yucca Workshop
• May 17: CA Native Plant Horticulture
• May 31: Propagating CA Native Plant

Where's the Moon? Uposatha Pasadena

Biologists say that late season rains have helped awaken plants that normally grow earlier in the winter. While flowers and flora in general are making a late rally from the searingly dry early winter months, their success does not mean an end to the drought.

 

“The plants are not a good indicator of how bad the situation is," said Dan Cooper, a biologist who conducts wildlife surveys around the  Southland. "We can be fooled by looking at all these wildflowers and greenery and thinking we’re out of the drought, but just because you see a lot of green and wildflowers, we’re definitely not out of the drought.” LISTEN

Sex controversial billboards (laweekly.com)

Leaders gather in LA to address human trafficking (and SEXUAL slavery) in California (Monica Luhar) The gathering will explore the best practices statewide to combat the crime statewide. The event features officials and lawmakers from L.A., San Diego, and Alameda counties.

EARTH DAY (WEEKEND): Wildflowering L.A. Spring Exhibition

Blooming in the urban concrete jungle

Fritz Haeg’s Wildflowering L.A. project (commissioned and organized by LAND (Los Angeles Nomadic Division) will culminate this weekend, April 26-27 at THE SHED: 1355 Lincoln Ave., Pasadena, 91103. 12:00-6:00 pm daily.

The bees and frogs are returning (WF)

LA’s emerging space for urban permaculture, planning, and land use by La Loma Development Company, the exhibit features flowers and photos fresh from project sites presented on a vast L.A. County map, along with project archives, artist-designed posters, educational activities for all ages, conversations with experts including representatives from the Theodore Payne Foundation and project participants, a live broadcast by KCHUNG, music by Pawing at the Ceiling, seasonal refreshments by Thank You For Coming, and more. See a MAP of all 50 sites and streaming #wildfloweringla updates.

Who needs a thirsty lawn when everyone can have a water-free garden? (wildflowering.org)

Native American Herb Walks (April 5, 2014)

Xochitl, Ashley Wells, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly; Moonbeam (FollowYourHeart.com)

Bee harmlessly collects nectar and sunflower pollen under an approving Surya (S-K)

The Heart Center, (818) 348-3240

Follow Your Heart (FYH) and Wisdom Quarterly invite everyone to join in a very fun, beautiful, and informative Herb Walk through Bee Canyon.
 
Our guide William Broen will identify and talk about medicinal and edible plants of California. Broen will focus particularly on the traditional Native American and modern uses of 2-30 different native and introduced plants including: elderberry, mugwort, yerba santa, milk thistle, nettles, black sage, and many more. Our guide will also discuss folklore and legends associated with many of the plants. The three-hour walks will be on easy trails well suited for people of all levels of hiking experience.

• FREE, Saturday, April 5, 2014
• 11:00 am-2:00 pm + 3:00-6:00 pm
• O'Melveny Park, Granada Hills

Wear comfortable shoes, dress in layers, bring hat and sunglasses and sunscreen. Water and trail mix will be provided by FYH.

 

O'Melveny Park: Bee Canyon (AllTrails.com), O'Melveny (Yelp reviews), O'Melveny (LAMountains.com), O'Melveny (LA Trails), O Melveny Park (LA Times), Lookout Loop (Nobody Hikes in L.A.)

 

Sacred lands

Follow Your Heart on Pinterest, Facebook

Indigenous Tongva (Los Angeles) and Chumash (Malibu) and Tataviam (NW LA/Ventura) and Acagchemem (Orange County) peoples were lovers of Nature, lovers of flowers, lovers of herbs and herbal cures. Plants cure what ails human beings and other earthlings. But with the loss of Native languages, lineages, the lore, plant knowledge is disappearing only to be revived by Americans passionate about what was lost/displaced when we overran the original inhabitants' subsisting on their native lands.

DIRECTIONS: From Follow Your Heart [21825 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, CA 91303, (818) 348-3240] take Topanga Canyon Bl. north to Hwy 118 East. Exit Balboa going north for about two miles to Sesnon Ave. (just past Crozco). Go left on Sesnon and drive about 1/4 mile until reaching the O'Melveny Park parking lot on the right side of street. Group will meet at the far end of the lot at 11:00 am and again at 3:00 pm sharp.

WILLIAM BROEN attended Pacific School of Herbal Medicine in Oakland, CA. He works as an educator for Herb Pharm (Herbal Healthcare Products), a company which produces high quality organic and wild herbal supplements sold at FYH. He is also the Herbal Expert at FYH, working Fridays from 4:00-9:00 pm.