Lawndale Library Ocean Friendly Demonstration Garden Stays Cool In Summer!

Lawndale Library OFG August 2011

An Ocean Friendly Garden, like this one at Lawndale Library gets cooler as temperatures rise.  Although the spring wildflowers mostly have finished blooming, the Erigeron glauca ‘Cape Sebastian’ (beach daisy) is going strong.  

Erigeron Glauca Lights Up The Summer Garden

Both Encelia californica (coast sunflower) and Epilobium (California fuchsia) are moving around the garden, seeding freely and setting up shop in crannies more nurturing than where they were originally planted. The Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ provides a deep burgundy  color and spreads its branches, while the Rhus integrifolia (lemonade berry) and Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii (Catalina cherry) hedges are shooting up like rockets.  Why does anyone plant ficus when these amazing California native shrubs grow just as rapidly and  provide a deep green, low-maintenance, habitat-creating, no-water alternative.

Cercis Canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ Welcomes You To Lawndale

In the edible garden, grapes and blackberries are crawling all over the fence, turning the space into a secret garden.  

Birds Love The Prunus Lyonii Hedge

The Library’s addition of two wood benches, hand-crafted by local Lawndale craftsman, Chris Swain, provide a welcome place to sit and be restored by the bounty and beauty of this people-friendly urban oasis.  

The Lawndale Library Ocean Friendly Garden is located at 14616 Grevillea Avenue, Lawndale, CA.  Parking is available on the street and in the adjacent Lawndale Library parking lot.

About Pamela Berstler

Thought-leader on the Watershed Approach to landscaping and the role gardens play in pushing back against climate change.