The 4th Annual Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase

The Mar Vista Community Council invites you to participate in the FREE fourth annual Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase - a citywide Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 21st, 2012 from 10 am to 4pm. See the gardens on the tour here. 


    Use this MAP to plan your own personal tour. 


We will also have published maps for 6 separate walking tours available in April. We have 50 NEW gardens this year! Use the  labels on the side bar to preview the gardens by areas of special interest.

The tour showcases drought-resistant landscapes and edible gardens with sustainability features ranging from composting techniques to water capture practices. Urban farms range from aquaponic farming to 6 gardens with chicken coops. This year the tour places special emphasis on the critical need for ocean friendly gardens and California native gardens that support much needed pollinators such as honey bees and monarch butterflies. See how creating outdoor rooms provides much more useful livable space than a traditional lawn and creates a sense of community.

This giant eco-festival is comprised of 90 private resident gardens broken into 6 compact self-guided walking tours throughout Mar Vista. On the heels of three wildly successful prior tours that topped 2,000 attendees last year, the Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase will include special guest presenters at many gardens to enhance your knowledge of sustainability in daily living. Especially valuable is the chance for guests to meet do it yourself gardeners who share knowledge and experience. This is truly a giant block party throughout Mar Vista and you will have a blast meeting your neighbors as you visit their gardens.

The Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase seeks to empower Los Angelenos to adopt environmentally conscious living solutions. With most people walking or biking their tours, there is a tremendous sense of community as residents throughout Southern California come to Mar Vista to celebrate our shared vision for a greener life.

Guest presenters on the tour include HoneyLove.org, Los Angeles County Master Gardeners,The Seed Library of Los Angeles, Open Neighborhoods on solar and  Grow Native Nursery. 26 Landscape designers will be at gardens to answer questions and share information.

Mar Vista can make a difference!

For more information please email gardens@marvista.org

Media is welcome.

3411 Cabrillo Boulevard

When Jim Matsuo designed the front yard the homeowners requested a low maintenance and beautiful front yard.  There are two screens made of silver sheen trees that block the view from other homes and they love the results.  There rocks instead of grass in the front yard and two hammocks swings which are quite inviting and relaxing when one is sitting below the old magnolia tree.

They back yard has grass for the three dogs.  They just couldn’t deny them opportunity to frolic around the grass.  There are wonderful areas of azaleas and hydrangeas from Trader Joe's that have really grown into the yard.  They also have a wonderful gas fire pit that has become a great hang out place for friends and co-workers to sip on vodka and smoke cigars.  

The Jacuzzi on our back deck and it is completely screened with silver sheen trees. Who could ask for more!?

Behind the back building a surprise : 3 raised beds for flowers, vegetables and herbs and 3 citrus trees, which are all finally bearing fruit.

3658 Mountain View Avenue

This Craftsman  house was built in 1914 and is the oldest house on the block.  The same builder did the two houses to the south of them the following year, both in brick. This is an original lot with a 110 foot frontage. This front garden was designed by landscape architect Katherine Spitz, AIA, ASLA, LEED AP. 

2556 Granville Avenue

This stop is open to showcase their backyard only - well worth the stop to see what you would never suspect was there from the street!

This garden was redesigned completely following a remodel in 1994, when they turned the corner of their triangular lot into a triangular garage - the only way to save the beautiful old avocado tree that anchors the yard. It has been a work in progress since then. Thomas Bloch, the owner, has been the designer as well as the builder in all cases.

Their goal for the garden was to make it a refuge/oasis, while working within the restrictions of the existing hardscape: the brick patio, the brick oven that backs up to the fireplace inside, and the somewhat unusual shape of the lot. Existing trees included the avocado, a row of large ficus along the fence that borders the alley behind them, and an old camellia the size of a tree. And even though the garden is not large, they wanted distinct areas, each with its own feeling and unique vistas. They also wanted a largely drought-tolerant garden, someplace to grow vegetables, and a garden shed to store tools and garden supplies.

The "rooms" in the garden include their gazebo, the raised wooden deck, and the patio. Near the deck they installed a small fountain in the shape of a cube. The garden shed, designed around 4x8 plywood, was custom built. A brick path winds past the avocado tree to join the patio and the garage. The table - a focus for many summer dinners and brunches - is in the gazebo, with other seating options placed strategically on deck and patio. In addition to the garden itself, Thomas designed and built the two redwood benches (as well as the deck and the garden shed).

They love the way different shades of green play off one another and other colors. They chose New Zealand flax and blue fescues to shape the garden, with a accent plants including euonymous, palm, heavenly bamboo, bay, rosemary, rose, and other herbs. Two barrel cactuses round things out. On the patio, large white planters hold colorful kalanchoes. And the raised beds currently have a newly-planted pomegranate tree, as well as a host of seasonal vegetables and flowers: fava beans, beets, lettuces, pansies, garlic, and more. Every spring they host mockingbirds, who nest on the property, and throughout the year various birds and butterflies visit. (The former resident squirrel was asked to leave when he started to chew out chunks of our cushions for a nest.)

Their garden has indeed become the refuge we planned and hoped for. Spending time in it is a way to recharge, to relax, and to reconnect with nature.

3645 May Street

Looking for a refreshing spot of rosemary lemonade to revive you?  This garden is your oasis.

Shortly after beginning a new position at the Electric Lodge in 2008, a performing arts and environmental community center, this homeowner started to rethink their lifestyle. It became a personal mission to find practical ways of reducing their impact on the environment.

On walks to work, they saw traditional gardens that were being transformed into eco-friendly oases. After attending the Mar Vista Garden Tour, they were convinced of the necessity to replace their under-utilized, water thirsty lawn with a more sustainable landscape that reflected the contemporary aesthetic their home and their commitment to the environment.

In august 2011, with the help of local landscape architect, Duane Border,  design ideas, plant selection, budget and the like were fleshed out.  Two weeks after the initial meeting the project was complete!

Duane Border created a landscape design composed of a rich variety of plant forms, textures and colors to highlight the modern style of the architecture. The new design is comprised of Rosemary, Pride of Maderia and Agaves, with vibrant, deep red highlights of Paddle Plant, Safari Conebush and relocated Dracenas set in graphic patterns of decorative aggregate.

The existing irrigation system was left in place with a significantly reduced watering schedule. The removal of the lawn not only saves on water use and costs, but also eliminates the dependence upon fertilizers, fossil fuels and labor associated with traditional maintenance. The new plant materials offer year round interest and a beneficial return to the environment that turf grass could only dream of providing.

The revived garden provides an environmentally responsible, uniquely Southern California landscape that is enjoyed by not only the residents, but  also many of the neighbors. And then there’s the added pleasure of no longer being a de facto hotel for the local crow population!

Before - a thirsty lawn

3482 Beethoven Street

To help our Monarch population flourish this gardener will be giving away Asclepias, milkweed plants throughout the day to visitors of the garden tour.


With a keen eye for aesthetics and an intense dislike of lawns, this homeowner created a low water landscape combining California natives with various other low water plants. They paid close attention to textures, fragrances, patterns, architectural elements and rich colors. They took great care when choosing the plants, which were chosen for their aesthetic beauty as well as being beneficial for the environment. The plants include three kinds of salvia, Arbutus trees, wooly thyme, native columbine, grevillias , flax, euphorbia and wooly bush from Australia, an Olive tree, deep purple heuchra, fescue, ameria maritima and senecio, and others.




This is a complete DIY project. Starting with ripping out the old Bermuda grass, designing and installing the drip irrigation system , choosing the plants, designing and installing the plantings and laying the walkway, they came away with lots of blisters and a true feeling of satisfaction.


There is a rain catchment barrel on the property and reclaimed cement from the old path was used for the walkway.

3214 Malcolm Avenue

The homeowners designed this garden after 2 years ago after building the house. They were very concerned about saving water; the desire for no grass, low maintenance and low water drove plant choices. Drought tolerant Australian and African species were also an inspiration. They selected lots of succulents and cacti, added some sedum ground cover and various interesting trees. A drip system provides irrigation.

In the blooming season, the garden is vibrant. The owners love the sound of the gravel under their feet when they walk around and inspect the plants. They love picking fresh leaves from the verbena shrub to infuse into an herb tea to sip while sitting in the corner of the garden in pure contemplation.

3430 Veteran Avenue

The homeowners started this garden—christened Sundara Rustic Garden—8 years ago as a water conserving. Their goal was to provide variation of color, textures and size using all drought resistant plants, with a focus on California natives. Our local San Gabriel Mountains inspired poppy reseeding and spreading of a natural landscape.

A perennial glabrous eye stunner called the Matilija poppy is the most recent addition. Its fluttering crepe-like white petals and the central cluster of bright yellow stamens reaches 6-12 inches across. Thousands of poppy seeds have reseeded over the past 8 years, making each Spring more breathtaking then the previous year

Wildlife has changed. Many more Hummingbirds visite in spite of the garden mascot "Marlow," a cat who likes to welcome anyone who ventures into her beloved garden.

The owners water inconsistently, with anywhere from two to three weeks between watering and spend just enough on maintenance time to keep the grass and weed levels down..

Sundara Rustic Garden welcomes you warmly to enjoy a beautiful palette of plant eye candy.

3041 Midvale Avenue

This garden makeover followed on the heels of a home redesign. The homeowners wanted to create a front yard garden that was low maintenance and afforded the luxury of sitting outside to enjoy the neighborhood community, but still allowed some degree of protection from people just wandering into the yard.

The design of the garden is inspired by the unique elongated proportions of the new architecture. Repeating those same elongated shapes in the garden helps reflect the house while creating an interesting forecourt to circulate through, making the garden feel bigger. A wood deck is a slightly new take on the traditional front porch. It is protected by an overhang that is held away from the house, allowing planting between the deck and the house. Each planter holds a display of different colored succulents and drought tolerant grass-like plants. The front berm creates a physical barrier giving some visual drama to the street while allowing open site lines to the house.

Designer Victoria Pakshong with place, a landscape and architectual collaborative, will be on hand, as well as landscaper Raul Castillo of Eco-nomical Landscape.

2561 Amherst Avenue

This do-it-yourself landscaper wanted to create a low-maintenance, earth friendly and water-efficient front yard. The plan was to pick a small group of low water intensive plants and trees and then surround them with mulch so that they would 'pop'. The photos attest to the success of this plan.

Everything in the yard was readily available at the local Home Depot. Recycled crushed red brick serves as mulch in the parkway and is also used in the driveway. Dark grey-blue slate stepping stones across the front of the house are re-purposed from the back yard where they were embedded in concrete between laundry poles which have been removed. The large California agave spawns pups that can be cut and potted.

This is a very low maintenance garden. The homeowner waters and trims very infrequently. Wind and rain doesn’t disturb the large areas of black mulch, but leaves sometimes get caught on it and need to be picked up

3766 Redwood Avenue

This DIY landscape is a mix of cacti, succulents, yucca and other low-water plants like Alstroemeria. They kept a few species - climbing roses, day lilies - that are less drought friendly, but are family favorites. Two cassia trees provide shade for the yard and house.

This is another addition to the amazing cluster of gardens on Redwood - bringing the total to 6! This cluster has everything - landscape designers, chickens and certified Ocean Friendly Gardens!

3200 Butler Avenue

Red flowers at left are California fuchsia, purple by porch is Mexican bush sage, yellow at left is bladderpod, purple at right is another sage

Mexican bush sage (purple flowers) in foreground, purple sage back left.
Sycamore and persimmon trees growing.

This garden was inspired by the first MV Green Garden Tour when they saw a garden with decomposed granite that was totally rainwatered. They  wanted a native plant garden that would support native pollinators and be like walking up in the Santa Monica mountains.  Their goal was that it would eventually become just rain watered to save water.  

In summer of 2009 they took out the lawn with the help of their gardener. In December 2009 they planted 80 native plants out of the 120 on the full plan by a landscape designer who loves native plants. They were able to get a $2,000 rebate from DWP which was paying $1 per square foot of lawn removed.

Many of you saw this as a newly planted garden on the 2010 tour and will love seeing the result!  Some plants grew and some died. They've replanted some areas and decided to change some plants from the original plan. It has a beautiful rain chain to decrease rain runoff; a persimmon and a pineapple guava tree.  In 2011 they  added a circulating fountain and 3 more rain barrels. The 1 gallon sycamore tree is now 15 feet tall 2 years after planting!

They love the fact that birds, butterflies and bees are attracted to the garden. It looks good and smells fabulous. In good weather they love to sit on the porch, look at the flowers and watch the wildlife. They’re still learning how to prune, how to water optimally (they still hand-water once a week during dry weather) and how the plants will look when mature. Pruning is free aromatherapy. And they've cut their water bill by more than 1/2. Jacky Bolbat, the landscape designer, is hoping to be available the day of the tour.

3628 Rosewood Avenue

This garden project began in 2009 with a goal to remove a two-car concrete slab that occupied most of the front yard, and replace struggling non-native plants and a water-guzzling lawn. 

They opted for an outdoor deck, rosemary and thyme groundcover with flagstone pathways, low-water plants and trees, and a permeable one-car driveway that doubles as a planter.  They asked Ocean Charter mom and designer Patty Binder to help them create a child-friendly garden that would attract butterflies and bees, and hummingbirds and fairies.

The garden has bloomed and become a favorite gathering space for family and friends.  They've since added a shade canopy on the deck and installed solar panels to the collect sunshine on our roof. Open Neighborhoods will be on hand to answer questions about their community solar programs.

3635 Grand View Blvd

Information garden - you can pick up maps here, sign up for notification for next years tour and get tips for taking the tour!


This do it yourself garden is practically a farm and a permaculture paradise! Pinwheels, colorful Nepalese flags, solar path lights, wind chimes, trellises, seating areas including tables, chairs and a patio swing, a fire pit, water features (a small pond and watering can fountain) all make the yards more inviting. Enjoy a slide show preview of what you will see here. Honeylove will be a guest presenter at this garden with information about our urban beekeeping initiative.

This homeowner had always wanted a beautiful and inviting yard with bountiful fruit trees, vegetables and flower gardens. The original property, purchased in 1996 was a messy half acre which included a guest house built in 1923 and a ranch style house built in 1964 - shag carpets and all.

 

The property had beautiful palm trees with large aloe vera plants and Birds of Paradise in the front area with a “tropical” feel, a few fruit trees by the guest house and a huge St. Augustine lawn with a working irrigation system.  The homeowner planted more fruit trees and enjoyed the lawn until it was destroyed during two years of remodeling.  After several failed efforts to restore the lawn, which included Marathon sod and buffalo grass plugs, the irrigation was turned off and the lawn forgotten. Meanwhile, the homeowner used the Do-It-Yourself approach and improved the yards as time and energy permitted. A level back patio was installed, and a small retaining wall added in front to address the slope of the yard. Broken concrete creates pathways in the front and back of the house.

When the homeowner’s son, Jesse Dolan, graduated from UC Santa Cruz where he was the assistant manager of the University farm, he helped to create a more viable, sustainable and beautiful outdoor environment. In March of 2011 Jesse rototilled the large lawn area, laid out footpaths and planting beds and together they started a large organic garden from seeds and a few store bought plants. They also planted flowers and shrubs that enhanced the beauty of the yard, added color and fragrance and attracted bees and butterflies to the property. The first summer brought an abundant harvest of fresh tomatoes, corn, sunflowers, basil, beets, beans and wildflowers.

Jesse also fenced off the orchard area to provide a large free range area for chickens that not only produce fresh eggs daily, but also help provide insect and weed control in that area.

Ice plant and compost help to replenish areas that still show damage from the earlier remodel. Hand watering as needed is now the only source of irrigation.


Ron Mulick from Solartronics will also be on hand to answer questions about their solar installation. 

3904 Michael Avenue

New to the tour for 2012!

When these homeowners go into their garden, it's not just a place to look at pretty plants… it's to create an actual adrenaline rush.  Their backyard is a true sportman's destination that includes a regulation size half-pipe skateboard ramp, firepit, raised veggie bed, dry dock for their ocean-worthy catamaran, outdoor shower for after surfing and a large communal table and grill for entertaining friends who come by the beach almost every weekend.  

So for this couple, a traditional lawn bordered with water thirsty plants was definitely out of the question.  After turning off the water and letting the lawn die, in the fall of 2010 they hired landscape designer Joel Lichtenwalter of Grow Outdoor Design to help create a mostly CA native and Mediterranean landscape that is a feast for the senses:  including the scents, colors and textures of their adopted home.  In place of the lawn, the ground is a pattern of large expanses of DG (decomposed granite), modern square concrete pavers and shredded bark mulch which nourishes the soil.  The vegetation includes CA native salvia clevelandii, manzanitas, leymus and deergrasses, ceanothus and a fast-growing native Sycamore tree.  Mediterranean plants include colorful leucadendrons, Euphorbias, agaves and a bronze-red Dodonaea border along the perimeter.  An existing pomegranate tree and new raised veggie beds and citrus trees make eating locally really mean local. 

The next spring the designer tackled the front yard, again removing the dead lawn and replacing it with a geometric path to the front door using square concrete pavers.  Along the journey, one encounters more native grasses, salvias, avocado and camphor trees, golden sedums border the pavers, cistus, ceanothus and the native coyote brush groundcover are quickly covering the shredded bark mulch.  The parkways are planted with more sycamores, avocados and ceanothus.  The landscaping is a perfect synthesis of homeowner and location.  When they walk into their yard, they truly feel alive.

Joel Lichtenwalter of  Grow Outdoor Design will be at the garden the day of the tour.

3147 Mountain View Avenue

This is an exciting opportunity to learn about what a true Southern California lawn is – a native turf that needs minimal water!


This is a plant collectors garden with a drought tolerant parkway, a California native lawn of Carex praegracilis, and a mixed perennial bed in the front yard. Ryan Guillou, Grow Native Nursery's Propagator and Assistant Manager, will be on hand to answer  questions about the garden. Take this opportunity learn how to introduce California native plants into your traditional Landscape from an expert! And learn more about this wonderful nursery carrying native plants and expertise in our own back yard!


The entire garden receives no water during the rainy season. During the dry months the parkway is spot watered once every three weeks, allowing most of the plants to go through their summer dormancy. The Carex lawn is currently watered once a week in the summer in order for it to establish. Once it has a firm hold in the garden it will only receive supplemental summer water once or twice a month to keep it green, none if we decide to let it go completely summer dormant. The perennial bed receives water once every two weeks in the summer months, with some additional water if temperatures are high.


The inspiration for this garden comes from an appreciation and understanding of the seasonal nature of California’s Mediterranean climate, and the concept of “right plant for the right place.” Many of the plants in this garden are not considered drought tolerant, but they are sited and established in such a way that they require remarkably less water. Something to consider when viewing this plant collector’s garden, is that the garden is static and ever-changing. Plants are removed, moved, and introduced on the whim of the owner to make room for more unusual, rare, or simply loved plant specimens. Many of the plants were obtained from botanic gardens and various rare plant nurseries.


The garden was started 5 years ago, and was originally planted to mimic a classic English garden. Needless to say, it was not a success and 95% of that plant material was removed. Since then, this plant collector’s garden can be viewed as an informal trial garden of sorts. Plants are obtained, bought and planted either by necessity to fill a space, or on a whim. The garden has changed drastically over the years to appreciate a Southern Californian climate and the amount of diversity it allows in the plant material used. More plants were died in the development of this garden than ever survived…..a sort of morbid trial and error.


Only sweat, a little blood, and hand tools are used in this garden.

12625 Stanwood Place

The homeowner had wished to completely redo the backyard. The main concern was to cut back on the water consuming grass and add interest to an otherwise bland yard.

A design was developed incorporating an Australian dry garden theme. Rich use of colors red and yellow evoke the rugged outback. The unusual flowering native Grevilleas, Leucadendron, Proteas and Banksia soften the rugged feel. A mixture of New Zealand, South African and California natives add variety. The plantings are anchored by a large yellow flowering Golden Rain Tree.

A raised serpentine wall supports a stackedstone pondless waterfall. This offers an oasis of therapeutic sound. A compliment to the hummingbirds wizzing by. Butterfly-hosting plants ensure a wide variety of visiting species. A small oval-shaped bit of grass was left so the client still has a cool place to relax. The existing sprinklers were retrofitted with water saving micro-emitters. The remaining open spaces are finished with Decomposed Granite topped with decorative stone. A curved path of stunning red Arizona flagstone leads to a  seating area with a birdbath.

This truly unique garden brings colors as well as providing a bird and butterfly habitat to the new landscape. Landscape contractor Eric Anderson representing Earth Designs Landscape with be available to answer questions and demonstrate micro-emitter irrigation. 

13119 Warren Avenue

This garden's evolution began when the owners moved into the home 15 years ago.  The front yard was dominated by a sloping, shade-defeated lawn.  The backyard lacked variety in its plantings: one Italian Stone Pine surrounded by Rosemary, a lawn that sloped toward the house causing drainage problems and a hillside of iceplant.  The side yards were covered in English Ivy.  Finding vermin in the Ivy and Iceplant convinced them that things had to change. 

Following a one-day class on hardscaping, the make-over was soon underway.  After the hardscaping was complete, Stephen Gabor, a landscape architect and family friend, helped to select sandy-loam loving plants for the front, side and lower-back areas.  After several years pause, they added the terracing on the hillside and with an eye to helping our environment, planted California Natives.  To reduce water consumption, they converted the traditional lawn to UC Verde Buffalo Grass.  They discovered an unforseen benefit of this choice-  Buffao Grass is hypoallergenic).

A wider variety of birds and insects now visit the garden - the garden has become an ecosystem - it is so alive now.  They planted the hillside plants this winter and last winter, so it is a young garden.  The long term goal is to bring the California Natives into the established areas of the garden.