11837 North Park Avenue

See a video from last years tour here. 
At this location The Bureau of Sanitation Department of Public Works will have delivered approximately 200 sample bags of the free city mulch program made from yard clippings gathered from our Green bins weekly collection. One bag per family, first come first served. Information will be available where residents can pick up more bulk compost. They will also be giving out 200 copies of the Terrible Ten posters - the top ten invasive plants in Southern California.

Native Green Gardening, LLC the certificated green gardener program will have a booth at this location to explain their service for residents and businesses seeking maintenance for drought tolerant gardens.

This landscaping is now almost three years old. For the front yard, they’ve chosen California natives, some existing legacy plants a new California cypress pine tree and an organic vegetable garden.

The homeowner did all the design and majority of the work done by hand. Some rocks, most gravel and all decomposed granite were free from craigslist searches. River rocks were gathered free on several trips to two locations in Redlands and Claremont. Tons of free City of Los Angeles mulch made from all of our green bin waste was collected in Van Nuys and on Jefferson Boulevard. Used our old newspapers to cover dirt under mulch to suppress weeds. Under the gravel we used corn based natural weed block available at Home Depot.
They’ve adapted the existing sprinklers to work when needed - estimating once or twice a week - mostly off in winter. They now have 4 rain barrels 3 of them painted and decorated by the owners, see the video link above. They collect rainwater in from their gutters and use to hand water with hose and watering cans as needed in winter.


This garden will be a great source of inspiration and resource information for how to do it yourself. It is also certified as a wildlife habitat. Watch for the flocks of birds overhead as you visit the gardens on Map 1. Parrots? Parakeets? Read about them here.