3518 Federal Avenue

This is a sustainable play and learning environment! The owners are developing ideas for families with children that are sustainable and functional. The result is a garden that maximizes the use of all the outdoor spaces for gatherings, parties, and exercise.

They started with a dried out weed infested front yard 3 years ago and have been creating play and learning  environments for children. In the front yard, they replaces the dirt with artificial turf that sustains dogs, cats, and many children in play. A 20 foot tall teepee is a sustainable play structure that uses very little hardware and no plastic. Its design allows them to change the activities for different needs. They used the scraps from the artificial grass to create a giant chess set and have 3 raised garden beds for the children to experiment with. Attractive low water plants grow along the low fence and on the parkway.

In the backyard, they are developing an outdoor classroom prototype for young children with  Walls for exploring science, water play areas, mud kitchens, mounds for rolling. 

3464 Grand View Boulevard

A Surfrider-LA Chapter OFG rep and an APLD-LA District rep will be tabling at this Ocean Friendly Gardens, pointing out how they apply the OFG principles of CPR (Conservation, Permeability & Retention).

After 30 years of maintaining a traditional garden of annuals, shrubs, large expanses of lawn, and never-ending weeds, the homeowners decided it was time for a complete makeover.

With almost a quarter acre from the front pavement to the back fence, the time had come for these homeowners to re-imagine their garden in a more contemporary, water-efficient manner. Under the guidance of Ted Vorster (Plan-TED Landscape), a licensed landscape architect, they decided to embark on a redesign of every square inch of their front, back, and side yards to address a variety of longstanding problems that beset the sloping, narrow lot.

Ted designed the comprehensive landscape renovation and contractor Jose Martinez (Arrow Sprinkler & Landscape) installed it. The design incorporates many drought-tolerant plantings as well as water saving and capture features. Hardscape materials include recycled concrete.

A gravel parkway and a washed concrete surface replaces the old driveway; a series of planting strips intersect it, increasing the permeability of the parking area and help create a wider, more open feeling to the yard. A planting area that features a specimen olive tree and is bordered by a low berm topped with a mix of drought tolerant California native and Mediterranean plants replaces the ole front lawn. A small, new decomposed granite terrace serves as an informal sitting area.

A lawn once dominated the back yard. Now a series of discrete terraces of wood, concrete and decomposed granite, bounded by stuccoed concrete walls and planters, gracefully ease the transition from the strong lines of the two-story house to the increasingly organic forms of the garden beyond. A meadow-like expanse of California Dune Sedge (Carex pansa) adjoins the shady understory of a mature Chinese Elm; it features a mix of California natives and a sunny perennial border backed by flowering shrubs and ornamental grasses. Beyond this lies the “working” garden of fruit trees and vegetables that includes a storage shed, potting bench, and compost area.

Replacing the outmoded and inefficient sprinklers, state of the art drip technology coupled with a new smart controller will help realize water savings as well as the peace of mind that comes with a fully automated, self regulating system.

Landscaper Ted Vorster will be on hand to answer your questions.

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.

3417 Cabrillo Blvd

This beautifully designed garden has inspired many neighbors to pursue a lawn-free front yard.

The owners bought their home in 2006 and wanted to create a low maintenance front yard with a natural and woodsy feel.  The use of natural and organic materials was very important to their plan.  The have pebbles and boulders from Indonesia mixed into the landscape with recycled furniture from their far-flung travels to complete the idyllic feel.

The garden has morphed into a wonderful space where they make use of a private deck with beautiful succulents and Podocarpus Henkelii on the side and Silver Sheen Pittosporum in the front. 

The front portion of the yard has a small cluster of birch trees with red kangaroo paws flanking a rock fountain.  The elegant fountain has become a playground for birds. The garden also boasts regular visits from hummingbirds.

To add color, they planted a short row of Hot Cocoa Roses in front of the low wall.  These plants can get by with watering 1 or 2 days per week depending on the time of the year.

Other plants used: Dymondia for the ground cover and Flax for the front strip. The Landscape Designer is  Mike Mendoza Arborist of M&M Gardens.

3983 East Boulevard - UP House

Urban Permaculture House

UP House is an urban permaculture farm and an intentional health and homesteading community education and activities center. They practice what they preach on a daily basis. For example - 

Local organic food sourcing

They are learning to grow as much food as is ecologically sustainable on their large suburban plot of land while also supporting local organic food initiatives in our community. 

Currently they have fruit trees (avocado, orange, tangerine, bananas, persimmon, peach, fig), several garden areas, self-seeding edible “weed” areas, monthly bulk local organic food, distribution and pick up location for the California CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), and two members working a booth for a vendor at the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market ( Dey Dey’s Best Beef Ever).

Future and Ongoing Projects – Building an efficient green house system, chickens, bees, aquaponics, and vending value-added products from our urban farm at the MV Farmer’s Market.

Intentional Community

These householders are highly involved with volunteer and activism in the realms of health, art and sustainability. Many members of the 11-member community are founders of, or highly involved in some of the most active and productive philanthropies in LA.

To name a few: Habitat for Humanity, Label GMO’s Initiative, LA Unified School District, Tree People, Venice Art Crawl, The Joyful Activist, Venice Community Gardens, City Repair, LIVIN’, and The Big P Project.

Label GMO's will be a guest presenter at this garden

Health and Sustainability Efforts

• Six of the eleven members do not own cars and a seventh commutes to work by bike every day.
• Converting the front yard into a cityrepair.org style public space project with a COB bench, an activities/events kiosk, a community garden and an herb spiral.
• Built an outdoor kitchen and an amphitheatre out of re-purposed materials to host gatherings, potluck events and workshops.

Learn more. Check out their facebook page!

3904 Michael Avenue

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. A Surfrider-LA Chapter OFG rep and an APLD-LA District rep will be tabling at this Ocean Friendly Gardens, pointing out how they apply the OFG principles of CPR (Conservation, Permeability & Retention).

The Windward Garden 11350 Palms Blvd

Students harvesting onions

The Windward Garden, located at the eco-friendly school of the same name, was the brainchild of some very committed students and their advisor, Samantha Lyon, who is a certified Permaculture Designer. The Green Club and the Community Service Committee were interested in composting the food waste from the cafeteria, recycling, and starting an edible garden. This hand-watered garden was started in the fall of 2010. It is an elective class for both middle and high school students, and meets twice a week to do garden projects. Art teacher Hannah Northenor teaches the middle school gardening class, and Samantha the upper school's. It’s also an opportunity for students to have fun! The school garden movement is growing at an amazing rate, and Windward is committed to green initiatives and interactive learning for students. Because it is linked to the Community Service Department, students are encouraged to be active in their community through gardening as well. Check out a video of the garden  and a video from last years tour!

Need a rain barrel? As part of the day’s festivities, TreePeople and SustainableWorks will be there with rain barrels for sale for a reduced cost.  Check out details on the program here.

NOTE - PLEASE ENTER ON BUTLER - SEE MAP

3587 Mountain View Avenue

This 8  year old garden designed by Katherine Spitz, AIA, ASLA, LEED AP (landscape architect),  sets a beautiful stage for this craftsman, in a "compound" layout (there are a couple other compound Craftsmen houses on Grandview as well).    The front garden is  casual and naturalistic, featuring large drifts of geometrically placed ground cover and shrubs, and a decomposed granite car court. It has grown in very well.

The owner wanted to have a garden that had a fresh, green and lavish feel yet drought resistant and easy to maintain and that is exactly what was achieved! This is one of three gardens in a cluster on Mountain View that were all designed by Mar Vista resident Katie Spitz.

3658 Mountain View Avenue

This newly planted garden all started because the southern portion of the yard (near the driveway) was such an eyesore!  It was unruly and separate from the main lawn so it didn't even look like it was part of the yard. Lucky for them that they knew that friend and neighbor Katie Spitz is a wonderful landscape architect.   

All of the broken concrete is reclaimed from an old demo of a garage floor/foundation and was piled in the backyard, so it was put to excellent use!  Now they arrive at the house via their wonderful pathway instead of taking the side walk.

They wanted to water less, so 70% of the grass was removed, giving them a greener footprint and taking advantage of native plants.  Although they  love color, they felt that keeping with hues of colors and some variegated were a nice contrast to the house as it has bold, deeper craftsman colors.  The look of the front is clean without looking too sterile and now everything is pulled together.  All of the plantings are only a few weeks old -  we can't wait to see how wonderful this will look in another year.

This Craftsman  house was built in 1914 and is one of the oldest houses 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 116 foot frontage. This front garden was designed by landscape architect Katherine Spitz, AIA, ASLA, LEED AP. This is one of three gardens on this block designed by Katie (one of them her own!)

Learn a little about the history of this house here.

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.

11819 North Park Avenue

Check out the article on Fresh Dirt to see other views of this garden and learn more about the artist owners.

The front garden is an abundance of large succulents and drought resistant plants. The back yard is an artistic arrangement of succulents, droughts resistant plants, ceramic tiles and outdoor seating – truly an added open air room. There is even a small area of artificial turf. This garden is a must see example of outdoor living!





Read a little about the history of this part of Mar Vista here.

4106 Marcasel Avenue

This is a fun visit with multiple outdoor zones that each create a different lifestyle experience!

This property began as 15,000 square feet of grass and the owners knew they wanted to make it as drought tolerant as possible.  It didn’t have to happen all at once, and they have transitioned gradually. They immediately removed the grass from the parkway and filled it with California Natives and drought tolerant plants - instantly reducing their water bill.  Next they removed the grass and amended the soil in a large part at the back of the yard to create an edible garden where they grow a variety of fruits and vegetables year round.   

The edible garden has given them much more than produce.  It is a great learning experience for the kids and a way to meet neighbors. It provides them with a use for all of their compostable food scraps, provides exercise and improves their lives in so many other ways. Their garden is connected to a neighbors garden which gets different sun light, so they grow different things and share.  It has been one of the best parts of the garden.  In the summer, they all sit out back between the gardens, enjoying a glass of wine and whatever delicious dishes they can create from their bounty as the kids play and the parents have some grown up time together.   

Two years ago they removed the front lawn, replacing it with gravel and last year they began landscaping the rest of the backyard.  It was important that the design make the outdoors a seamless living area with the interior. They also wanted low water output and even less maintainance. Using a mixture of natives, drought tolerant plants, drip irrigation and a low water lawn allowed them to accomplish their goals.

Their family was literally the first visitor on the first Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase in 2009 (they arrived on bikes an hour early!) and the tour played a big part in shaping their plans. They’ve been able to see so many plants and how the gardens filled in over the years of the tours.  They asked the owners a lot of questions when touring the gardens to see what worked and what didn’t -  what was maintenance free, what dropped leaves or berries.  The biggest contribution from the tours was in their hardscaping plans.  They had originally planned on a lot of DG, but did not like the way it wore down, and that it took a lot of maintenance to keep the weeds out.  They looked at various weed blocks, and weed blocking solutions.  With so many gardens, they were exposed to many different hardscape mediums.  They inquired about watering needs of the plants they liked, and sun exposure requirements so that once established the plants they ultimately chose did well right off the bat.

They built the pool rather shallow with only a little bit of a deep end.   The plaster is grey so it absorbs the sun better than a white bottom, and they have a cover that is not solar but is useful in keeping the warmth in during the evenings.  They have mastered allowing the pool to soak up the maximum amount of sun during the day, and cover it at night allowing for  a rather long season without ever heating the pool (April – October). 

This garden is not only green because of the plants, but because they used Craigslist, neighbors and friends to pillage from.  All their agave was given to them by a nice neighbor on Charnock who had a plant taking over his whole yard.  A succulent that is now the entire background of the fence line began as cuttings given to them on a Craigslist run. The black aeonium lining the pool were cuttings from a neighbor on East.  They bought mulch by the truckload and shared the cost with a neighbor in order to save on delivery charges (not to mention fuel and all those plastic bags).  Solar City will be on hand to answer questions about their solar panels.