Demonstration Sustainable Garden Takes Root

What began late last year as a discussion of what project the Leadership Manhattan Beach Class of 2012 should take on is in its final stages as the class and volunteers begin to see their work and fundraising efforts grow into a sustainable demonstration garden at the corner of 15th Street and Valley Avenue.

On Friday afternoon, as LMB '12 members Terry Cantine and Tyler Wolf helped landscape designer Mimi Anderson and her husband Andrew move plants into place on the ground, you could see the beauty yet to come.

"Saturday is our final big push in theory," said Wolf. "At the end of the day, it should look like a garden."

Wolf explained that his LMB class and volunteers would use a pyramid style to get the plants in the ground correctly. Gretchen Renshaw of the MB Botanical Garden would teach three LMBers how to properly plant and then those three would instruct another three and so on.

He said the planting day would be "very hands on," learning how to "dig holes the way you're supposed to" and other best practices for giving plants the best start they can have. He noted that how plant roots are handled is critical.

"I've grown to love this thing [project] so much," he told Manhattan Beach Patch, using words such as "spectacular" when describing how the end result would look. "I never thought I'd be talking about plants this way."

He excitedly point to a group of plants he said are his favorites, calling them "octopus" because of their shape. "They're gonna be super big and curl into each other," he predicted.

He added that anyone helping the group with Saturday's planting would an "expert" and well-equipped to plant such a garden themselves, precisely the point of his LMB class' aim.

Landscape designer Mimi Anderson was full of glee as she and the others worked on setting the plants up for Saturday's planting.

She told MB Patch about the plants: "They're drought tolerant and not too picky, adding that she likes to plant a diverse group of unusual plants that work together. 

"People see the different plants and will say, 'What is that?' They get passionate about these plants and want to grow them. I try to select plants that are good examples of what will work, so that they won't get discouraged."

The LMB Class of 2012 sustainable garden includes succulents, ornamental grasses, ground cover, trees and perennials. Wolf was particularly excited about the mini butterfly garden and a rock fountain; the former because it would attract butterflies, ladybugs, birds and beneficial insects, the second because the water in the fountain would only wet part of the rock, making it perfect for birds that like to get their feet wet and those that don't.

The LMB Class of 2012 has surpassed its fundraising goal of $25,000, according to its website. Proud of their efforts, Wolf said an estimate for the same job completed by professionals came in at more than $100,000. 

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