Cleanup Planned for Temescal Canyon Native Plant Garden

The Pacific Palisades Garden Club and Palisades Beautiful continue their improvement efforts of the Temescal Canyon Road Native Plant Garden this Saturday after a successful year where more than 170 perennials have been planted. Most volunteers will be at the clean-up from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to Palisades Beautiful President Barbara Marinacci.

Come any time, and stay around for as long as you like.

"We’re a sociable group," she said in an email. "Bring gloves, a hat, and sunscreen—and hand gardening tools if you have any."

They will also have a supply of tools, and if you might be around for a while, bring water, snacks, and even a lunch.

Dedicated in 1988 as a demonstration garden, it was the first of its kind on the Westside, but then was abandoned for many years. Surviving native trees and shrubs made it a campsite for vagrants, and it was often targeted by vandals.

In the spring of 2010 volunteers launched a huge cleanup effort in this sizable area of some 16,000 square feet.

Since the fall season’s arrival, planting has resumed and will continue monthly until the coming May. Landscaping follows plans created by local garden designer Michael Terry, who supervises the volunteer work. Generous grants from the Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club make these plant purchases possible.

Patch featured an interview recently with Terry at the garden.

The group will create a new garden area north of previously planted ones, putting in several dozen new plants around existing native trees. Marinacci said they will remove spent blossoms and dead foliage and pull out new weeds and vines sprouting up, such as on the decomposed granite pathway. They will continue fixing up the adjacent Xeriscape Garden, with its Mediterranean-climate plants, to improve the overall appearance of the northeastern section of the city park.

Location: The east side of Temescal Canyon Road, north of the Pacific Coast Highway and south of Sunset Blvd. It’s across the street from the PaliHi athletic field and Temescal Academy (and near the new Aquatics Center), just south of the Bowdoin St. traffic signal and the “Chumash” mural. There's a large wooden sign.