INVASIVE PLANTS

Here is a link outlining the plants that are invasive to native habitats.
Definitely worth a visit:
Cal-IPC

LOCAL WALKING SPOT BLOOMS WITH COLOR

For those of you who enjoy walking, Rynerson Park in Lakewood might be worth a visit. Spring blooms are in profusion right now and offer a visual color feast for the eyes. Walking path wends its way around the perimeter of an expansive grassy area, passing by the backside of Lakewood Equestrian Center. Bunnies, next to the stables, can be seen sitting in the grass, nibbling away on spring greens.

Besides being a nice spot for exercise enthusiasts, this park is also a great place for moms with young children in strollers.

Bicyclists can access the San Gabriel River bike path from a wooden bridge at Rynerson Park, which is located at Del Amo Blvd. and Studebaker Rd.: Google map

CSULB TO OFFER SEMINARS AND GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Right in our own backyard, CSULB's extension program is growing green. Returning this year by popular demand, they are offering seminars on green home design and construction. In addition, UCES, is launching a certificate program in April on sustainable building.

Check out the three upcoming events:

1) Green Vendor Fair, February 26, 11 am to 3 pm
Fair details

2) Building Green: Home Design and Construction Seminar
3/4, 4/22, 5/27
Course description
Schedule and fees

3) Green and Sustainable Building and Certificate Program
April 15 through June 3
Course description
Schedule and Fees

STAYING HEALTHY DURING THE FIRES

Southern California has been hit hard by the fires. People have lost homes, lives have been disrupted and the land has been scorched beyond recognition. For those of us who live miles away from the infernos that have been blazing for days, we're also affected by the smoke. The air has been filled with particulate matter and breathing has been a strain. So what can we do to keep our bodies healthy during such a challenging time?

Storm Cole, our local holistic health practitioner and certified clinical nutritionist, has offered some advice on boosting our immune systems and clearing toxins from our lungs and bodies.

1) Use an air purifier. Stay indoors.

2) Take immune support: echinacea, aloe vera, garlic or astragalus

3) Home air quality:
Diffuse lemon oil throughout your home. This cleanses and increases oxygen.
Steam or vaporize peppermint (tea bags or leaves). This cleanses and dilates bronchials and decongests sinuses.

4) Useful food/vitamins/herbs for oxygenation:
Chlorophyll, vitamin E (wheat germ), yellow dock, black walnut, green leafies, vitamin C (kiwis have the highest amount), fish oil, or omega 3 from walnuts (fats always save you from toxic situations).

5) Juice as much as possible. Juicing relieves the digestive system so your body has more energy to deal with the smoke.

6) Asthma attack:
Cranberry juice concentrate. One teaspoon, put between the lower lip and teeth.

7) Specialty supplements/aromatherapy:
Any of the drainage products below.
-all-cell detox
-lung terrain
-lymph terrain
-skin terrain
-patchouli oil (takes out any chemical pollutants from your body that might have been burned in the air). 20 drops to 8 oz of olive or coconut oil. Put on skin, especially liver area

8) Drink lots of water.

9) Pets will have a hard time. They should have their water charged--or alkalized--with HealthWalk's HydroMag (available at Calypso Juice on Main St. in Seal Beach). Change the water 2x per day. Give them greens and fats. Keep them off of wood floors.

Storm Cole, HHP
5018 Katella Ave.
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
(562) 972-1235
Hours: Tuesday through Friday

PAMPAS GRASS: GARDEN FRIEND OR LANDSCAPE FOE?

They bend, they sway, and the plumes flutter in gentle winds. They also disperse seeds, which settle into soil and take root in areas where other species are trying to thrive.

Pampas grass, though a garden friend to many, is really a landscape foe threatening California natives, soils and precious wildlife.

Planted for their stately presence and low-water needs, pampas grass--a native of South America, has become a menace in California. Along the Pacific Coast going north toward Big Sur, pampas grass dominates native species and has now become a tremendous challenge as it crowds out smaller plants and tenaciously clings to coastal slopes. It can also be found in the desert, along highways, city roads and even in your neighbor's yard.

In Southern Calfiornia, these silver-colored landscape staples are often planted in home gardens for their height and feathery elegance. So what's the problem? Here are some reasons to pass on planting pampas grass:
-jubata grass and pampas grass are invasive species (originally planted as ornamentals)
-each plume disperses 100,000 seeds when blown by wind--and can travel up to 20 miles
-can crowd out native plants and wildlife that can't compete
-aggressive growth can degrade natural habitats
-pampas grass can become a fire hazard

Though this grass may be beautiful and many gardeners select it as a landscape focal point; it is clearly a growing threat to our local environment. The great news is that we have better choices. Read on for ideas.

Learn more about pampas grass:
National Park Service website

Invasive ornamental grasses and alternative choices:
Cal-IPC.org

Cal-IPC plant categories with non-invasive options:
Cal-IPC.org

Get the low-down on invasive plants:
Cal-IPC resource page

Visit LongBeachGreenGuide.com
Email LongBeachGreenGuide

BIKESTATION GETS SPOT ON BIZ PAGE

Yesterday, the Press-Telegram ran an article on Long Beach's Bikestation. Read the piece and learn how the nation's first "bike garage" has prompted other cities to follow suit:
Life in the Bike Lane

CREATIVE REUSE STORE COMES TO EAST VILLAGE

I've been hoping for quite some time that someone would do just what Lisa Hernandez has done: open a reuse store in Long Beach. It's called The Long Beach Depot for Creative ReUse and it's located in the East Village Arts District. Haven't been to it yet, but I'm thrilled that such a "depot" exists for cast offs, scraps, and other odds and ends.

Find out how one woman's family values spawned an idea that is now a reality in our city, by reading Karen Robes' 7/15 article, Scrap Mettle, in the Press Telegram.