Mar Vista Gardens

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Elisa Leonelli

You don’t want to miss the expanded 3rd edition of the Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase, which has now become a giant eco-festival, celebrating Earth Week,
Saturday April 30 – 11am to 4 pm

Explore examples of drought resistant landscaping and edible gardens, learn about composting techniques and rainwater capture, see how many homeowners use energy efficiency, solar energy, and other sustainable practices to reduce utility bills and help the environment.

There are many personalized tour maps linked here.
We suggest you bicycle to cover more territory.

Check out the Windward School Learning Garden
created by Permaculture Designer Samantha Lyon.
11350 Palms Blvd

Get inspired to implement some of these practices in our own neighborhood!

Text by Elisa Leonelli

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Victory Gardens

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Elisa Leonelli

Victory Gardens, once a government program created by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and first lady Eleanor to help feed Americans during World War II, are promoted again today by various organizations, such as Edible Gardens and the community garden movement, to encourage people to grow their own healthy food.
The Grow LA Victory Garden Initiative offers classes to help new gardeners start their own gardens quickly and easily in a container, in the backyard or at a community garden.

A class organized by Master Gardener George Pessin will take place this May at the Hamilton School Garden in our neighborhood, Sundays May 1-8-15-22, 1 to 4 pm.  The cost is only $ 50.  Those who complete the 4-week training will become UC-Certified Victory Gardeners.

To sign up contact George by email.

Text by Elisa Leonelli

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Hardwood floors

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Elisa Leonelli

hardwood floor

The 1930s Spanish homes in our neighborhood used to have gorgeous hardwood floors.  Unfortunately, decades ago, many of them were covered up with carpeting.

A couple of weeks ago, with the new year, I finally decided to remodel a spare bedroom and turn it into a TV room.  I wondered what was under that tired old carpet and I discovered something even worse, ugly linoleum tiles glued on top of the original wood.  I consulted some floor experts and was given little hope of finding anything salvageable underneath, we would have to rip it all up and install a new wood floor; but then a dear friend recommended Danny, a wonderful craftsman who lives in our neighborhood.  He was confident that it could be done, so one rainy morning he showed up with 4 of his long-time workers, and in 48 hours the old wood was uncovered, stripped, sanded and stained.  It feels fantastic to have the floor back to the way it was intended by those builders way back in 1931.

You may want to try doing something like this in your own house and you could discover some gems, such as these lovely corner inlays.
Danny’s number is 323-937 3563, and the name of his 25-year-old company is AMA Hardwood Floors.
Please let us know your experience with other old-fashioned craftspeople in our neighborhood: carpenters, electricians, handy-men, masons, painters, plumbers, etc.

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

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Water saving tips

Posted on December 4, 2010 by Elisa Leonelli

rain barrel

A couple of weeks ago I attended the last class of the Green Garden Academy, a free seminar series organized by the Office of Sustainability of the City of Santa Monica; the topic was “Showers to Flowers. Learn the proper use of gray water in your garden, and how to harvest and use rainwater.” So I would like to share some easy water saving tips to implement in your homes and gardens.

Rain barrels may be attached to your downspouts, water is collected when it rains and may be used later to water your garden. Warning: install the barrels at least 6 inches high, not like I did in my garden (see pictured), so the water can flow more easily from the valve at the bottom of the barrel. The hose attached to the upper valve serves to catch the overflow during heavy rainstorms and direct it to your garden, away from the hard surfaces.

You could purchase a self-installation kit to divert the water from your washing machine to your garden, but I thought the procedure was overly complicated; out teacher admitted that buying one of the new front-loading, water-saving appliance would be a better solution.

One simple trick I had learned some time ago and have been using for years is to put a bucket inside your shower to catch the overflow while you are waiting for the water to get warm. Then you can easily carry it to your backyard, pour the water into a watering can to spread over your plants.

Find out more about rainwater harvesting here.

Please send us any water-saving tips you have been implemented in your own home and garden.

Text and photo by Elisa Leonelli

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Green Living

Posted on September 24, 2010 by Elisa Leonelli

Reynier Village

On September 23 we attended a Green Living Workshop, sponsored by speaker Karen Bass, presented by Sustainable Works and the Culver City Garden Club.
Many members of the SORO Green team were present.
Mini-seminars were offered with useful tips on how to conserve water, compost your organic waste, replace dangerous household chemicals, shop for food in an earth-friendly way.
Sustainable Works of Santa Monica offers 6 workshops, meeting once a week, on the topics of Water, Energy, waste, Chemicals, Transportation, Shopping & Food.
Reynier Village has been working with the SORO Green Team to organize one for residents of our neighborhood.
Find out more about the Residential Greening Program, and please send in your suggestions.
One of the recommended changes, that can be implemented immediately and at no cost, was to do more walking and bicycling, considering that the majority of car trips takes place within a 2-mile radius from home.
A fun ride, taking place for the first time in LA, is CicLAvia (from the Spanish word ciclovia=bicycle lane) on October 10, one of the 10-10-10 Global Work party events promoted by 350.org, the organization created by Bill McKibben to find solutions for the climate crisis.

Text and photo by Elisa Leonelli

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Lawn alternatives

Posted on August 22, 2010 by Elisa Leonelli

Slopesaver- fescue blend

Last Saturday (August 21), we went on a fun tour aboard a Santa Monica Blue bus to look at examples of how to plant, in your backyard or front lawn, new types of grasses, which require much less water and mowing than traditional turf.
As students of the Green Garden Academy, a free seminar series organized by the Office of Sustainability of the City of Santa Monica, we were lead by Russell Ackerman, and we met landscape experts and adventurous home-owners along the way.

See for yourselves some of these luscious ground covers.

Slopesaver (fescue blend) low-mow grass in a backyard on Marguerita Ave.
UC Verde Buffalo grass in a frontyard on Berkeley Ave.

UC Verde Buffalo Grass

Even better, why not eliminate grass at all?

Take a look at the Santa Monica demonstration gardens, one traditional, with turf and flowers such as roses and gardenias at 1718 Pearl, the other with only mulch and California native drought-tolerant plants, on 1724 Pearl.  The latter uses far less water and requires much less maintenance than the former.

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

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Green preschool

Posted on August 12, 2010 by Elisa Leonelli

Green Beginning

A brand new preschool has opened in our neighborhood!

Welcome news to those of us who remember the now defunct but wonderful Palms-Westminster Nursery School.

And this school is amazing!

playground

garden beds

The building is painted green, it’s called Green Beginning, and it follows green practices.  They have 3 garden beds where they grow strawberries and tomatoes, they use 3 composting bins… something we should all be doing in our backyards. And these 2 to 5-year-old are learning these basic skills early in their lives.

If you have young children, please check them out.  Their fall classes start September 9.
3047-3049 Robertson Blvd
310-841 6100
greenbeginningpreschool.com

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

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SORO Festival

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Elisa Leonelli

For the thirteenth year the SORO festival took place on South Robertson on Sunday June 6.
It was a great way to discover local businesses and get reacquainted with old friends.

I spoke with our Reynier Village neighbor Huli, who was displaying her lovely handmade jewelry creations.
You may contact her at: stillsloane2@gmail.com

I chatted with local painter Barbara Mendes and she proudly showed me the newly painted facade of her gallery, after her recent move to 2709 Robertson Blvd.
Here’s her website: BarbaraMendes.org

I had meant to get a facial and I found a list of choices on a flyer from Massage Garage, plus a $10 discount coupon. I had never noticed their storefront on Main Street in Culver City, even though I have been going to the Tuesday afternoon farmers market on that street for years. I booked a glycemic peel and was very pleased with the treatment.
Here’s their website: themassagegarage.com

I created a list of local eateries and businesses on South Robertson, that you may consult at this link.

Eat locally, talk to your neighbors, discover how many creative and interesting people live next door to you.

Text and photo by Elisa Leonelli

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ART WALK Culver City

Posted on June 5, 2010 by Elisa Leonelli

This annual event gets better and better.
This year we decided to explore the area of Washington Blvd between National and La Cienega, East of the more popular downtown Culver City, and found a flourishing neighborhood, full of art galleries, of course, like Thinkspace, Kinkhead Contemporary, Susanne Vielmetter, Koplin Del Rio, etc; but also other shops, like an interior decorator, Peggy Braswell, and a nursery, Ezequiel, flanked by two excellent new restaurants: Sublime Food Lounge and Brunello Trattoria.

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

painter at Thinkspace

Kinkead Contemporary

Suzanne Vielmetter

art on sidewalk

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Mar Vista gardens

Posted on April 25, 2010 by Elisa Leonelli

Bill Rosendhal, Sherri Akers

After picking up a map, and a green bag, we went on Tour # 4 of  the Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase.

We met proud homeowners and landscape designers, we learnt many new things about drip irrigation, solar panels, garden beds, drought-tolerant plants; useful tips we could implement in our neighborhood as well.

One lovely spot was a backyard certified as a Natural Wildlife Habitat, because it provides the four basic elements for wildlife to thrive: food, water, cover and places to raise young.

Dulcis in fundo, Gary offered delicious dates and strawberries to visitors.

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

Gary’s Greenery

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Mar Vista Gardens

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Elisa Leonelli

Mar Vista garden

The Mar Vista Community Council celebrates Earth Day on Sunday April 25, from 2 to 6 pm, with the second edition of the Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase.
We attended the first one in April 2009, see video by Samantha Lyon, and that became one of the inspirations for our own Home & Garden blog.
It is a fantastic event where 80 families will open their homes and gardens to the public, a big increse on the 30 homeowners that participated last year.  It is a great place to see examples of drought resistant native California plants replacing grass lawns, fruits and vegetable gardens.

Start at this address: 3972 Coolidge Ave
Pick up a free reusable bag, then visit the gardens on 6 self-guided tours.

Event Co-Chair Sherry Akers has become a friend of our neighborhood SORONC Green Team.

Also check out the Mar Vista Farmers Market, Sundays 9 am to 2 pm, on Grand View at Venice Blvd, open on Easter Sunday April 4.

Text by Elisa Leonelli

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How to remove your grass lawn

Posted on February 27, 2010 by Elisa Leonelli

LAWN BE GONE is the clever title of a class from the GREEN GARDEN ACADEMY.

This fun and informative series on Sustainable Gardening, organized by the City of Santa Monica Office of Sustainability and the Environment, takes place once a month at the Santa Monica Library.

You may register online, tickets are still available for these free classes.

I attended and these are some of the useful things I learned.
The grass lawns so prevalent in dry Southern California, a legacy from wet England, are causing waste and pollution.
It would be a good idea to replace them with less water-hungry plants.
FOUR WAYS TO REMOVE YOUR LAWN, Los Angeles Times

Some choices to replace turf and Bermuda grass: buffalo grass, carex, yarrow, dymondia.

Better yet, replace the lawn with edible plants, create a vegetable garden.
A class on EDIBLE LANDSCAPING will take place on Saturday May 15.

If you do still want to keep your existing front lawn, at least you can learn how to use gardening tools that are not powered by gasoline.  They were demostrated during class and may be purchased from Green Station LA.

Photo: Blue fescue on Halm, landscaped by Alexis

Please let us know if you have done something like this in our neighborhood and we will feature your garden on this blog.

Text and photo by Elisa Leonelli

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Happy Holidays!

Posted on December 26, 2009 by Elisa Leonelli

We want to thank all the neighbors who put up colorful lights and festive decorations.

They bring warm holiday cheer to our Village.

Best wishes to everyone and Happy New Year!


Elisa Leonelli and Deni Mosser

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Free trees from DWP

Posted on November 7, 2009 by Elisa Leonelli
Reynier-flower

Floss Silk Tree, Reynier St

Beverlywood-fall

Liquid Amber, Beverlywood St

We are blessed with a wide variety of trees in our neighborhood; at this time of the year, they delight us with a gamut of colors, from reddish fall leaves to pink flowers.

If you would like to add some shade trees to your lawn or backyard, the DWP is giving them away free, after you complete an online workshop and submit a site plan.

They offer many choices of Evergeen and Deciduous trees, described and pictured in their online brochure.

For more info, call: 800-473-3652
Tree.Program@ladwp.com.
www.lapdwp.com

For customized help with your tree planting, you may contact Larry from SORO Green Team.

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

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Home composting

Posted on October 22, 2009 by Elisa Leonelli
green bin

green bin

Did you know that the green garbage bins supplied by the city are not just for garden trimmings and clean wood?
You may use them to dispose of fruits and vegetables, coffee grounds, egg shells, tea bags.
I set up a reusable container on my counter, I throw in all my organic scraps from the kitchen, especially while cooking, then I empty it in the green bin at the end of the day.
If you don’t want to go to the trouble of composting for your own use, let the city do it.
The green bins contents will be composted.
If you do want to learn how to compost, to feed organic soil to your backyard vegetable garden, the city offers free Composting Workshops and Bin Sale events in Griffith Park.

You may also download a Home Composting Guide.

City of Los Angeles/Sanitation
1-800-773-CITY (2489)

Text and photo by Elisa Leonelli

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Wall insulation

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Elisa Leonelli
patches after wall insulation

patches after wall insulation

Now it’s a good time to get that insulation project done, walls and attic, to keep your house warmer during the coming winter and save on your heating bill.

The Gas Company is offering a rebate until December 31 of 15-cent per square foot.  The federal government will give you a 30% tax credit (up to $ 1,500) on the cost of energy-efficient windows, doors, roofing, wall and attic insulation, furnaces, air-conditioning systems and heat pumps.

We were hesitant to break up the walls of our home, but we did it and already  we feel warmer at night.  All you need is to paint over the patched up holes.

You may look up the various processes, the materials used (in our case blown cellulose) and other choices on these websites.
www.everguardinsulation.com
www.WhatADifference.com (they’ll even repaint the walls for you)

Call the Gas Company for more details: 888-431 2226.
Check out their website.
They also offer rebates on Energy Star qualified appliances: cloth washers, dishwashers and water heaters.

Text and photo by Elisa Leonelli

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RAL Reynier Park clean-up

Posted on August 1, 2009 by Elisa Leonelli

RAL3

The boys and girls of the Robertson Activity League (RAL) were at Reynier Park on Wednesday July 29  picking up trash and litter. The participants to this 10-week summer program at the Robertson Recreation Center, aged 12-16, perform community service projects to earn points that can then be cashed in for field trips.  They also did a trash clean-up along Robertson Blvd, North of Cadillac, they planted a garden at the Recreation Center, they wrote  letters to Soldiers deployed overseas, they help weekly at the Robertson Library restocking books, etc.

This program is made possible through a  grant from: The Los Angeles Police Foundation, SoRo Neighborhood Council, Council District 5, Council District 10 and Robertson Recreation Center.
Their goal is to teach community responsibility in a fun exciting way.

Please let us know if you have any suggestions on how to control littering in our Reynier Village or would like to help with further clean-ups.

You can email your thanks to the Facility Director of the Robertson Recreation Center Brooke.Powers@lacity.org

Text and photo by Elisa Leonelli

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This old house new rose garden

Posted on July 16, 2009 by Elisa Leonelli

1914 Craftsman house (c) Elisa Leonelli

We recently met new residents of  Reynier Village.  Huli and Raphael Sloane, a wife & husband of considerable artistic talent are transplants of Mar Vista. They brought with them 28 of their mature rose bushes and a large Bird of Paradise. They are going to replant them in the yard of their colorful 1914 Craftsman bungalow which is a rare sight in Reynier Village as most homes here were erected in the mid 1920’s-late 30’s.  Rumor has it that this house was moved to Reynier Village from some other part of the city.  (Anyone with information, please let us know!).

What is particularly special is that Mr. Sloane is a fine art photographer, whose specialty is an expansive study of flowers that also includes blossoms from endangered plants.

“1 out of 3 plant species in the United States is under threat of extinction! Non-native, invasive species are the No. 2 threat to native plants.These facts have instilled an urgency in the direction of my work to include more endangered plant species as subjects and ultimately heighten peoples awareness of their plight.” Raphael Sloane

Text by Deni Mosser and Elisa Leonelli

We are pleased to have permission to publish two of Mr. Sloane’s photos.
Do enjoy,  and be sure to visit his delightful Website.

Green fig © Raphael Sloane 2009

Squash blossom © Raphael Sloane 2009

Squash blossom                                 © Raphael Sloane 2009

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DWP cash for grass!

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Elisa Leonelli
drought-resistant landscaping

drought-resistant landscaping

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is on a mission to convince consumers to save water in these years of record drought in California, due to the global climate crisis.

On June 1 they passed an ordinance that using your sprinklers to water your lawn is only permitted 2 days a week, Mondays and Thursdays and never between 9 am and 4 pm, the warmest hours of the day,  to avoid evaporation.

Now they would like you to get rid of you turf grass lawn all together and replace it with drought-tolerant plants, mulch or permeable ground cover;  and as an incentive they will give you a rebate of $1.00  per square foot, from 250 feet minimum up to 2,000.

Read more about this in the Los Angeles Times article: L.A offers rebate for ripping out your lawn.

Check out the program details at socalwatersmart.com

For help on how to do it, gardening classes are offered through Be Water Wise.

Many of our neighbors have already chosen that alternative for their front yard, we encourage you take a walk around Reynier Village and get some ideas and inspiration.  Share your thoughts here!!

Text and photo by Elisa Leonelli

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Garden sharing

Posted on June 26, 2009 by Elisa Leonelli
soil-ready edge for planting

soil-ready edge for planting

The waiting lists for community gardens in the Los Angeles area is growing longer.   It seems that there are many would-be gardeners willing to work with no land available for their passion.

Why not offer your backyard to someone who can create a fruit and vegetable garden for you and share in the produce?

Let’s get together with like-minded neighbors to share chores, tips, expenses and locally grown food.

I offer a small area for now, cleared out recently for painting, along the wall of my garage.  It’s always in the shade, so drought resistant plants and shade vegetables could be combined, but my arthritis prevents me from doing to work myself.  Any volunteers to help?

Read this Los Angeles Times article for more ideas

Text and photo by Elisa Leonelli

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Gardening in small places

Posted on June 11, 2009 by Elisa Leonelli

From our neighbors Lew and Lynn Rakowsky

modernist fence

modernist fence

LEW: When we bought the house in 2002, we were drawn to the its Spanish Revival style. Unfortunately, the small backyard was entirely covered in concrete, surrounded by a 4-foot tall brick wall covered in ivy and vines. It was very neglected.
We had some gardeners come in and jack-hammer out all that, remove the concrete, the brick wall and ivy to open the space up.  Then we installed a simple, modernist fence to provide privacy, but still allow for air flow.

LYNN:  Given its small size, we really wanted to maximize the outdoor space as much as possible. It was important to create usable space throughout, including a garden, seating areas, places where friends could gather, and a place to simply read a book.  Ultimately, we wanted a welcoming, usable environment; an extension of the house.

cat and bouganvillea

cat and bouganvillea

LYNN: We put in a drip-line sprinkler and we used drought resistant plants, we also grow some vegetables each season, focusing on tomatoes, lettuces, peas and broccoli.  We usually buy them at the farmers markets as little seedlings.

LEW:  One of the highlights of the property is the 70-year old bougainvillea which creates a beautiful canopy over the dining area. In the summer, it becomes a solid wall of red blooms; a cool place to escape the heat.

The next project is to pave the patio dining area with terra-cotta tiles, as we did in the walkway along the side of the house.

Share the hidden beauty of your backyards!

Photos by Elisa Leonelli

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Organic garden for your health

Posted on May 19, 2009 by Elisa Leonelli

A note from Dr. Carl Rothchild

Markene's lettuce

Markene’s lettuce

“There is probably no better way to gain access to the healthy organic foods your body craves most than by growing them yourself. More and more people are getting on the home-gardening bandwagon as food, fuel and energy costs continue to rise. Home gardening, especially organic gardening, can be a great help in avoiding the consumption of manufactured foods and offset some of the cost concerns with organic produce.

“Don’t get discouraged if you aren’t growing the world’s biggest tomato or tallest stalk of peppermint. Maybe all you can get to grow at first is a few lettuce leaves for salads or sandwich toppings and some of your favorite herbs to spice up your cooking. Don’t expect too much from your little garden. Try to enjoy the organic gardening experience itself and other health benefits it brings, like exercise, time spent outdoors in the fresh air, and a sense of well being. Try to think of the chemical-free, vitamin-filled, fresh, natural foods it yields as an added bonus.

“If the idea of organic gardening and growing your own food seems more like a chore than a blessing, try to remember all the benefits – and the next thing you know, you’ll be sitting down to a delicious meal made with your own favorite, healthy, homegrown foods.

– – Dr. Carl Rothchild, ToYourHealth.com

posted by Elisa Leonelli

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Drought tolerant plants

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Elisa Leonelli

From our neighbor Martha Groves, Los Angeles Times writer

Halm 2400-2

“Many years ago, with memories of the late 1980s drought fresh in my mind, I asked Susan, a horticulturist friend whose Santa Monica company is called Suzie’s Scapes, to help me design a “drought-tolerant” front garden, with native California grasses, flowering plants and bushes.

“We ended up not with a xeriscape garden per se but with a Mediterranean-style garden, appropriate for a “dry summer subtropical climate.”

“I watered regularly until the plants took hold. Since then, I seldom think about watering except in the extreme heat of August or September.

“Among plants that I love having in the garden and that seem to thrive are: Mexican sage, kangaroo paws, flax, agave plants, manzanita, Australian woolly bush (Adenanthos sericeus), California iris and California rock rose (Helianthemum scoparium). I’m eagerly awaiting the day when my Matilija poppy bursts forth with its large white blossoms with yellow centers that look like eggs sunny side up.

“Caveats: I had hoped that having a Mediterranean-style garden would save money.  In the end I’m not sure it has. The garden must often be tweaked, and I apply special mulch three or four times a year (where does all that mulch go?).  Who knows how much I’m saving on water costs, though.  I know I am saving there.

“And I love coming home to this garden. I’m happy to see other front gardens popping up throughout the neighborhood.” –  Martha Groves –

Photo by Elisa Leonelli

See more easy-care, lawn-free gardens from Sunset Magazine

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Raised bed garden

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Elisa Leonelli

From our neighbor Barry Levine, photographer

Barry's vegetables

Barry’s vegetables

“I was reading the Los Angeles Times and this article about an Australian garden caught my eye. This vegetable garden is above ground, requires no removal of the lawn and seemed easy enough even for me.  I just laid down fifteen sheets of newspaper, four inches of alfalfa, eight inches of hay and four inches of compost, bone meal and blood meal.  Then I planted and watered.
“Turns out to cost a chunk of change (about $200.00) so I don’t think I’ll really be saving money over shopping, but it has been educational and fun.  That’s a combination that can’t be beat. I’ve planted and harvested broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, snap peas, strawberries, and my favorite, spinach. I think I’ll tweak it a little next season and add planting soil about four inches thick and only plant tomatoes, spinach and cucumbers.  I’m also adding blackberries and grapes.”    – – Barry Levine

Watch a video from the National Gardening Association on how to build a raised bed garden.

Tell us about YOUR experiences growing fruits and vegetables!!

Photo by Elisa Leonelli

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Front yard solutions

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Elisa Leonelli

There’s such a variety of solutions that people have created for their front yards in Reynier Village.

Many people have kept the traditional grass  lawns, but are becoming more aware of the necessity to save water during the state-wide drought caused by the climate crisis.

One neighbor has paved the area, maybe to get more parking, but others have planted colorful arrays of cacti and other drought-resistant plants.

What do you think? Please leave a comment.

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

Reynier 2716Halm 2410Holt 2401

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Spanish homes colors

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Elisa Leonelli

California architects of the 1930s were influenced by Spain, Italy and Greece, as well as by Mexican and Native American adobe, while creating the Spanish-Mediterranean style.  The most distinctive features are red tiled roofs, arched openings, carved wood doors, wrought  iron gates, textured stucco walls.

Halm 2424

Beverlywood 8965-4Beverlywood 8925-4

The color palette of the walls tends to earth tones, including Navajo white, that can be effectively highlighted by aqua-green trims for doors and windows, a fit complement to the reddish roofs. The most common colors are a variety of terra-cotta shades, tans and beiges, matching and contrasting the color of the tiles.  Then there’s greens, from pea green to forest green.

Beverlywood 8945-3

But a true innovation, confirmed by the bold choice of a two-tone gravel landscaping with succulent plants, is this chocolate brown house.

Tell us about your color choices and be BOLD!!

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

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Martha immortalizes “the Village”

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Elisa Leonelli

Reynier Village, as described by Los Angeles Times columnist Martha Groves, “contains fine old houses, many of them Spanish Revival in style, loaded with original charm and relatively affordable, at least by the current dizzying standards”.

marthagrovesarticle

For a delightful overview of Reynier Village and its history, read Martha’s 2006 real estate article
“Spanish style still defines central pocket”

Thank you Martha!

Deni Mosser

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SPANISH HOMES, CREATIVE GARDENS

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Elisa Leonelli

24th-8970-frontflowers

It is truly amazing, when you go for a walk around Reynier Village, to see how many of our neighbors have replaced the water-wasting green lawns with colorful and inventive arrays of drought-resistant plants and flowers. It makes you wonder what’s behind those charming 1930 Spanish facades and tiled roofs… Probably backyards just as creative, and hopefully some organic gardens where fruits and vegetables are grown.

Please post a comment and let us know where those hidden gems are located, so we may organize a garden tour of the neighborhood, like the Mar Vista Neighborhood Association did recently.

Elisa Leonelli + Deni Mosser

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While walking through the neighborhood, an idea was born

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Elisa Leonelli

While walking through Reynier Village with my neighbor, we were admiring the beautiful spring gardens and architectural details of the 1930’s homes. We were discussing what we could do for volunteer work and started talking about community gardens. One thing led to another and we decided to create this blog to celebrate our architectural diversity, discover drought resistant gardening, and perhaps inspire others to grow food and share it with neighbors.
Text and photo by Deni Mosser
reynier-rose

Reynier Village is part of South Robertson/SORO/Los Angeles, CA.

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