Scary funny
Posted on | August 17, 2010 | No Comments
For climate change deniers everywhere, the perfect gift. Steve Greenberg is offering a revised 2010 edition of his book of environmental cartoons "Fine-tooning the planet." Click on the image to be taken to greenberg-art.com
The week that was, 8/8-14/2010
Posted on | August 15, 2010 | 3 Comments
It is one of the most graphic temperature increases on the planet. — Lake Superior surface waters are warmest on record, Duluth News Tribune, August 13, 2010
Since 1980, Lake Superior’s surface water temperature in summer has increased about two-degrees F per decade. For more, click on the cover of the Large Lakes Observatory report.
X“If the Kalabagh dam had been built, this flood could have been tamed in the reservoir.” — Shams-ul Mulk, former chief of Pakistan’s Water and Power Development Authority, Pakistan floods renew debate over unbuilt dam, Wall Street Journal, August 11, 2010
“Their crops have gone, their livestock has gone, the infrastructure, the roads are gone. Right now our land link with the rest of the country is gone.” Punjab regional assemblyman Mohsin Leghari, Pakistan floods cause ‘huge losses’ to crops, BBC News, August 12, 2010
Swimming in the rivers that feed the Chesapeake Bay after a hard rain could be as hazardous to your health as hopping into an unflushed toilet. — Swimming holes awash in bacteria, The Capital, August 8, 2010
Click here to keep reading ‘The week that was’
Poppy Print goes live
Posted on | August 14, 2010 | No Comments
The return to the Theodore Payne Foundation of some of Jane Pinheiro’s botanical watercolors is among the subjects covered in the summer edition of the Poppy Print, which has just gone live online for non-members. Also read it to learn about the foundation’s new executive director, Lynnette Kampe, then proceed to summer gardening tips, a schedule of classes, and a nifty gallery of our local lizards.
Tags: chance of rain > Emily Green > Native Gardening > Theodore Payne Foundation
The Dry Garden: Vertical waste
Posted on | August 13, 2010 | No Comments
Detail of a "Woolly Pocket" (actually recycled plastic) at the SmogShoppe vertical garden in Culver City in summer of 2010. Normally drought tolerant succulents require routine irrigation in a mouldering setting. Photo: Emily Green
They say you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, but I’ve never wanted to catch flies. Moreover, as borrowed phrases go, I far prefer, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, sit by me.” And so, I issued an invitation: If you are skeptical about the vogue for vertical gardens, sit by me.
A few smart people from the worlds of gardening and landscape architecture took the chair. Here’s what they had to say.
Click here to keep reading this week’s ‘Dry Garden’ in the Los Angeles Times.
A comment string to do with this post has been removed because it was overpopulating the home page and descending in tone. The sentiments of the commenter, Felicity Waters, a retailer of the Woolly Pocket system, may be found in the comment string of the LA Times article.
Arguing with drunks
Posted on | August 12, 2010 | 5 Comments
Los Angeles City Hall on a foggy morning seen from the top floor of the DWP building. Photo: Emily Green. Click on the image to be taken to the City Council 'on demand' service to watch LA's politicians try to pass a lawn-watering ordinance.
Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti yesterday encouraged colleagues to approve a 3-day-a-week lawn-watering ordinance while defending himself against criticism from a recent op-ed piece in the Los Angeles Times (written by me).
“There was an editorial or op-ed in the Los Angeles Times, it was well written, it argued that we shouldn’t go to 2-3 because it kills more plants,” he said. “If you actually look, there’s a lot of research on both sides and that is really more about grass only and certain types of grass. And even in the hottest hours, we know that if you only do it twice a week in the hottest moments that grass just won’t survive. It’s not good for our oxygen, it’s not good for our carbon footprint, it’s not good for our heat island effect of this city. So 3 days for more types of plants does in the experts I talked to does put that forward.”
Responding to this drivel about the proposed expansion of lawn-watering from two to three days in a region in a water crisis feels like arguing with a drunk. But respond I will because these drunks are our lawmakers. First, Mr Garcetti, responding to your points as you made them, the article concerned lawn. The ordinance is aimed at lawn. Sprinklers are not suitable irrigation for shrubs and trees. No “experts” will disagree with this. Even your wife, who is the only expert you name, should agree with this. (Please stop hauling her into the crossfire.)
Secondly, the original ordinance that you seek to undo forbade watering in the hottest hours, which renders your stated concern moot.
Thirdly, one of the most whimsically disastrous things that we do contributing to our carbon footprint is sustain vast stretches of lawn in a climate dependent on imported water. Click here to keep reading
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