Lifestyle
15 things for plant lovers to do in SoCal in March
February tends to idiot us … it begins like an everyday winter month after which all of a sudden, poof, it’s March, closing in on spring and excessive time to begin planning and prepping our SoCal summer season gardens.
So don’t be delay by this current chilly snap. Sizzling climate is unquestionably coming, so that is the time to begin deciding what greens you’re going to plant this yr. Tomatoes are on the high of most gardeners’ lists — and for them the large query is, “What number of varieties can I squeeze on this yr?” Tomatomania’s roving pop-up gross sales of greater than 200 types of tomatoes and 100 types of peppers begin this weekend and proceed round Southern California into April.
And for beginner gardeners, the Los Angeles County UC Cooperative Extension’s Grasp Gardeners program is providing lessons in rising vegetable gardens at 13 areas round L.A. The lessons, a part of the Develop LA Vegetable Backyard Initiative, are designed to assist freshmen learn to begin a vegetable backyard in containers, yards or neighborhood backyard plots. A lot of the lessons are a mixture of on-line and in-person classes (referred to as “hybrid” lessons) and value $55 or $25, relying on what college students can afford. Every session has 4 lessons supplied over 4 weeks. Dates range, with classes beginning in March or April.
The hybrid lessons in Northridge are already full, however others are being supplied on the Brewery Artists Lofts in Lincoln Heights, Columbia Park Group Backyard in Torrance, East Hollywood Group Backyard, the Farm at Fairplex in Pomona, Firehouse Group Farm and Santa Fe Group Backyard, each in Lengthy Seashore; Fountain Group Backyard in Hollywood, Develop LA Vegetable Backyard in Boyle Heights and Monrovia FoodEd. Two different classes, at Burbank/Glendale and Ishihara Group Backyard, are solely supplied on-line. You may register or get extra data on-line.
Within the meantime, we’re approaching prime bloom time for a lot of flowers, so make a degree of visiting a botanic backyard — Descanso Gardens, as an example, is providing excursions of a few of its most stunning blooming areas on March 12, and its pollinator’s backyard on March 26. And in case you love unique flowers, don’t miss the final of this yr’s camellia reveals Feb. 26-27 or the clivia present March 12-13 — the primary because the pandemic started two years in the past.
E-mail garden- and plant-related occasions to jeanette.marantos@latimes.com at the least three weeks earlier than they occur, and we would embody them within the calendar.
Via Might 31
The primary Butterfly Backyard Contest for gardens in southwest Riverside County, sponsored by the Santa Margarita Group of the San Gorgonio chapter of the Sierra Membership. Gardens ought to embody California native nectar crops for grownup butterflies and host crops for the caterpillars (based mostly on data on the California Native Plant Society’s calscape.com database below the “butterflies” tab). Gardens should be within the communities of Canyon Lake, Hemet, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Murrieta, Perris, Temecula, Wildomar or Winchester and will likely be evaluated in 4 classes, starting from further small (25 sq. toes or much less, together with container gardens) to gardens bigger than 125 sq. toes. Gardens will likely be judged on their total magnificence and performance for all native butterflies; to be eligible, they should be primarily composed of native crops. It’s free to enter. Winners will likely be introduced June 10, with prizes starting from $50 to $125, relying on backyard dimension. Go to the web site for entry varieties and knowledge. sierraclub.org/san-gorgonio/santa-margarita
Feb. 25-March 6
Tomatomania! at Roger’s Gardens, 2301 San Joaquin Hills Highway in Corona del Mar, from 9 a.m. to six p.m. every day. That is Tomatomania’s first occasion of the 2022 tomato rising season, providing greater than 100 types of peppers and 250 types of heirloom and hybrid tomato crops. rogersgardens.com
Feb. 26
California Botanic Backyard and Develop Native Nursery reopens after a extreme windstorm felled greater than 70 timber on Jan. 21. The backyard and nursery had been closed so the timber and fallen branches might be safely eliminated and different particles cleaned off the paths. The backyard will resume its regular hours, open 8 a.m. to five p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays, and closed on Mondays. At current, the nursery is barely open on Feb. 26 from 9 a.m. to three p.m., however extra dates will likely be introduced sooner or later. Tickets could be bought on-line or on the gate for $10 ($6 for seniors 65+ and college students with ID, $3 for ages 3-12. Kids below 3 and members enter free.) calbg.org
Feb. 26-27
Southern California Camellia Council 62nd Spring Camellia Present at Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 26 and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 27. This present is a joint occasion involving the area’s 4 camellia societies in Kern and San Diego counties, in addition to the Pacific Camellia Society and the Southern California Camellia Society. Most of the people might enter camellia blooms for judging from 7 to 10:30 a.m. Feb. 26. The present is free to guests after $15 admission to the gardens ($11 for seniors 65 and older and college students with ID, $5 for kids ages 5-12. Members and kids below age 5 enter free). Masks are required indoors. socalcamelliasociety.org
March 5-6
Tomatomania! at Mission Hills Nursery, 1525 Fort Stockton Drive in San Diego, from 8 a.m. to five p.m. every day. That is Tomatomania’s second occasion of the 2022 tomato rising season, providing greater than 100 types of peppers and 250 types of heirloom and hybrid tomato crops. missionhillsnursery.com
March 11-12
Tomatomania! at Otto & Sons Nursery, 1835 E. Guiberson Highway in Fillmore, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. SoCal’s famend rose nursery makes room for Tomatomania’s greater than 200 tomato heirloom and hybrid crops and a few 100 types of peppers. ottoandsonsnursery.com
March 11-13
Tomatomania! at Fig Earth Provide, 3577 N. Figueroa St., in Mount Washington, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. figearthsupply.com
March 12
Spring Bloom Excursions at Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, in La Cañada Flintridge, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., take a guided strolling tour to see what’s blooming. Reservations aren’t crucial; simply meet on the Middle Circle. Free with $15 admission to the gardens ($11 seniors 65 and older and college students with ID, $5 ages 5-12. Members and kids below age 5 enter free). descansogardens.org
March 12-13
nineteenth Clivia Present & Sale offered by the Southern California Chapter of the North American Clivia Society, on the Huntington Library, Artwork Museum and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Highway, in San Marino, from 10 a.m. to five p.m. each days. Society members could have greater than 200 crops on show together with uncommon types of clivias accessible for buy. Guests may forged their votes for the present’s “Folks’s Alternative” award. The present is free with $29 admission to the Huntington ($24 for seniors 65+, energetic army and college students with ID and $13 for ages 4-11. Members and kids below 4 enter free.) huntington.org
March 13
South Coast Cactus & Succulent Society presents a free, in-person speak by succulent skilled Woody Minnich concerning the cactuses and succulents of New Mexico from 1 to three p.m. within the Peninsula Middle Library Group Room, 701 Silver Spur Highway, in Rolling Hills Estates. Minnich grew up within the Mojave Desert and now lives in New Mexico. That is the society’s first in-person occasion because the COVID shutdowns in March 2020; please examine the web site for any last-minute modifications. southcoastcss.org
March 18-20
San Diego Orchid Society Annual Worldwide Spring Present and Sale on the Scottish Ceremony Middle, 1895 Camino Del Rio South, in San Diego, from 3 to 7 p.m. on March 18, 9 a.m. to six p.m. on March 19 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 20. The present will embody 4 orchid lessons on March 19 and 4 on March 20 on subjects akin to caring for a brand new orchid buy, reblooming an orchid, repotting an orchid and orchids to develop outdoor. The society may also have free printed supplies about orchids accessible to take dwelling, together with care sheets for every of a dozen totally different kind of orchids. Admission is $10 for in the future or $12 for the weekend. Kids below 12 enter free of charge. sdorchids.com
Tomatomania! at Tapia Bros. Farm, 5251 Hayvenhurst, in Encino, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. fb.com/tapiabrosfarm/
March 19, 29 and April 2
Three-part native bee workshop led by neighborhood scientist and photographer Krystle Hickman on the Theodore Payne Basis nursery, 10459 Tuxford St., in Solar Valley, on March 19 and 29 and a non-public backyard in Altadena on April 2, from 1 to three p.m. every day. Hickman will focus on find out how to establish and {photograph} native bees, their relationships to native crops and find out how to backyard for native bees. Workshops will likely be held each indoors and outdoor and are restricted to fifteen folks. Individuals ought to put together for strolling on steep, uneven surfaces and costume in layers because the classroom home windows will likely be open for air flow. Individuals should present proof they’re totally vaccinated or present a unfavourable COVID-19 PCR check end result and put on a masks whereas indoors. Register on-line, $150 ($130 for Theodore Payne Basis members). eventbrite.com
March 20
Spring Equinox Herb Hike at Taft Gardens in Ojai, from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., led by Ojai naturalist Lanny Kaufer of HerbWalks.com and creator of “Medicinal Herbs of California.” Kaufer will level out the medicinal and edible crops alongside trails within the uncultivated components of the Taft Gardens Nature Protect. Advance registration is required. Tickets are $60. taftgardens.org
March 25-27
Tomatomania! at Underwood Household Farms Moorpark Farm Middle, 3370 Sundown Valley Highway, in Moorpark, from 9 a.m. to five p.m. every day. tomatomania.com
March 26
Spring Celebration at Descanso Gardens contains excursions of the pollinator backyard and the brand new nursery as nicely the native milkweed and different crops the gardens are rising to assist pollinators, from 10 a.m. to three p.m. at 1418 Descanso Drive in La Cañada Flintridge. Excursions are scheduled in English at 10 a.m. and a pair of p.m. and a tour in Spanish is scheduled for 1 p.m. The occasion additionally contains informational tables staffed by the backyard’s associate organizations — Pure Historical past Museum of Los Angeles County, Latino Outdoor, Arroyos and Foothill Conservancy, California Native Plant Society, Theodore Payne Basis and Kidspace Kids’s Museum, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All actions are free with $15 admission ($11 for seniors 65 and older and college students with ID and $5 for ages 5-12. Members and kids below age 5 enter free). descansogardens.org
Bowen Yang on Wild Card.
Mike Coppola/Getty
hide caption
toggle caption
Mike Coppola/Getty
Bowen Yang on Wild Card.
Mike Coppola/Getty
The Pop Culture Happy Hour team is off today, so we’re bringing you an episode of the NPR podcast Wild Card with Rachel Martin. This episode is an interview with Bowen Yang. He is the first Chinese American cast member on SNL, the co-host the podcast Las Culturistas, and he starred in the rom-com Fire Island. He talks to Rachel about living too much in the present, hard truths from Tina Fey, and why the afterlife should have a rollercoaster.
Liz Metzger produced the encore version of this episode.
When you figure in the high cost, endless lines, height restrictions and miles of walking, does it ever make sense to take a preschooler to Disneyland?
Yes, as long as their adults adjust their expectations, plan carefully and slow waaay down. Because, let’s face it, most preschoolers are too young to understand what Disneyland is all about. It’s the parental (and grandparental) excitement and expectations that are really driving this visit.
Case in point: When we took my Seattleite granddaughter to Disneyland for her fourth birthday, her parents and I spent most of the time watching her reactions, which, I must admit, were pretty gratifying.
Craft an epic visit to Disneyland and California Adventure with our comprehensive guide.
It’s full of expert tips and fresh perspectives.
Following the advice of Disneyland enthusiasts and L.A. Times readers, we were right in front when the park opened its gates. We were making a beeline to Fantasyland when out of the corner of my eye I saw Minnie and Mickey Mouse waving by the train station. Ordinarily, with my teen (and now adult) kids, nothing would have deterred us from racing to our favorite ride. But this was my granddaughter’s first visit, and all she really knew about Disneyland was that it was Mickey Mouse’s home. How could we ignore this introduction?
So we turned, which was hard, since she was already laser focused on Sleeping Beauty Castle, but when she finally saw Mickey and his gang cavorting just a few feet away, she reared back and started shaking so hard I feared she was going into shock. She couldn’t approach them or even wave; she just stared and vibrated, like an awestruck cartoon character with her finger in a light socket.
Meeting Mickey and Minnie was an emotional start to the day.
(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
I wanted photos, but her parents and I were so busy wiping away our tears we could barely hold the camera. It was a pretty intense start to the morning, and we had barely left the entrance.
“Going when they’re preschoolers may be the best time, because everything is a wonderment at that age,” said Kristen Carr, of Orange, a “Disney mom” of four (ages 10, 9 and 6-year-old twins) who podcasts, blogs and organizes Disney-related activities.
Don’t expect to go on massive thrill rides with preschoolers, Carr said, “but many of the rides feel very well suited for children 3 to 4. Some of my most fun memories are from when my kids were that age.”
Most of the 35 readers who responded to our question “What can you do with a preschooler at Disneyland?” agreed with Carr. Only four said taking preschoolers to Disneyland was a waste of money and time; the rest came down squarely in the plan-ahead-and-you’ll-love-it camp. We followed most of their top tips when we made this Disneyland pilgrimage and almost all were winners. Plus, we discovered rides and experiences at the park we’d never really noticed before.
1. Adjust your expectations
Focus on visiting just one park, and missing most of the big rides. We were in Disneyland from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m., but between rests, meals, more rests and endless lines, we only managed eight rides — the carousel, Storybook Land and Casey’s Railroad in Fantasyland, the junior roller coaster in Toontown (after an hour wait to visit Minnie at her house), the Thunder Mountain roller coaster, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (almost too scary), the Jungle Boat Cruise and the Winnie the Pooh ride, plus the Tiki Room, the Toontown playground and the parade.
Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Gadget’s Go Coaster at Toontown is a good introduction to roller coasters for small children — although larger adults may feel crippled for hours after having wedged themselves into the seats.
(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
But we had no meltdowns and she was smiling when we left. (Of course, she was also carrying a new toy purchased just before our departure, but you know, what are grandmothers for?) If the adults must go on a big-person ride, make sure you have someone in your party to take the preschooler to something they’ll enjoy — in my case, we bought a balloon, ate some pre-packed snacks and watched the parade (which she loved) while her parents waited 90 minutes for their first ride on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (which they loved).
2. Get a stroller
OK, I wasn’t going to do this because I’ve always hated the herd of strollers blocking everyone’s path in Disneyland, but Carr said it was an absolute must, even for her 6-year-old twins, and most of our readers agreed. The kids start out strong, but when they get tired (which happens quickly for little legs), your choices are to carry them or try to find a quiet bench for a nap (good luck). So we rented a big-kid stroller ($38 for 24 hours), which was delivered to our hotel, and it gave us a place to stash our snacks, extra clothing, and a cuddly blanket so she could relax later in the day. Worth every penny.
The sea of strollers at Disneyland, here at the King Arthur Carrousel, was long a subject of scorn in my family until we discovered their value in keeping young children happy (and as a place to stash all our gear).
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Carr notes: If you don’t have your own, rent a good sturdy stroller outside the park; Disney’s are hard plastic and not very comfortable, she said. Umbrella strollers are too little for big kids and back breakers for whoever is pushing them. Plus, you won’t have to wait in line at Disneyland to rent and return a stroller. Our stroller was delivered to the hotel about 30 minutes before our departure, and all we had to do was leave it at the front desk when we returned that evening, which was a godsend since we had to walk back to the hotel.
3. Pack water and non-sugary snacks
You can get plenty of sweet stuff at Disneyland, “but a lot of sugar equals a lot of breakdowns” for little ones, Carr said. Bring a small cooler loaded with water, apple slices, carrot sticks, grapes and/or sandwiches, but also do yourself a favor, Carr said: If your child has a favorite snack they eat every day, be sure you pack some of that too.
4. Arrive early, before the park opens
In our case, that meant leaving our off-site hotel at 7 a.m. and running the gauntlet through metal detectors, bag searches and guard dogs so we could be at the gates when they opened at 8 a.m. People who stay in park hotels might be able to enter even earlier. The point is to get in early, before the crowds and head for Fantasyland first, which has the greatest concentration of little-kid rides but also the worst lines once the park starts filling up. Several Fantasyland rides, like Pinocchio, are too dark and scary for preschoolers, but once you get your fill of the sunnier ones, Carr said, you can stop mid-morning, have a late breakfast and plan out the rest of your day.
5. Download the Disneyland app
With preschoolers, I’m not convinced it’s worth the extra $35-$50 per person to get the Genie+ and Lightning Lane passes that let you skip the line at the most popular rides, but the free Genie app is mandatory for ordering food (so you don’t wait in yet another line to eat), keeping track of special events in the park and seeing what rides have the longest lines or are shut down. Pro tip: Bring a portable phone charger.
6. Prep your child for what to expect
The Storybook Land Canal Boats almost resulted in a major meltdown when the boat left while we waited in line. Our 4-year-old Disneyland newbie didn’t understand that new boats would keep coming.
(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)
We almost had a meltdown at the first ride, when my granddaughter thought the boat we were waiting for at the Storybook Land canal left without us. It took about four boats coming and going before she began to understand that their appearance was continuous and we would eventually get our turn to climb aboard. Nothing will truly prepare them for the experience IRL, but you can at least explain how the rides and lines work and show them some photos of what they’ll see.
7. Gird your loins and watch your spending
The nickle-and-diming at Disneyland is intense. Preschoolers want just about everything they see, and doting adults are eager to oblige, but between $30 Ariel bubble wands (which need refilling almost immediately), $20 Mickey Mouse balloons, $30 Star Wars stuffies and $50 sweatshirts, it’s easy to overspend. One of the biggest lures for little ones is the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, where “magical makeovers for royalty-in-training ages 3-12” start at $100, a fee that includes a princess hairstyle, nail polish, sash, T-shirt and “shimmering makeup and face gem.” The prices go up from there, to nearly $500 for all of the above, plus a princess gown, tiara and satin hanger (every preschooler’s dream). There’s also the $80 Deluxe Knight Package, which includes a knight costume, gel hairstyling and a “mighty sword and shield.”
Emily San Miguel, 6, beams as she shows off her fancy “Belle” dress at Disneyland, but the price of a princess “makeover” can have a decidedly different effect on adult pocketbooks.
(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Here’s where advance planning can pay off, Carr said. She bought her daughter’s favorite princess gown online for a fraction of the park price, showed it to her the morning of their trip and let her wear that to the park. They still visited the boutique, she said, but only to get a free sprinkling of pixie dust (a.k.a glitter) anyone can request. I can’t emphasize this enough: Plan ahead for what purchases are a must ($6.50 bowls of Dole Whip are non-negotiable in my family) and let your children and accompanying adults know they can’t have everything they want.
Bonus: The lasting memories may surprise you
With two nights at an off-site hotel ($525), four admissions to the park (only $602, thanks to a short-time $50 deal for young children), meals, treats and souvenirs, our one-day visit in early February cost about $1,500, or $375 per person. That’s an eye-popping figure, but truth be told, we had a lot of fun, and if we’d curbed our souvenir shopping and been willing to spend nearly three hours driving home after a long day at the park, it could have been at least $300 cheaper.
Note this, because four months after our trip, I asked my granddaughter, “What was your favorite part about Disneyland?” Her answer was immediate: When the servers at Café Orleans brought her a tiny cake — basically three blobs of whipped cream in the shape of Mickey Mouse’s head — with a little candle on top. We all sang happy birthday while she beamed and blew the candle out, and that precious moment came free of charge.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25517480/2023_Amazon_Fire_HD_10_Lifestyle_Press_Image_2.jpg)
Amazon’s Fire HD 10 tablet is nearly 50 percent off for Prime members
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro indicted by Federal Police in undeclared diamonds case: AP
Newsom doubles down on support for Biden in Michigan: 'I believe in his character'
Potassium chloride medications recalled due to failure that could cause heart attacks: FDA
Top boxing organization expels Ryan Garcia after hateful comments
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
At least 2 dead as tornadoes hit Alabama, damage homes across Southeast
Newsom doubles down on support for Biden in Michigan: 'I believe in his character'
Iranians return to polls to pick new president amid voter turnout concerns
Fast-moving French Fire in Mariposa County triggers mandatory evacuations
Biden seemingly contradicts WH after press secretary says president did not have medical exam after debate
Remains of destroyed Kharkiv stadium exhibited in Berlin
-
Politics1 week agoPopular Republican and Trump running mate contender makes first Senate endorsement in 2024 races
-
News1 week agoToplines: June 2024 Times/Siena Poll of Registered Voters Nationwide
-
Politics1 week agoFox News Politics: Trump Ungagged…Kinda
-
Politics1 week agoObama again stepping into role as Joe's closer ahead of Trump v Biden rematch
-
News1 week agoIowa floodwaters breach levees as even more rain dumps onto parts of the Midwest
-
News5 days agoVideo: How Blast Waves Can Injure the Brain
-
Politics1 week agoThe many faces of Donald Trump from past presidential debates
-
Politics1 week agoMike Kennedy advances past crowded GOP primary to secure nomination for open Utah House seat