Maxwell Park Newsby Pat Patterson | ||
Huge sequoias loom over the backyard—saved from being cut down prior to Paul & Hugo Campos’s arrival, by the Allendale Home Alert Group. Photo by Pat Patterson.
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Maxwell Park Garden Featured in Bay-Friendly Garden Tour
Hundreds of green thumb enthusiasts visited the gardens of Maxwell Park neighbors Paul Cannon and Hugo Campos, as part of the 7th Annual Bay-Friendly Garden Tour in late April. Theirs was one of 40 diverse gardens, clustered throughout Alameda County. The scene was colorful and lively as people gathered to see and hear what worked in their space.'
I toured a few other beautiful gardens in and outside Maxwell Park and saw great examples of the range of horticultural approaches. The Bay-Friendly Gardening Program, part of the Stopwaste.org organization, featured its self-guided tour, showcasing natural gardening techniques in private residential gardens.'
Paul, a native plant enthusiast, has delved into the art and science of it all.'
I had the great opportunity to interview him about the tour:
How did you get involved with the Bay-Friendly Garden Tour?
I learned that Stopwaste.org, the umbrella organization for the Bay-Friendly Gardening Tour, offered a discount on stackable composting bins, so I placed an order and got on their mailing list. Last year, I pondered whether our gardening practices were sufficiently eco-conscious, which spurred me to register our garden to see if it was a worthy candidate for the tour. We got the great news that we'd been selected.
'2. How did the tour go? Was there a 'best moment'?
It was a lot of work preparing for the tour but also exceptionally enjoyable (200 different plants labeled). More than 250 people visited the garden, and we chatted with nearly all of them over the six hours. The best moment was dispensing advice and providing inspiration to those looking to create or update their own gardens. I love educating people about plants. I must also mention that being on the tour was an effective means of bringing attention to our wonderful neighborhood. We are so proud to live on Allendale Avenue.
How were you trained in horticulture/landscaping, gardening?
I've taken several courses at Merritt and am constantly singing the program's praises, what with its affordable classes, inspiring teachers, and all of the friends I've made because of our common passion for plants and landscapes.'
What is your favorite'plant in your garden?
I must say that a "tall" reason we moved into our home was because of the four coastal redwoods that anchor the backyard garden. I love the Fremontodendron 'California Glory' (Flannel Bush) at the front of our home. It's stunning when in bloom, and since it's established we never have to water it.
A special tip for readers
Rip out your front lawn and install drought-tolerant plants. Or you can sheet mulch it by covering with cardboard or several layers of newspaper, followed by a thick layer of mulch. It's best to do this in fall right before the rainy season hits. You'll ultimately save on your water bill and have a creative opportunity to increase your curb appeal.
'Paul Cannon is the principal of Brother Earth, specializing in garden coaching, container garden design, and plant staging. Reach him at' HYPERLINK "mailto:paulleecannon\@gmail.com" paulleecannon\@gmail.com.
Tire Slashings in Maxwell Park
An early morning walk triggered the reality that multiple tires were slashed on several streets in the Maxwell Park area in the early hours of April 28. Several neighbors who were preparing for work received a rude awakening as they found one, and in some cases two, flat tires on their cars. A 6 a.m. an eblast to the Maxwell Park listserv on Tuesday morning kicked off the news—a person walking a dog saw numerous cars with flats on Brookdale from High to Monticello. News spread quickly as neighbors began to check, send emails and text messages. A few more emails confirmed numerous cars with flats, then the same on Allendale and Lilac. Some cars had both tires flattened, which meant a call for a tow truck, as most cars carry only one spare. More than 19 cars were affected, and additional incidents have been cited. News reporters and TV cameras were on the scene, along with Oakland Police Department and several tow trucks.'
Several neighborhood groups have rallied to discuss preventive measures to handle this crime wave. The Maxwell Park NCPC offered stepped-up patrol during the initial incident period and Councilmember Jean Quan informed the area that a $10,000 reward was posted for information leading to the arrest, capture, and conviction of those who committed this vandalism. Oakland Police are asking anyone with information to call 238-3955, or Oakland Crime Stoppers at 777-3211 or 777-8572.