Latest news with #SouthernCalifornians
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Raising a family, doing business in California not easy, In-N-Out boss says
There's something about In-N-Out that strikes a fierce if not irrational sense of pride among many Angelenos and Southern Californians. There are several fan clubs and awards, including Yelp's No. 1 Fast Food chain honor earlier this year and Market Force's 2022 'best burger experience.' For some reason, there isn't the same fervor for Southern California's own McDonald's, one of the top 10 brands in the world, or for Santa Barbara's The Habit, which beat In-N-Out in July 2024 for USA Today's best fast food burger accolade. Times readers even lambasted former food columnist Lucas Kwan Peterson when he placed L.A.'s Fatburger atop his fast food burger rankings in 2022. Maybe that's what made the news that Lynsi Snyder, billionaire owner and chief executive of the iconic Baldwin Park brand, was leaving the Golden State last week all the more jarring. Colleague Piper Heath broke down the announcement Monday, while columnist Lorraine Ali opined on what the decision meant. Snyder made an appearance on the podcast 'Relatable' on July 18, hosted by conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey. During the interview, Snyder uttered a statement that created shockwaves locally. 'There's a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here,' she said as part of her announcement that her business was continuing its eastward expansion. The move to Tennessee represents a seismic shift for the leader of the brand. Currently operating more than 400 locations across eight states — California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Colorado, Texas and Idaho — In-N-Out has long thrived on being the burger chain you couldn't find everywhere. Snyder's comments set off a disinformation blitz, launching the Double-Double into the middle of a red-state/blue-state culture war where, clearly, nothing is sacred, Ali wrote. Anti-Cali factions incorrectly crowed about yet another business fleeing the West Coast. More proof that Gov. Gavin Newsom's 'failing' state sucks! It appeared that In-N-Out was following Tesla and Charles Schwab, companies that cited regulatory challenges and operational costs among their reasons for relocating. Chevron also fled. Many in SoCal felt abandoned and disrespected. They, after all, propped up the chain for 76 years, only to be told by its owner that the place that made her family's business — their home — is no longer to her liking. On X, Oracle Park Seagull posted ''Not easy for In N Out to do business in California…' Said the person who became a billionaire doing business almost exclusively in California. So much so, it was a point of pride for the chain. Gotcha.' During the podcast, Snyder discussed elements of California policy that make the state hard to operate in, referencing pandemic-era restrictions as particularly challenging. She told Stuckey 'the bulk of our stores are still going to be here in California.' The relocation of both corporate operations and the CEO signals a fundamental change in the company's center of gravity. 'It will be wonderful having an office out there, growing out there, and being able to have the family and other people's families out there,' Snyder said, though she maintains limits on expansion. Newsom even chimed in, starting his X post with, 'For those interested in the facts, rather than fiction, In-N-Out is expanding East — creating a second HQ in Tennessee.' Snyder responded Monday in an Instagram post: 'Where I raise my family has nothing to do with my love and appreciation for our customers in California.' Immigration and ICE raids Trump Administration policy, actions and pushback Crime, courts and policing Health and medicine Get wrapped up in tantalizing stories about dating, relationships and marriage. Have a great weekend, from the Essential California team Jim Rainey, staff writerDiamy Wang, homepage internIzzy Nunes, audience internKevinisha Walker, multiplatform editorAndrew J. Campa, reporterKarim Doumar, head of newsletters How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@ Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on
Buzz Feed
6 days ago
- General
- Buzz Feed
Which US States Have The Friendliest (and Rudest) People
Between Southern hospitality, Midwest Nice, and endless debates over being kind-but-not-nice or nice-but-not-kind, every state seems to have a reputation when it comes to friendliness. So when u/NewFeature asked, "Which US state has the friendliest people, and why?" the responses were all over the map, literally and emotionally. Here's what people across the country had to say about where they felt truly welcomed — and where they definitely didn't: "Wyoming, because there are no people there." "No one is answering Alaska because fewer than a million people live here. It's a very friendly place, and as long as you do not stand in the middle of the road to take a picture, we love tourists." "I have lived in Illinois, Colorado, and now New Mexico. Whenever family comes to visit us in New Mexico, they talk about how absolutely nice and welcoming everyone is here and how you do not see that back home (in Illinois, for example). So, I will say New Mexico." "New York. I was shocked. All my life, I heard about how mean and aggressive people in New York City and the state were. When I went, all I saw was kindness and compassion. Their language is curt and aggressive, but their actions are totally different. I saw a homeless guy accidentally tip over his shopping cart into the street. People rushed to help him, and though they were verbally irritated, they all helped him pick up his belongings and get back on the sidewalk." "Vermont. Nice old grandpas." "I have lived all over, and I have to say, despite their reputation, people who live in New York might be the most solid. The South has more 'neighborly' people, but they can be overly nice (or nosy) at times. I currently live in Los Angeles, and it's probably the worst, though." "I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly people are in North Carolina." "I have lived all over the US. I'm going to say Nebraska. Genuinely nice." "Hawaii — my wife and I were born there, and the people are amazingly friendly! Also quite friendly here in Oregon!" "I don't know, but it sure as hell isn't fucking Florida." "I lived in New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and now Florida, and visited most states in the Eastern half of the US, and some in the Western half. I would say Tennessee has the friendliest people. The worst are in Florida." "Michigan." "Minnesota." "Southern Californians are definitely the most chill. You can walk into any bar, club, or restaurant and meet someone cool. I think the nicest, in terms of cookie-baking-grandma kind of niceness, is probably Maine." "I have traveled to nearly all states multiple times for work. I would have to say Iowa. I've also done their bike ride across the state. They truly set the standard for nice." "I have lived in numerous places. Hawaii is the nicest place — assuming you adapt to it. I'm semi-serious when I say Hawaii is not part of the US. It has its own art, music, and outlook on life. You treat the locals with respect, and they're kind in return." "Wisconsin." "Hawaii. I have lived in five or six different states and am notoriously antisocial, and Hawaii was the only place I've lived where I had legitimate friends — and not because of anything I had done. They are very community-oriented. Everyone is family." "Definitely not Connecticut." "In Connecticut, I had an issue with my car, so I pulled into a gas station. Every single person who pulled in after me offered to help in some way. One guy was a carpenter and had a van full of tools that he offered me to use. One guy worked at the landscaping company next to the gas station and said he would help me push my car over to their parking lot so I could use their tools. I knew the issue was that the metal clamp keeping the hose on the transmission broke off, so I was leaking transmission fluid. I just zip-tied it on to drive up the hill to a mechanic to get a new one. When I was going to leave, this older lady chillin' in her car said she would follow me up the hill to make sure I got there safe. When I pulled into the mechanic's parking lot, she beeped and waved with a big smile. People in Connecticut and New England in general get a bad reputation, but there is so much kindness everywhere here." "I'm from New Jersey, so I'm used to some abrasive but friendly strangers, if that makes sense. Like, I will hold the door for you, but call you a shmuck while I do it. I travel to North Carolina often (I know we need to get out of your state, but I have family there), and the people there are generally nice for no reason. There's lots of baby-name calling — 'honey,' 'sweetheart' — even if they do not know you. Also, courtesy is kind of just a given there. Part of me is creeped out by the overt kindness because I'm used to most people just minding their business and not being too much." "Utah, for a creepy, fake friendliness." "Everyone shits on Ohio, but those people do not care who you are — you're always invited." "Just stand on a Midtown sidewalk in New York City looking at your phone, baffled, and a couple of folks will ask if you need help. I have now lived in the Twin Cities in Minnesota for 15 years, and still think they are the unfriendliest people on Earth." "Louisiana, I have found, is the friendliest state I have been to." "Colorado has pretty friendly people." "Oregon. The only people who aren't accepted are those who are prejudiced against minority communities. Otherwise, people go out of their way to be nice. Southern states can be very nice too, but unfortunately, a lot of their communities are not very tolerant of other cultures, religions, sexualities, and ethnic backgrounds. What's great about Oregon is that, even in the less populated areas, people are more or less accepting of all walks of life. Everybody is laidback and friendly. Violent crime is nearly nonexistent compared to other populated states." "I'm going to give it to Kansas. I grew up there in the 1990s and 2000s, born to immigrants from Southeast Asia. Everyone was welcoming, and I never felt like an outsider. Hell, the people who sponsored my dad and uncle were Americans born and raised in Kansas, and I will lovingly call them my grandparents (rest in peace to both of them). Zero issues with racism there." "I have lived in quite a few states. I found western New York to be the friendliest. Boston, while a beautiful city, was tougher to meet people in. Bostonians told me that Maine was even harder on any 'outsiders,' but I have no regrets about living there. I did eventually make some great friends. I also like New Jersey people — they call it like they see it." "I have been in Texas my entire life. It used to be very friendly. It's not that way anymore. Texas has become a terrible place to live, mired in poverty, wage stagnation, and blind devotion to all things Red Hat. Major cities still have a lot of diversity, but everyone pretty much just sticks to their own these days." "West Virginia. I haven't been there many times, but have only had positive experiences." "I can safely assure you it is not Pennsylvania." "I moved to Austin, Texas, from Northern California. Within the first couple of weeks of living here, multiple times, while just walking down the street past a person, they've been like, 'Hello' or 'Hey, how are you doing?' I did not understand. My first thought was, 'What do you want from me?' I was not used to people saying hello just to say hello. I know Texas has a reputation on the political spectrum, but people are very friendly here. Generally." "I have lived in 11 states and been to a lot more — Iowa, definitely Iowa." "As someone who has traveled over 75 percent of the country, Maryland. Maine is a close second. I cannot begin to tell you how often I've been invited to someone's home after a regular conversation. They will not let you merge in traffic, but you can come try their bean dip on a Thursday." "Alabama, specifically the Birmingham area. I got to interact with people from all walks of life, and all went above and beyond to be generous and kind." "I nominate Delaware, because they use turn signals when driving." "Georgia is nice. Also, I live in Idaho. Anyone who says Idaho is their answer is either a liar or has only been here a few times. People here can be quite the assholes to outsiders." "Indiana." "Kentucky by far! I worked there in 2023 and was absolutely blown away by how nice people were. It was like they knew me personally." "I have been to every state. It's between Alaska and Minnesota. I grew up in Chicago and currently live in California. Of all 50 states, the only state I have ever been threatened in is Mississippi. As for why: In Alaska, people shared time and food with me and a buddy on a motorcycle trip. It happened in many small towns — people were great. In Minnesota, I had the pleasure of going to two major sporting events, and the people were so kind. It was another motorcycle trip, and we even bar-hopped with some kind Minnesotans. The issues in Mississippi were racially motivated. I do not hold it against the state, but it happened three times in one eight-hour leg of a trip." "I have lived in 12 states, and the friendliest people in the US live in Louisiana. I have met people in line at the grocery store who invited me to their crawfish boil — and meant it. The least friendly is South Carolina. They want to know where your grandmama went to high school and turn away if the answer isn't right. We lived there for three years and made two friends." "South Dakota. I have been to 30-plus states for work. Hands down: South Dakota. Most hospitable, friendliest people I have ever met." "I used to think Washington state, but I was there recently, and their dislike for outsiders is palpable. I drove down to Oregon, and the difference was like night and day. They were the most welcoming, friendliest people everywhere I went." And lastly: "There's no single answer; it's usually dependent on your ethnicity and the state you're from. Try driving a car with California plates through Texas, Idaho, or parts of the South, and see how 'friendly' folks are." So, what do you think of these takes? Do you agree or disagree? Let us know which state you believe has the friendliest (or unfriendliest) people in your experience by dropping your stories in the comments below!
Los Angeles Times
23-07-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Did the state of California turn on In-N-Out, or did the burger chain turn on it?
Southern Californians, we have not been betrayed. In-N-Out Burger is not moving its headquarters to another state, despite all the panic and performative outrage over recent comments by the fast food chain's owner and chief executive, Lynsi Snyder. Last week, on the 'Relatable' podcast, Snyder told conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey that she's leaving the Golden State for Tennessee. 'There's a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here,' said Snyder, who became president of the family-run chain in 2010 at age 27, making her one of the country's youngest billionaires. It must be rough. Her comments set off a disinformation blitz, launching the Double-Double into the middle of a red-state/blue-state culture war where, clearly, nothing is sacred. Anti-Cali factions incorrectly posted, podcast and crowed about yet another business fleeing the West Coast. More proof that Gov. Gavin Newsom's 'failing' state sucks! It appeared that In-N-Out was following Tesla and Charles Schwab, companies that cited regulatory challenges and operational costs among their reasons for relocating. Chevron also fled. Perhaps it was the high gas prices. Many Californians, particularly those in SoCal, felt abandoned and disrespected. They, after all, propped up the chain for 76 years, only to be told by its owner that the place that made her family's business — their home — is no longer to her liking. On X, Oracle Park Seagull posted ''Not easy for In N Out to do business in California…' Said the person who became a billionaire doing business almost exclusively in California. So much so, it was a point of pride for the chain. Gotcha.' Snyder's grandparents opened their first In-N-Out in Baldwin Park in 1948, and for decades, the chain was renowned for serving a magical burger that could only be found in Southern California. Locals felt, and still feel, a sense of pride and ownership in the successful, homegrown business. It's a symbol of West Coast entrepreneurship, its cups and packaging decorated with images of palm trees. And if we're honest, the mere suggestion of In-N-Out leaving the state triggered a primal fear among Angelenos. Where else were we going to sit in a milelong drive-thru line at midnight waiting for a delicious burger and debatable fries? Newsom even chimed in, starting his X post with, 'For those interested in the facts, rather than fiction, In-N-Out is expanding East — creating a second HQ in Tennessee.' In SoCal, the company is shutting down its office in Irvine, consolidating its corporate operations to Baldwin Park. Today, In-N-Out operates in more than 400 locations across eight states. Snyder responded Monday to the kerfuffle in an Instagram post: 'Where I raise my family has nothing to do with my love and appreciation for our customers in California.' It's not the first time In-N-Out has made its stance clear on polarizing issues and politics. The company made news in 2021 when it pushed back against Newsom and California's COVID-era proof-of-vaccination mandates. In-N-Out's packaging also includes Bible verses, a practice started in the late '80s by Snyder's uncle, co-founder Rich Snyder. John 3:16 can be found on the bottom of the In-N-Out soda cup. The milkshake cup features Proverbs 3:5: 'Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.' On your next visit, you can check for a verse in your fries container. That is, if there is a next time. Instead of the memory of a tasty burger, many lifetime In-N-Out loyalists have been left with a bitter taste in their mouths.
Straits Times
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Trump's National Guard troops are questioning their mission in LA
LOS ANGELES - When the California National Guard rolled into Los Angeles to respond to devastating wildfires in January, Southern Californians largely hailed the troops as heroes. Celebrities thanked them for their service in Pacific Palisades. Suburban homeowners competed to chat them up at traffic checkpoints in Altadena. Seven months later, much of that goodwill is gone. Protesters jeer the troops as they guard federal office buildings. Commuters curse the behemoth convoys clogging freeways. Family members grill members with questions about whether they really have to obey federal orders. The level of public and private scorn appears to have taken a toll on the National Guard deployment to Los Angeles that President Donald Trump announced in June, citing protests over immigration raids. Interviews with nearly two dozen people – including soldiers and officers as well as officials and civilians who have worked closely with the troops – show that many members of the Guard are questioning the mission. The deployment's initial orders to quell scattered protests have given way to legally disputed assignments backing up federal immigration agents. 'They gave Disneyland tickets to the people who worked in the wildfires,' one soldier said. 'Nobody's handing out Disneyland tickets now.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore HSA launches anti-vaping checks near 5 institutes of higher learning Singapore Over 600 Telegram groups in Singapore selling, advertising vapes removed by HSA Business Singapore key exports surprise with 13% rebound in June amid tariff uncertainty Business Market versus mission: What will Income Insurance choose? Life First look at the new Singapore Oceanarium at Resorts World Sentosa Opinion AI and education: We need to know where this sudden marriage is heading Singapore Coffee Meets Bagel's Singpass check: Why I'll swipe right on that Singapore Jail for man who fatally hit his daughter, 2, while driving van without licence Six members of the Guard – including infantrymen, officers and two officials in leadership roles – spoke of low morale and deep concern that the deployment may hurt recruitment for the state-based military force for years to come. Those who were interviewed spoke on the condition of anonymity, because military orders bar Guard personnel from publicly discussing the federal deployment and they feared retribution for talking to the media. All but one of the six expressed reservations about the deployment. Several said they had raised objections themselves or knew someone who objected, either because they did not want to be involved in immigration crackdowns or felt the Trump administration had put them on the streets for what they described as a 'fake mission'. The New York Times reached out to a broad pool of soldiers seeking interviews about the deployment. While a small sample, the six soldiers' comments aligned with other signs of poor morale. At least 105 members of the deployment sought counseling from behavioural health officers, and at least one company commander and one battalion commander who objected to the mission were reassigned to work unrelated to the mobilisation, the Guard officers said. Some troops became so disgruntled that there were several reports of soldiers defecating in Humvees and showers at the Southern California base where the troops are stationed, prompting tightened bathroom security. The California National Guard had 72 soldiers whose enlistment was set to expire during the deployment. Of those 72, at least two have now left the Guard and 55 others have indicated that they will not extend their service, according to the office of Governor Gavin Newsom, who is fighting Mr Trump's deployment in court. That number, if troops act on it, would amount to a 21 per cent retention rate, far lower than the Guard's typical 60 per cent rate, officials said. 'The moral injuries of this operation, I think, will be enduring,' one of the two Guard officials said. 'This is not what the military of our country was designed to do, at all.' The six soldiers are a fraction of the thousands of troops who have been deployed to Los Angeles. Many members of the Guard have had no trouble taking part in the operation and have voiced no personal conflicts or concerns. It's not uncommon for soldiers in Guard deployments to complain about their assignments, question the reasons they were called up or seek counselling during deployments. Earlier in 2025, after National Guard soldiers were called in to keep order in the New York state prison system after corrections officers went on strike, some troops described feeling unprepared and took issue with not being provided pepper spray or other means of protecting themselves. Officials with the military's Northern Command, which is overseeing the president's military response in California, said the deployment was more organised than the interviewed soldiers suggested. The officials declined to comment on the morale of the troops, their behavioural health, the reassignments or the deployment's impact on re-enlistment. Mr Trump began deploying thousands of troops on June 7 to Southern California, making the case that the state's Democratic leaders were failing to protect federal agents and property after immigration raids sparked protests. The president commandeered a total of 4,100 California National Guard members who ordinarily are controlled by the governor, and dispatched an additional 700 Marines. Since then, the military presence in California has been a flashpoint of debate, as armed soldiers have faced down protesters outside federal buildings and accompanied federal agents conducting raids in the Los Angeles region. Several operations have drawn intense backlash, including a show of force in MacArthur Park and an immigration raid on a cannabis farm in Ventura County where a fleeing farmworker fell from a greenhouse and later died. The deployment has started scaling back. On July 1, the president agreed to release about 150 Guard troops in a specialised wildfire fighting unit, and on July 15, the Pentagon announced that 1,990 members of the Guard's 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team begin demobilisation. It was unclear if the president would end the mission after 60 days, as his order initially suggested. The other half of the deployment – 1,892 members of the 49th Military Police Brigade – remains. Missions have come under intense scrutiny for potential constitutional violations. California authorities have challenged the legality of the deployment, citing a 19th-century law, the Posse Comitatus Act, which generally makes it illegal to use federal troops for law enforcement on domestic soil unless there is an insurrection. Trump administration officials and Justice Department lawyers have argued that troops are 'not engaged in law enforcement' but are merely protecting federal agents. Civil liberties groups have disputed that portrayal, pointing to the temporary detention of one man by Marines early in the deployment. A federal judge has set a trial for August to determine whether the use of the National Guard and Marines has violated federal law. Most troops have been stationed at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, a federally owned facility operated by the California National Guard near Long Beach. The soldiers said breakfasts are hearty – eggs, hash browns, sausage, pancakes – and accommodations are comfortable. Despite efforts to keep them busy, however, they reported long stretches of downtime and frustration with missions that leaked or were cancelled by the time lumbering convoys reached their destinations. In Los Alamitos, a coastal suburb of about 12,000 people, the troops have crowded into a 2-square-mile facility that is shared with other government agencies, which have balked at the encroachment. In emails obtained through a public records request, workers in a joint programme to eradicate the Mediterranean fruit fly complained that troops shaving and brushing their teeth are crowding the bathrooms and that scientists are unsettled by nearby trucks full of explosives. Soldiers meander down new walkways between a huge tent city and new semi-permanent buildings. 'I've lived here 33 years and this is the first I've seen anything like this,' the mayor of Los Alamitos Shelley Hasselbrink said. 'We call it the circus – they look like big circus tents.' Two Democratic officials who were granted brief access to the base – Mr Josh Fryday, a Navy veteran who leads community engagement for the governor's office, and Representative Derek Tran, an Army veteran who represents Los Alamitos – said the massive military presence, which has been projected to cost US$134 million, seemed excessive and extreme. 'If they can do this here,' Mr Fryday said, 'they can do it in any community.' NYTIMES
Los Angeles Times
28-06-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
This tax-funded native habitat is finally opening to the public after 5-year wait
Welcome to July, the second anniversary of the L.A. Times Plants newsletter, which started with roughly 3,000 readers back in 2023 and now has more than 12,000 subscribers, strong evidence that Southern Californians care deeply about plants, gardening and our region's changing landscapes. Many thanks for your continued interest and support! Per usual, this issue includes a list of plant-related events and activities below, but first I'd like to revisit a story from the first Plants newsletter with the happy news that while the wheels of progress often move slowly (or sometimes even backward) progress can happen, if the players just hang on. Two years ago, this newsletter's inaugural story was about the 'lovely but puzzling' Paul Koretz Westwood Greenway, an oasis of fragrant native plants and a burbling stream along a wide, curvy trail between Overland Avenue and Westwood Boulevard next to the Metro E line. 'The project was a triumph for the Rancho Park community members who lobbied hard against early plans to build a 170-space parking lot on the site to serve Metro riders,' I wrote in 2023. 'They envisioned an inviting green space for the neighborhood and an eco-friendly showcase for turning unused nuggets of city land into lush native plant habitats for birds, pollinators and other local critters.' That vision was realized when the project was completed in October 2020, except for one thing: The public couldn't get in. The greenway wasn't meant to be a park, the builders said. It was designed to capture water running through neighborhood gutters and clean out the nasties it collects along the way, such as road dirt and dog urine, before it reaches the ocean. The cleaning is done by exposing the water to sunlight and filtering it through native plants like cattails before it returns to storm drains and, eventually, the Santa Monica Bay. But advocates in the community support group Westwood Greenway Inc. noted that the space was also supposed to be a demonstration garden of sorts, to encourage similar projects around L.A. Members of the nonprofit group had a key to let them enter the space for volunteer weeding parties or monthly tours, but otherwise the site was kept behind glass (or, in this case, an ugly chain-link fence) much to the frustration of longtime advocate Jonathan Weiss, president of Westwood Greenway Inc., and Annette Mercer, the board's chair. 'The point was to educate the public,' Weiss said, 'but how do we do that if it's behind a damn fence?' But two years later, I'm happy to report that the wheels kept moving, albeit 'very, very, very slowly,' Mercer said. When Phase 2 of the project is completed this summer, the public will finally have daily access to the greenway via gates that automatically unlock at 8 a.m. and lock up again at 6 p.m. Phase 2 was supposed to be completed yesterday, Weiss said, but a week before, he was notified that the finish date has been pushed to Aug. 1. The delay is disappointing, he said, 'but this is just a hiccup. After five years, I'm extremely excited it will be open to the public. It's finally coming, so I'm not going to sweat an extra month.' The L.A. Sanitation project includes installing taller fences at the east and west edges of the greenway, building an ADA ramp from the Metro stop near Overland Avenue to the greenway trail, and repairing the decomposed granite (DG) path that was damaged by trucks coming into the area, said Leo Daube, communications director for Los Angeles City Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, whose Council District 5 oversees the area. And that's not the only good news. Westwood Greenway Inc. and the Nature Nexus Institute, a nonprofit focused on nature education, got a $100,842 grant from the Measure W-funded Safe Clean Water Program in May. The grant will help pay for a Nature Nexus Institute-trained employee to develop an education program about the greenway's purpose and history and bring in visitors for tours, Weiss said. The grant will also pay for a small trailer at the west end of the greenway so the employee has a place to work, and a porta-potty at the site (although right now it's not certain anyone besides the employee will be able to use the toilet. The community group has asked the city council to install public modular restrooms for the visiting public). There are still concerns, Weiss said. The greenway has two sections that run north and south of the Metro E Line and bike trail. The weeds have returned with vigor since construction began on the north side because volunteers can't get in until the work is completed, Mercer said. And the area to the south, where stormwater runs through more native plant filters before returning to the drains, will remain fenced off to visitors even after Phase 2 is complete. But the grant is getting them much closer to their goals. Weiss hopes the council will allow them to install signs along the bike trail to help passersby understand they're not just looking at pretty flowers behind that chain-link fence but California native plants that can save water and create habitats for threatened pollinators and wildlife. His disappointment about the delay suddenly vanishes as he lays out the possibilities. 'What an opportunity to educate people!' he exclaimed, his enthusiasm still evident — and inspiring — despite his many years of lobbying and waiting. And that, folks, — that sometimes annoyed, sometimes frustrated but always unrelenting passion — may be the secret sauce to getting things done. Speaking of slow-but-sweet success stories: Here's another about rhubarb, a tangy garden staple that grows like a weed in colder climes but is rarely seen in SoCal gardens because it prefers freezing winters. Thanks to the tenacity of the West L.A Chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers, varieties nurtured in Australia are growing with gusto around L.A. and available for you to buy for planting through the chapter's annual Rhubarb Rodeo. It all started in 2020 when chapter President Ronni Kern, a Rhode Island native now living in Santa Monica, got a hankering for the rhubarb she loved as a child. She learned the great plant breeder Luther Burbank successfully developed varieties from New Zealand to grow in Southern California in the late 1800s, but those strains disappeared after Burbank died in 1926. After a long search, she discovered tasty, heat-resistant varieties developed by Australian farmers Colin and Tina Clayton of French Harvest and bought several types of their rhubarb seeds for chapter members to grow. The results were spectacular, she said, so successful that in 2022 the chapter began selling rhubarb plants as a fundraiser. They are offering four varieties this year — including Success (the tastiest and deepest red of all, according to Kern) and Tina's Noble, hands down the easiest to grow, she said. Prices are $10 for plants in 5-inch pots or $20 or $25 for gallon pots, but no mail order; you must drive to Culver City or Santa Monica to pick them up. Rhubarb is a vegetable that grows in tall reddish stalks topped by big broad leaves. The plant is so rare in Southern California that people sometimes confuse it with chard, 'but you must never eat rhubarb leaves,' Kern said, because they contain high levels of toxic oxalic acid. Just snap off the leaves and eat the reddish celery-shaped stalks, which add a nice, tart bite to sweet desserts or can even be roasted. You can buy rhubarb at local farmers markets, Kern said, from people who grow the plants as annuals, but she believes their flavor and pale color are far inferior to the plants she and other chapter members are growing from the Aussie seed. A last note about growing rhubarb in SoCal: the plants don't require lots of water — Kern just uses drip irrigation twice a week — but they do prefer cooler temps. So the hotter your area, she said, the more shade the plants will require, whether from a tree or 90% shade cloth strung up on supports. Through July 15Applications for Conejo Valley Audubon Society Lawns to Habitat & Ashes to Habitat Grants; successful applicants will receive $250 worth of bird-friendly native plants (roughly 40 to 50 plants at wholesale prices) for their new residential landscapes. Applicants must live in Agoura Hills, unincorporated Agoura, Oak Park, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park or Camarillo and certify they have no outdoor cats with access to the property. Ashes to Habitat applicants must also show proof that the project property was within a neighborhood affected by fires from 2018 to present, but successful applicants will also receive a higher financial grant and extended time for ordering and planting. Full details available online. Through August 6Apply for free Xerces Society Southern California Residential Habitat Kits, for residential properties, schoolyards, community gardens and urban gardens in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties. The kits include 22 plants from 10 different species, sufficient to cover about 150 to 200 square feet, designed to support threatened insects such as monarch butterflies and native bumblebees. The kits must be picked up Dec. 9-13 in (no deliveries or special orders) and planted within the month after pickup. Recipients will be required to email photographic evidence of the kit being planted and pledge not to use pesticides. July 5 & 6Introduction to Wild Buckwheats (Eriogonum) of California, a two-day class starting in a classroom at 9 a.m. until noon at the California Botanic Garden in Claremont on July 5. The next day, participants will meet at Big Bear Lake from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to observe the many varieties of buckwheat in the wild. Participants must provide their own transportation. Register online, $125 ($110 for members of California Botanic Garden). July 5, 12South Bay Parkland Conservancy El Segundo Blue butterfly walks at 10:30 a.m or 12:30 p.m., both days near Miramar Park in Redondo Beach. The free guided walks will be led by conservancy board members Ann Dakley, Esplanade Bluff Restoration Project biologist, and Mary Simun. Registration is required. July 5Wizarding World of Plants Family Hike Night and Adult Night Hike, 5:30-7 p.m. for the family hike night and 7:30 to 9 p.m. for the adult night hike at the Los Angeles County Arboretum in Arcadia. Learn the secrets behind wands, wishing trees and other plant folklore and myths. Tickets are $20 ($15 for members) for the family hike night and $25 ($20 members) for the adult night hike. July 6, 20, Aug. 1, 10, 17Twilight Estate Tours at the Huntington, a 90-minute docent-led walking tour of the gardens explaining how Henry E. and Arabella Huntington turned their San Marino Ranch into the famous gardens, library and museums. Tours are offered at 5 and 5:30 p.m. each day. Advance registration required. Tickets are $49 adults, $39 children 4-11. July 8, 15 & 22Three-part California Native Garden Design taught by Phil Davis, principal designer of Green House landscape design, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day at the Theodore Payne Foundation in Sun Valley. Learn how to evaluate your existing garden, convert existing irrigation systems and consider different design approaches for a garden of California native plants. The foundation's online course Right Plant, Right Place ($39.19 or $28.52 for members) is a prerequisite and should be taken in tandem with the design course. Register online for the design course, $348.65 ($295.29 for members) or $412.67 for couples working on one project ($359.32 for members). July 10-11, Aug. 14-15, Sept. 25-26 and Oct. 23-24Southern California Garden Club 27th Gardening School, a series of four ten-hour courses offered by National Garden Clubs since 1958. 'Courses are designed to stimulate interest in all phases of landscape design and to develop greater appreciation, pride and knowledge about residential, public and historic gardens.' Each 10-hour course is $85 ($70 for members), or $300 ($240 for members) for all four. The classes will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day at the Sepulveda Center in Encino. Register online. July 12BioBlitz at California State University, Northridge, G.A.R.D.E.N. to learn about creating habitat for pollinators from 9 to 11 a.m. on the half-acre campus site managed by the Institute for Sustainability. The free event will be led by two Xerces Society endangered-species conservation biologists, monarch overwintering specialist Sara Cuadra-Vargas and pollinator habitat specialist Giovanni Di Franco who helped develop the society's habitat kit program. The event is free but registration is required. Efficient Watering for Fruit Trees and Vegetable Gardens, a free workshop by the Chino Basin Water Conservation District, 9 a.m. to noon at the Waterwise Community Center in Montclair. Scott Kleinrock, the district's conservation programs manager, will demonstrate two approaches to irrigating fruit trees and how to build and run drip irrigation systems for vegetable gardens. Registration online. Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm's 2nd Lavender Festival from noon to 5 p.m. in Lompoc. The event includes an artisan's market, pony rides for children, classes in making lavender wreaths and distilling lavender oil, lavender-flavored food and drink and, of course, blooming fields of lavender. Tickets are $12 if purchased in advance or $20 at the gate. Irrigation Basics for Native Plants, a walk-and-talk class led by Erik Blank, horticulture educator at the Theodore Payne Foundation from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the foundation nursery in Sun Valley. Learn about a variety of irrigation methods for native gardens during the dry months. Register online, $39.19 ($28.52 members) California Native Plant Cyanotype Printing, a class photographing native plants using one of the earliest photographic printing methods taught by multimedia artist and naturalist Hannah Perez, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Theodore Payne Foundation in Sun Valley. All materials provided. Register online, $60.54 ($49.87 members). Reptiles of Theodore Payne: A walk-and-talk course with Diego Blanco, a research assistant at the Occidential College Lab of Ornithology and reptile fan, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Theodore Payne Foundation in Sun Valley. Learn about the various lizards and snakes of Southern California's mountains and chaparrals. Participants are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes, long pants and sun protection, and bring binoculars for easier viewing from a distance. Register online, $39.19 ($28.52 members). Bind Your Own Nature Sketch Book, noon to 4 p.m. at California Botanic Garden in Claremont. Create a handmade sketchbook with natural papers and 'nature-themed embellishments' in a class taught by mixed-media artist Christina Frausto of Rotten Apple Studio. All materials provided. Register online, $70 ($60 members). July 16Propagatng California Native Plants from Seed with Ella Andersson, chief botanical technician for the Theodore Payne Foundation in Sun Valley, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Each student will take home the seeds they have sown from 10 species of native seeds. All materials provided. Register online, $92.55 ($81.88 members). July 18-1911th Plumeria Festival at the Los Angeles County Arboretum in Arcadia from 4 to 8 p.m. on July 18 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 19. The festival includes talks by experts and more than 20 vendors selling plumeria, staghorn ferns, epiphyllums, hibiscus, succulents and other plants, as well as garden art and supplies. July 19Plant-O-Rama at the Sherman Library & Gardens, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the gardens in Corona del Mar. The annual sale, which debuted in 1972, features plants and experts from multiple organizations including the Los Angeles International Fern Society, Newport Harbor Orchid Society, Orange County Begonia Society, Saddleback Valley Bromeliad Society, Southern California Carnivorous Plant Enthusiasts and the California Native Plant Society. Admission to the sale is free with a $5 ticket to the gardens (members and children 3 and younger enter free). Planning and Caring for a Southern California Rain Garden, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at California Botanic Garden in Claremont. The garden's senior horticulturist, Jennifer Chebahtah, explains the importance of creating rain gardens in urban and residential areas, along with tips for how to make them. Register online, $38 ($28 members). Guided Family Nature Walk at White Point Nature Preserve in San Pedro at 10:30 a.m. with naturalists from the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy to discover the wildlife, plants and beautiful ocean views in the coastal sage scrub habitat. Meet in front of the Nature Center. The walk is free. Reservations are not required. July 26Intro to Waterwise Home Landscape Renovation and Turf Replacement Rebates, a free workshop by the Chino Basin Water Conservation District, 9 a.m. to noon at the Waterwise Community Center in Montclair. Jacob Jones, the district's conservation and sprinkler evaluation specialist, will discuss the benefits and basics of turf-removal rebate projects and converting to a low-water landscape. Register online. Where have all the gardeners gone? Immigration raids are worrying Southern California's undocumented gardeners, the workers so prevalent in suburban neighborhoods that the sound of weed whackers and leaf blowers can feel like ambient noise. 'People are afraid,' one gardener said, 'but they still have to work.' The second, final and most complicated stage of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing starts this month. The project won't be completed before the end of 2026, but already the first non-insect wildlife has been spotted on the structure that currently leads to nowhere — a Western fence lizard that somehow climbed 75 feet up to the top. This year's jacaranda bloom in L.A. was short a few trees following the January wildfires, but experts say many burned trees will recover. Just give them water and time, arborists say. Are these community gardens or playgrounds for the rich? Santa Monica officials are set to approve 200% price hikes on community garden plots, with the largest plots going for $600 a year.
