Comments of the Week: Native Plantings, Water Summit and More

We take pride in our work here at Patch and always strive to bring our readers interesting news. However, we must admit, sometimes the most interesting part of a great Patch story is the comments from readers that it sparks. 

This week our stories about native plants, water conservation, and Tuesday's Town Council meeting drew comments. Click the headlines for the full stories and thread of comments. 

California Natives: Going Bush

Aixa Daza August 20, 2013 at 12:40 PM I liked you article, my house in Altadena has at the moment a front yard that is very well described by you!! I am planning to leave a space at the front along the curb for pedestrian walking to be covered with gravel (maybe 5 ft.) and the rest will have the native plants . No more grass!!! Thanks, Aixa

Leslie Aitken August 20, 2013 at 01:48 PM I also stopped watering this summer -- just as an environmental/budget experiment........my plants now look like me....all dry skinned and wrinkly!! HA!

michele Zack August 21, 2013 at 12:34 PM We've done two "lawn reductions" and plan for one more, but can't seem to kick the habit entirely. We took up our driveway and replaced with dg, which made the earth sigh with happiness. But the thing is, lawn is easy and looks nice — a small patch requires water only about half the year so doesn't amount to that much. You can walk across it or sit down on it and do summersaults across it (try that on dg or in an itchy patch of sage). It cools the look of everything and calms the mind. So consider all alternative treatments before undergoing a radical lawnectomy.

California and Water: The Cost of Acting Now, The Price of Doing Nothing

Steve Lamb August 23, 2013 at 02:09 PM So this will be a meeting where people with agendas to push, particularly about recycling LaCanadas sewage for us to drink, will be pushing those points as opposed to just a straight informational meeting? (a conclusion based on who is speaking and the projects they are pushing) I have nothing against recycling LaCanadas sewage, its just I don't think I should be taxed to do it and then forced to drink it. Want it recycled, let LA CANADA drink it.

Sam August 23, 2013 at 03:48 PM Atwater will likely be promoting the economically and environmentally destructive Twin Tunnels Delta Destroying proposal of Governor Brown and the Westlands Water District.

Highlights from Tuesday's Town Council Meeting

Steve Lamb August 21, 2013 at 08:51 AM The problem with the banquet hall is that the community no longer trusts the developer. He has been piecemealing his approval process slowly amping up the usage over time. First its just a place to eat dinner, then it also has a booze permit, well then dancing and music, well then hall rental....When he started he had tremendous community support, but as he has slowly revealed in an almost trickster fashion, his real intentions that support has been turned to bitter opposition. Congratulations to Dianne.