Photos by Nicholas Noell
More than 2000 people drove, biked and strolled through Long Beach neighborhoods on Saturday seeking native landscaping featured in the 2nd annual Long Beach Lawn-to-Garden Tour, hosted by the Long Beach Water Department. The self-guided tour singled out 34 of the more than 850 transformations that have taken place under the department’s award-winning “L2G” program, which awards money to residents who convert their water-guzzling grass lawns into drought-resistant gardens.
Homeowners were available at each location from 10AM to 2PM to discuss their experiences and an audio tour–which could be accessed by calling a special number or scanning QR codes at each location–provided highlights of each garden. Homes across the city were featured, from Alamitos Beach to North Long Beach to Wrigley and Los Altos.
The Lawn-to-Garden Tour is meant to give prospective converts landscaping ideas and a close-up look at finished projects. Thanks to a funding increase through the Long Beach Water Department’s partnership with the Metropolitan Water District of California, residents can now earn up to $3.00 per square foot of grass removed, up from $2.50 when the program was initially launched three years ago. Design ideas and money-saving tips are also available on the Lawn to Garden website.
For more information on how to turn your lawn into a garden, visit lblawntogarden.com
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