Drought Tolerant Native Plant Walk in Honor of Tomas Bostrom
Drought Tolerant Native Plant Walk in Honor of Tomas Bostrom
Hosted by Herbwalks
Cluff Vista Park
November 5th
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Renowned Ojai landscape architect Tomas Bostrom succumbed to cancer on August 18, leaving behind a lasting legacy including Cluff Vista Park, the reforestation of the valley by the group he founded, Ojai Trees, the Welcome to Ojai sign, Rotary Park at the west entrance to the valley, the bridge that joins Libbey Park to the Art Center, the rebuilding of the Ojai Avenue pergola, and landscape designs at Thacher School, Ojai Valley School, and the Ojai Valley Inn.
Tomas also left behind some medical bills caused by his inability to work for an extended period of time. Please join me and special guests Jessica Thompson of Green Goddess Gardens and Renee Roth of RainScape Designs for a Drought Tolerant Native Plant Walk in his honor on Saturday, November 5, from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Cluff Vista Park in downtown Ojai. All proceeds will go toward any outstanding medical or memorial expenses.
We will identify and discuss native plants in the context of Tomas’s native landscape design. Jessica will share her expertise in drought tolerant alternatives to lawns and water-intensive plants. Renee will focus on the water features in the Park and discuss landscape designs that harvest rainwater and are able to incorporate riparian native plants. Topics will include building healthy soil that retains water and reduces runoff, collecting rainwater and reusing greywater, and using plant materials that conserve water and provide habitat for wildlife as well as food and medicine for the landowners.
Tomas understood the many reasons to use native California plants in the landscape. Native plants have evolved with our climate, geology and wildlife. They create beauty and interest with a natural progression of fruit, flowers and seeds, and they furnish food and cover for butterflies, birds and other wildlife. In addition, they:
• Are adapted to our climate
• Are adapted to our soils
• Require little or no irrigation once established
• Seldom require fertilizer or pesticides
DIRECTIONS: As you drive along Highway 150 (Ojai Avenue) into downtown Ojai from Ventura, Cluff Vista Park is on your left. After you pass Bristol Street on your left you will see the sign. Turn left on Rincon Street and park or continue to the east end of the park and turn left onto El Paseo Rd. for more parking space. Use this address to punch into your GPS: 304 W. Ojai Avenue, Ojai CA 93023.
COST: Admission for this special benefit walk is by donation, $25 suggested. No pre-payment is required to register. Donations will be accepted by cash or check on the morning of the walk. A benefit account will be set up prior to the event; however, donations will not be tax-deductible.
RAIN: Light rain will not cancel the walk but heavy rain will. Status will be updated for those registered as the day gets closer.
No dogs or smoking, please.
ABOUT TOMAS BOSTROM:
Read Tomas Bostrom’s obituary here, reprinted from the Ojai Valley News, September 2, 2016. FYI: you will have to zoom in to read this reprint. For best results, subscribe to the OVN and read the article online on page A2.
Read an article about Tomas by Andra Belknap, reprinted from the Ojai Valley News, September 2, 2016.
ABOUT LANNY KAUFER:
Lanny Kaufer is a retired high school teacher who has been leading interpretive native plant walks and hikes on Ojai, Ventura, and Santa Barbara trails since 1976 for groups of all ages. His field of expertise is the edible and medicinal uses of indigenous and naturalized plants. Kaufer acquired much of his knowledge in field study with well-known herbalists and ethnobotanists. He studied with the late William LeSassier and has co-led workshops and expeditions with noted herbalists such as the late Chumash plant expert Juanita Centeno, the late Michael Moore, Michael Tierra, Amanda McQuade Crawford, Dr. Fred Siciliano, Professor James Adams of USC, and Chumash educator Julie Tumamait-Stenslie.
ABOUT JESSICA THOMPSON:
Jessica Thompson earned a B.S. in Horticulture from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1988, followed by a certificate in Permaculture and a Contractors State License in Landscaping. She is the owner and founder of Green Goddess Gardens, a full-service landscape design, installation and maintenance company based in Ojai. Landscaping with native and other low water needs plants, irrigation systems, and the beauty of stones in the landscape are some of the topics Jessica will discuss on the walk. (www.greengoddessojai.com)
ABOUT RENEE ROTH:
Renee Roth is a landscape designer with a focus on water saving plants and capturing rainwater/greywater for reuse in the landscape. She has an Environmental Horticulture Certificate from SBCC, a Greywaters Installers Certificate, a Green Garden Certificate, and a B.S. from the University of Oregon. Along with design work, she leads classes on rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse in the landscape using climate appropriate plants. Locally, she volunteers as a member of the Ventura River Watershed Council representing the Ojai Valley Green Coalition and is Chair of Programs for the Ojai Valley Garden Club.
Please register for the walk, including the name of the event and your contact info. You will receive a confirmation email in the week prior to the walk with all necessary details.
