Czech-ing in with Manhattan Beach: After moving from Prague, Czech Republic to Manhattan Beach in 2003, Renata Eubank noticed something strange.
Most of the plants she saw gracing the lawns of homes around the city and throughout Los Angeles. “weren’t necessarily suited for a desert environment.”
Eubank saw oaks and ferns where she expected to see cacti and succulents. The conundrum prompted her to dive headfirst into the world of sustainable gardening, so much so that she invited the Prague City Council from her hometown dive in with her.
On Monday, three Prague Councilmembers made the Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden (MBBG) in Polliwog Park their first stop on a trip to Los Angeles. The MBBG is one of the only botanical gardens in L.A. that exists solely to demonstrate drought-tolerant planting, according to Julie Gonella, vice president of MBBG.
The MBBG’s mission of promoting sustainable landscaping, native plants and wildlife inspired Eubanks to extend the invitation to her close friend and Prague Concilmember Dan Richter, who also heads Prague’s Department of Citizens for Satisfied Living.
“His beliefs and directions in environmental issues are similar to mine,” Eubanks said.
Eubanks introduced Richter and Prague Councilmembers Michaela Mazancova and Jana Zarybnicka to Manhattan Beach City Councilmembers Wayne Powell and David Lesser, Gonella and several MBBG officials, who gave a tour of the garden chock full of drought-tolerant and native plants.
“They really loved the sages because they smell really good,” Gonella said. “It was very different for them to see gray-leaved plants because they’re used to seeing pine trees and similar plants.”
Officials on both sides of the Atlantic shared with each other the unique environmental challenges they face. Manhattan Beach officials discussed environmental and sustainability programs for a drought-prone California. Prague officials talked about their opposite problem of “epic flooding.”
City officials were pleased to learn that though the Czech Republic is landlocked, schools still educate students on keeping oceans clean.
“We were ecstatic,” Gonella said. “They really got a sense of what our town is about and asked a lot of questions. It was a great sharing of ideas and culture.”
The Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden is located in Polliwog Park at 1236 N. Peck Ave. in Manhattan Beach. A satellite drought-tolerant garden is also located in front of City Hall, Fifteenth St. Both are public demonstration gardens for water-wise landscaping and sustainable gardening practices. The MBBG offers free gardening classes in the spring and fall. For more information, visit www.mbbgarden.org.
