by Michele Zack
Special to Altadenablog
Photos by Mark Goldschmidt and Steve Haussler
Altadena Heritage’s 7th Golden Poppy Awards yesterday was held in the backyard courtyard and gardens of Pat Corcoran’s beautiful home on Altadena Drive. Sixty members and guests arrived to the lovely strains of the Diego Miralles String Quartet wafting down the long driveway, shaded by a most unusual “avocado marriage tree.”
These two large, intimately entangled individuals looked to have celebrated their Golden wedding anniversary years ago.
(Pictured: AH Chair Mark Goldschmidt gives an award to Karen Bowers.)
This year’s Golden Poppy celebrated Altadena’s gardens and gardeners, singling out six for special recognition with a certificate and bronze plaque-on-a-stake that is planted in winning gardens for two years. Special emphasis was on drought-tolerant plantings, and those who had taken the leap into lawn removal — which is often not immediately appreciated by ones neighbors and the powers that be, despite the need for water conservation.
2010 Winners
Dennis and Margaret Bridwell, 4554 Rising Hill Road
Karen Bowers and Alan Denny, 1441 E. Altadena Drive
Kate Sullivan, 2487 Highland Avenue
Loren and Avenlina Moeller, 1300 block, Midlothian Drive
Jess DeGroot, boulevard strip on east side of El Molino, south of Mariposa
Michael Gregory and Brian Howard, 78 Las Flores Avenue
Michael Gregory, a technical writer at JPL and actor, told an exciting story about his garden’s transformation: he had decided to give up the battle against crabgrass by taking out the lawn entirely. In itself this was quite a process, but when complete he installed succulent and other drought-tolerant plantings in his front yard. He used decomposed granite, boosting his plants and trees’ drama by setting them in this water-saving, permeable material often used in European and Mediterranean gardens as well as in Pasadena’s City Hall. Soon, however, he received a form letter from California State Senator Carol Liu (which he read to the crowd with great effect), complaining about a lack of front yard maintenance! There was no follow-up from the Senator’s office, but Gregory plans to send her a copy of his Golden Poppy award from Altadena Heritage and clipping from Sunday’s Star News featuring a picture of his winning garden. (Ed note 6/29: see the addendum at the end of the story.)
(Pictured: the fete was held in the courtyard of Pat Corcoran's lovely home).
Altadena Heritage also brought members up to speed on the non-profit’s involvement in developing Old Marengo Park on the southwest corner of Marengo and Woodbury. As a founding institutional member of Altadena’s Watershed Committee in 2005 (since disbanded), AH continues to play a role. Originally, AH contributed a pro bono design and other important work leading to a Metropolitan Water District $20,000 “City Makeover” grant — and it now takes care of park maintenance. The grant proposal was submitted by The Arroyo and Foothills Conservancy — and Supervisor Michael Antonovich, Arroyo Seco Foundation, neighbors of the park, and other businesses and individuals all came together to take this neighborhood beautification project from dream to reality over the last five years.
Chair Mark Goldschmidt and Events Chair Anita David presided over the Golden Poppy, and board members and other volunteers worked to keep delicious snacks and libations within easy reach throughout the proceedings. Contact altadenaheritage@earthlink.net for information on joining this group whose mission is to preserve Altadena’s cultural, natural, and architectural heritage.
Ed. note: Addendum: Steve Haussler writes:
I saw that letter reportedly signed by Carol Liu, and it was addressed from the "Altadena Betterment Committee" or some such group, at 101 N. Garfield Ave., Pasadena 91101... across the street from Pasadena City Hall, and seemingly in the middle of the intersection of Garfield and Holly!It is clearly fake. I said to the homeowner that Ms. Liu's office should know of it, and encouraged him to send her a copy with haste.
