The Bird Sanctuary missed out on volunteer efforts for several years due to Covid restrictions so Friends of Griffith Park decided it was high time to revisit this space and place more natives in the ground while at the same time, conduct some well-deserved TLC. This beautiful garden became our Earth Day project for 2023.

After several logistical meetings with RAP to ensure the area was cleared of dirt piles and ready to go, FoGP’s Volunteer Coordinator Ross Arnold and I walked the site to identify areas to prep for the Earth Day event. During the long wet winter, numerous rainstorms had drenched the Sanctuary, and there had been an explosion of growth — weeds were everywhere and fallen tree limbs clogged stream beds.
But students from the Zoo Magnet persevered and by the end of Friday, the island and stream beds were looking quite impressive — cleared and ready for planting!

On Saturday, April 22, a very large group of volunteers went right to work, digging holes — after a short how-to-plant intro by FoGP’s Laura Howe — and placing plants. While some folks continued to weed the area, some helped place mulch around the new growths. After the day ended, Ross and I took some time to water the entire planting area to make sure these new plants had an opportunity to thrive.t

We’re always looking for volunteers or organizations who have an interest in helping to make Griffith Park a place of respite. Let us know more about you!

~ Kathryn Louyse, FoGP board member