It might not be a super bloom, but if you love flowers, make sure to check out Playa Vista’s Ballona Discovery Park this month! The two-acre habitat is home to a plethora of native plants and wild flowers now in bloom, creating a colorful display that is uniquely Southern California. Follow the park’s walking trail to view the pollinator, native and medicinal plant gardens, while you learn about the Ballona Wetlands ecosystem and the history of the area in this “outdoor museum.”
As you admire the colorful flowers, smell the different varieties of sage or do a little birdwatching, take time to read the interpretive signs and stop at the interactive stations located throughout. No visit to the park is complete without traveling through the “Willow Walk,” which leads visitors to the entrance of a Kiiy, a replica of a native Gabrielino/Tongva gathering house where you can listen to audio recordings of stories about the first people of the area.
LMU Center for Urban Resilience Fellow and former Friends of Ballona Wetlands executive director, Lisa Fimiani, recently took the HTN on a tour of this neighborhood treasure to share her passion for nature and the benefits of growing native plants, which include reducing the use of water in your garden; supporting local wildlife like bees, butterflies and birds; and needing less maintenance.
The park is made possible through a partnership with the Friends of Ballona Wetlands, LMU and Playa Vista-Brookfield. This month, the park will also host the Ballona Discovery Nature Camp for kids 8-11.
Ballona Discovery Park is located at 13110 Bluff Creek Dr. in Playa Vista. The park is open to the public every day from dawn to dusk. For more info, visit ballonafriends.org/ballona-discovery-park or academics.lmu.edu/cures/partners/ballonadiscoverypark.
Check out page 27 of the HTN for more pictures of Ballona Discovery Park’s flowers and plants.