Orinda's future
My wife and I feel very fortunate to have lived in Orinda for nearly 30 years now. I used to feel Orinda needed to transform itself into something closer to Lafayette or Walnut Creek, but I've come to agree with the sentiments expressed by Mr. Porges and Mr. Waranoff in their recent letters to the editor. While it would be nice to have a bigger, more commercial tax base to increase revenue, I'm very content to see Orinda make much more incremental improvements and remain a primarily residential community. I also strongly feel that state mandated housing should be multi-family and confined to the downtown area and not scattered throughout outlying neighborhoods in the form of ADUs in backyards as has happened in my own neighborhood much to its detriment.
Gary Johnson
Orinda
Monarch Garden at Rancho Laguna Park
It is cause for huge celebration that the gorgeous 6+ foot metal monarch butterfly and the charming mosaic caterpillar have been installed at the Monarch Habitat and Demonstration Garden at Rancho Laguna Park at 2101 Camino Pablo, Moraga (see story on page A1). What a way to cap off 2021!! This year-long project of the Moraga Garden Club has been a true community effort, with the Town of Moraga, the Moraga Park Foundation, the Moraga Rotary and Kiwanis and Lions, the Lafayette Garden Club, Orinda Garden Club, Montelindo Garden Club, Orinda Junior Garden Club, Boy and Girl Scouts, Campolindo Leos, Andy Boggeri and AB Construction, Diamond K, Moraga Garden Center, Orchard Nursery, Orchard Supply Hardware, McDonnell Nursery, Scott Carr and a host of private individuals assisting the Moraga Garden Club in bringing this project to the finish line.
A few final tasks remain, including installing 5 more benches surrounding the garden and a bit more decomposed granite and flagstone surrounding the spectacular WINGS sculpture. This gift of a generous local donor is already being used as intended...children interacting with it, learning about monarchs, and having their picture taken with the beautiful butterfly.
Special thanks go to the patient and always helpful Town Park and Recreation Department: Breyana Brandt, Director Park and Recreation, Kyle Salvin, Public Works/Parks Maintenance Manager, Public Works Staff: Ruben Ochoa, Jose Limon, Raul Serrano; they have been there for the project from the very start and without them we could not have finished the project.
We had many butterfly, bird and bee visitors in 2021, including a few monarchs. Soon the early spring flowering plants will be blooming and hopefully even more monarchs will find this slice of heaven. Come enjoy the art, the bubbling fountain and the hardy winter pollinators.
If you would like to help with the on-going maintenance of the garden, want to arrange a group docent tour, or want more information: MoragaGardenClub.com/moraga-for-monarchs
Bobbie Preston, Chair Moraga Garden Club Moraga for Monarchs Project
Moraga
My wife and I feel very fortunate to have lived in Orinda for nearly 30 years now. I used to feel Orinda needed to transform itself into something closer to Lafayette or Walnut Creek, but I've come to agree with the sentiments expressed by Mr. Porges and Mr. Waranoff in their recent letters to the editor. While it would be nice to have a bigger, more commercial tax base to increase revenue, I'm very content to see Orinda make much more incremental improvements and remain a primarily residential community. I also strongly feel that state mandated housing should be multi-family and confined to the downtown area and not scattered throughout outlying neighborhoods in the form of ADUs in backyards as has happened in my own neighborhood much to its detriment.
Gary Johnson
Orinda
Monarch Garden at Rancho Laguna Park
It is cause for huge celebration that the gorgeous 6+ foot metal monarch butterfly and the charming mosaic caterpillar have been installed at the Monarch Habitat and Demonstration Garden at Rancho Laguna Park at 2101 Camino Pablo, Moraga (see story on page A1). What a way to cap off 2021!! This year-long project of the Moraga Garden Club has been a true community effort, with the Town of Moraga, the Moraga Park Foundation, the Moraga Rotary and Kiwanis and Lions, the Lafayette Garden Club, Orinda Garden Club, Montelindo Garden Club, Orinda Junior Garden Club, Boy and Girl Scouts, Campolindo Leos, Andy Boggeri and AB Construction, Diamond K, Moraga Garden Center, Orchard Nursery, Orchard Supply Hardware, McDonnell Nursery, Scott Carr and a host of private individuals assisting the Moraga Garden Club in bringing this project to the finish line.
A few final tasks remain, including installing 5 more benches surrounding the garden and a bit more decomposed granite and flagstone surrounding the spectacular WINGS sculpture. This gift of a generous local donor is already being used as intended...children interacting with it, learning about monarchs, and having their picture taken with the beautiful butterfly.
Special thanks go to the patient and always helpful Town Park and Recreation Department: Breyana Brandt, Director Park and Recreation, Kyle Salvin, Public Works/Parks Maintenance Manager, Public Works Staff: Ruben Ochoa, Jose Limon, Raul Serrano; they have been there for the project from the very start and without them we could not have finished the project.
We had many butterfly, bird and bee visitors in 2021, including a few monarchs. Soon the early spring flowering plants will be blooming and hopefully even more monarchs will find this slice of heaven. Come enjoy the art, the bubbling fountain and the hardy winter pollinators.
If you would like to help with the on-going maintenance of the garden, want to arrange a group docent tour, or want more information: MoragaGardenClub.com/moraga-for-monarchs
Bobbie Preston, Chair Moraga Garden Club Moraga for Monarchs Project
Moraga
Reach the reporter at:
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA