Water Conserving Garden Revisited

Today, I walked past the same Water Conserving Garden I walked past, back in February.   I had been to pay my municipal services bill, back then, and that's what I was doing, today, too.  The garden is featured at the John Ferraro Building, which is better known as the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Building. 

The garden is a sort of sunken garden, because it is on a lower level than the street.  There is a pedestrian bridge from the street to the building that goes above the garden.  The picture below is taken from the bridge:

The Southwestern Garden

Some of the plants have grown a bit and the garden looks a little better than it did back in February, I think.

Another View of the Southwestern Garden

I wasn't able to capture the entire garden in one photo, from the street:

With the Downtown Skyline in the Background

On the other side of the bridge, is the Mediterranean Garden:

Taken from the Bridge

I like the bench they've placed on this side.  And I like the two arbors - there's one on each side of the planted area, leading from the parking areas to the garden.  I haven't actually seen anyone in either garden, but there are signs identifying the plants, so maybe people are allowed in the garden?

From the Street Side

I like how the lantana covers the slope from the street level to the gardens below. 

In front of the walkway/bridge, there are several of these concrete planters with succulents growing in them:

Concrete Planters

Each is about 3-ft. tall and about 5-ft. in diameter.  They are very attractively planted with succulents, but their real purpose is as a barrier and deterrent to anyone trying to drive a vehicle across the pedestrian bridge to the building entrance. 

Today was a good day.  It was sunny and warm, no June Gloom for a change!  I stopped by the post office in the morning, on my way to the office, to mail the natural gas bill payment, then, paid the municipal services (water, electricity, sewer, and trash collection) bill.  I didn't have time to go to the clinic to pick up the authorization letter, but I called them and arranged to go in on Monday to do so.  On the way home, I stopped by the pharmacy to pick up a prescription refill that was ready.  I didn't go to the grocery store to buy the chicken that is on sale ($.77/lb), because I was starting to feel tired.  I will grocery shop tomorrow, instead.

My gardener friend was finishing up the mowing in the back when I got home, so I got to spend a few minutes chatting with him.  Apparently, someone dented his brand new truck while he had parked it in front of a sandwich shop!  Whoever who dented it had written, in pink ink, "Accident" and a phone number on a napkin and left it on the windshield, but, when he called the number, the person who picked it up denied ever being in that area, that day!  So, either someone left someone else's number, or the person answering the phone was lying!  I told him about how I banged up my car and we compared dents!  His truck has the bigger dent! 

I took English muffins and some butter and jam in containers to the office, along with some of the fish, a banana, grapes, and some crackers for my breakfast, lunch, and snacks, today.  I was tempted to pick up some fast food (either Chinese takeout or a hamburger) for my dinner on the way home, but I resisted the temptation.  Instead, I made pasta for dinner:

Dinner: Pasta

I stirred in the last bit of fish, flaked, along with the onions and tomatoes I had cooked with the fish, the last piece of smoked sausage, sliced, and tossed in a handful of frozen green peas.  I was going to shred part of the cabbage I still have and add that to the pasta, too, but changed my mind.  There's more pasta left - maybe I'll add the cabbage to that, tomorrow.

Today, I am grateful for:
- A sunny, warm day
- Gardener friend wasn't hurt when his truck got dented
- Being able to pay my bills
- Another visit to the water conserving garden
- Drama-free prescription refills!

Saturday's To Do List:
- Grocery shopping
- Laundry
- House cleaning

How was your Friday?  What are your plans for the weekend?