The Dave Roberts Wildflower Meadow
In Honor of Dave Roberts
Dave Roberts served as resource conservation manager at LVMWD for six years. Born on December 6, 1968, in Torrance, California, Roberts sadly passed away at the age of 53 on June 30, 2022.
A pragmatic naturalist and conservationist, Roberts was always known to surround himself with natural beauty. He enjoyed skiing and mountain biking in Tahoe, but missed his family, SoCal, and the coastline. His love for the natural world and compassionate ideals led Roberts to pursue a career in environmentalism. He lived his life doing exactly what he loved.
Roberts was instrumental in many projects at the district, but his work on the Sustainability Garden was his most beloved passion projects. He was responsible for the implementation and launch of the garden located in front of the Pure Water Demonstration Facility at LVMWD headquarters.
“Dave taught all of us to commit to an environment first approach where human progression and environmental integrity can coexist,” commented General Manager Dave Pedersen. “His passionate advocacy and determination to do the job “right” lives on in all the work that we do here at the district. While his absence is felt greatly, and we miss his laugh and friendship, his legacy will forever inhabit this amazing garden and our hearts.”
In recognition of Roberts’ work and impact at LVMWD, district staff was joined by Roberts’ family and friends to dedicate the wildflower portion of the garden to his memory. The dedication includes a plaque positioned on a large boulder placed in the garden honoring Roberts. The ceremony offered light refreshments and snacks, with a space to celebrate the life and legacy of a dear friend.
The backbone of a California Wildflower Meadow is the grasses and grass-like sedges; they form the foundation that the wildflowers float above. There are many varieties, and you can either use one type or mix them. And these perennial grasses will stay green even after the annual wildflowers have bloomed and gone to seed:
https://www.cnps.org/gardening/california-native-bunchgrasses-5500
Once you’ve selected your grasses and flowers, it’s time to create your garden. Planting a wildflower meadow is fun and easy. The best time to plant wildflower seeds is in the in the Fall after the first rains, and you’ll need to make sure your plants get adequate water if there’s a dry spell. Here are a few more tips to consider:
Need more inspiration? California has a bounty of stunning wildflowers fields that you can visit in Spring and try recreating – om a reduced scale – in your own garden:
http://theodorepayne.org/learn/wildflower-hotline/
One of the most famous destinations to see wildflowers is the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve:
Below you will find a list with photos and a diagram of the Wildflower Meadow. The Sustainability Garden is always changing and though District staff will be updating the garden diagrams regularly customers may find a plant out of place in the garden compared to the diagram. if you are looking for a particular plant, let us know and we will work to get you the information you need.
California Wildflower Meadow Diagram.pdfCalifornia Wildflower Meadow Plant List.pdf
Additionally, one of the best sources for seeds and education about California wildflowers is the Theodore Payne Foundation in Sunland, where you can shop in person or order online. Their plants will really whet your appetite: