Hop in the ’Hood — Sunday, July 5th

Celebrate the completion of this year’s HillQuest with a free neighborhood block party (the Hop in the ’Hood) this Sunday, July 5th in the 3700 block of Seventh Avenue. The Flower Power Parade will kick off at 12:15 followed by cake and ice cream for one and all. Mistress of

Ceremonies Laura Jane leads the entertainment line-up:

10:30-11:10am - Kim Evans
11:25am-12:15pm - Danielle Lo Presti & the Masses
12:15pm- Women’s Drum Circle — Flower Power Parade —
12:30-1:30pm - Rhythm & The Method
1:45-2:45pm - The Kings of Paradise
3:00-4:00pm - Sue Palmer’s Motel Swing
4:15-5:15pm - Sam Johnson Jazz Duo

Join the fun...bring a folding chair...one block south of Whole Foods Market. The parade will circle the street, then win awards. Entries may setup in the AT&T lot on Seventh Avenue just south of Robinson at any time. Organizers are encouraging everyone — kids and adults — to enter a bike, trike, wagon, etc. Note: at least half of each float’s decorations must consist of real flowers or plants.

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. Everyone’s welcome. As a bonus (as usual) there is no entry fee for any float. Each float will win a prize. All entries should be a tricycle, bicycle, wagon or a combination of wheeled vehicles with at least half of the decorations grown from plants. No motors, all floats must be powered by people (or animals) only. The top float receives an inscribed traveling trophy.

Starting on June 1st if you violate the new water restrictions you will get a warning and a subsequent violation will carry a fine of $100 to $1,000. You can water only before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m., three days a week from June through October, and for no more than 10 minutes at a time. A hotline has been set up at (619) 515-3500 so residents can report water waste.

On a rainy Saturday, volunteers cheerfully removed weeds from the Robinson Street bridge.

















A permanent rut has been dug in by ever present water on 5th Ave.

Did it rain, oh no just a little watering!?!



















This lovely landscaping doesn't need much water.

Aah, the Jacaranda! I love Hillcrest in May & June when the Jacaranda bloom & we get purple snow.



















From one dip to another, this dip is always wet with over watering run off.

This what over watering does-it wrecks the grass and the sidewalk.



















If more planted like this parking area on the corner of Normal & Blaine, nothing would get wrecked.

This is an example of beautiful new landscaping on Brant Street.














Why is there always standing water at Evans Place & 5th Avenue? There are no lawns that are watered any where near there.

There are many different ways to achieve a drought tolerant landscape. This yard on 1st Avenue is unique to say the least.














This is a typical landscape seen in Hillcrest far too often.

On Eagle Street, there two houses next to each other with beautiful drought tolerant landscaping. No fines for them.














Look what needless watering does to our streets.

The apartment building at 7th & Pennsylvania has beautiful landscaping that is thriving but is watered sparingly.



















In contrast, this apartment building on 7th Avenue has the typical small strips of lawn which is constantly over watered.

If you must smoke, please don't use Hillcrest as an ashtray.

















Even in an urban environment, you can plant a little drought tolerant greenery like this outside of the Crest Cafe.

Do we really need to water the street. This horrible sight is at 3rd & Brooks














Even apartment buildings can do drought tolerant landscaping. This gem is on 2nd Avenue.

Hillcrest has some new trees planted around the parking lot on the corner of 6th & Robinson. This makes an otherwise ugly spot a little nicer.














Too bad an abandoned eyesore remains on 4th Avenue.

Water rationing made mandatory by San Diego County. Read more
I guess they didn't get the memo at 5th and Pennsylvania.



















The people who live at 6th and Pennsylvania did get the memo. Good job!

April 22, 2009

Over watering seems to run rampant in Hillcrest at First & Robinson there is continual run off that creates potholes which the city has to keep refilling.














Florence Elementary has lovely drought tolerant landscaping and seems never to be watered

In Hillcrest, we live among beautiful canyons like Maple
Canyon between 3rd & 4th Avenue.














We also live among voids like the one on 6th Avenue, a site slated for development and then abandoned. Will this remain like this forever? Ugly and dangerous.

Today it was over 100 degrees for the 2nd day in a row. This is in April!?! Could it be because of the constant use of gas powered blowers that are used to blow debris off the side walk?



















This woman has the right idea by using a self propelled mower on Front Street.

April 18,2009

5 Gold Stars to the great landscaping on 3rd Avenue.



















5 Demerits to the neglected lot across the street from this fabulous garden. It would make a great community garden.

April 16, 2009

This tiny strip of grass on the corner of 3rd & Robinson is watered 2 times a day until flooding the street. 5 Demerits.

Here is another beautiful example on 4th Avenue of someone tearing out their lawn and replacing it with xeroscaping. Well done! 5 Gold Stars.

April 15,2009

Over watering should be a crime. If you have a lawn, do you have to water the side walk too? Demerits to the small lawn on 3rd Avenue.














Now these people also on 3rd Avenue have planted a drought tolerant landscape and then they over water it. More demerits.

Monday, April 13, 2009

People all over Hillcrest are getting rid of their water using landscapes and re-planting with drought tolerant landscapes. It is the right thing to do.
Here is a perfect example on Front Street:














Unfortunately just down the street, some over watering is taking place. Some how these sprinklers are set to flood the street just to water a small strip of grass. And as an added bonus, the car next to it got washed.

Sunday, April 13, 2009

I would like everyone to join the Hillcrest Community Garden Project. Join their group at http://groups.google.com/group/hillcrest-community-garden.

Today's gold stars go to the recently redone front yard on 1st Avenue. They tore out their lawn and replaced it with xeroscaping. Great work!














Demerits go to the person who decided to just dump a pallette on the side walk just up the street from the beautiful front yard. Thanks for nothing!

Saturday April 11, 2009

Welcome,this is first entry for the new blog, hillcrestgreen. The focus will be on the good, bad & ugly environmental aspects of the Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego, California. There will be a rating system of gold stars and demerits. Those who strive to live green within this urban area will be applauded while those whose acts are decidedly ungreen will be exposed. Today's 5 Gold Stars go to the lovely garden on Robinson Avenue: Because this is the first post of this blog, the obvious worst violater of Hillcrest's environment is Pernicano's. The epitome of urban blight.

Thank you for reading this. Check back for more later!