Amber Willard
GRIFFITH PARK -- An owl, opossum and gopher snake might seem like odd
selections for the Los Angeles Zoo, but with the opening Tuesday of its
Native Garden for Wildlife, those are the kind of animals it hopes to
attract.
"This is not an animal exhibit," Zoo Director Manuel Mollinedo told
the crowd that gathered for the opening ceremony. "This will hopefully
attract indigenous wildlife."
The garden, which sits on three quarters of an acre in front of a
magnet school in Griffith Park, includes downed tree branches for bugs
and lizards, berry bushes for birds and other animals and several types
of brush and trees.
"The Los Angeles Zoo's Native Garden represents the natural beauty of
Griffith Park -- the biggest urban park in the country," Mollinedo said.
"We want this garden to showcase many of the natural plants and be a
habitat for the local wildlife."
Students from the North Hollywood High School Magnet Center, which
focuses on animal studies and biological sciences, will help workers care
for the garden.
Children from the one of the zoo's summer camps helped at Tuesday's
ceremony by spreading wildflower seeds throughout the garden area.
"From gardens like this, we can learn a lot of things about what the
habitat here would be like [if people had not moved to the area,]" Los
Angeles City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter told them.
Officials said they hope the zoo's native garden will inspire other
cities in the area to create their own.
Additional plantings will be made to the garden, along Crystal Springs
Drive, in the fall and winter.
