Lawn

Services at Forest Lawn Memorial Park were unaffected by street closures for an investigation into the officer-involved shooting on San Fernando Road, cemetery spokesman William Martin said. “They haven't troubled us at all,” he said. A Los Angeles County district attorney prosecutor was at the scene of the shooting, in which a man who engaged Glendale police in an early morning gun battle was shot dead. Authorities have not released he man's identity pending family notification.

I have a sister who is wealthy enough to have installed artificial turf in her backyard (“Council, residents weigh in on allowing artificial turf in front yards,” Aug. 11). To her, it made sense because she has three dogs. In order for her to maintain the aesthetic of a green lawn with no yellow spots from dog urine, she wanted to try the artificial turf. After three years of having her artificial turf, there are no yellow spots, but her grass has lost its initial luster and color, and it does not resemble anything in nature.

The driver of a small truck or SUV that burst into flames on the Ventura (134) Freeway near Forest Lawn Memorial Park Tuesday night survived but suffered burns on his upper body. The man, who wasn't immediately identified, was taken to a local hospital as Los Angeles firefighters extinguished the blaze in the eastbound lanes. No other injuries were reported, and the man was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

Well, well, well. Wishes do come true. In October 2009, I wrote in this column that I wanted it to snow on Southern California. I wanted to see our cities blanketed in a layer of white in hopes such an act of force majeure would bring society to a standstill. It took 16 months, but it happened. And this time I didn't have to drive 90 minutes to shovel the stuff into the bed of my truck, haul it home and dump it on the lawn so the kids could experience a snow day. When it started last Saturday, I was in line at the Handy Market paying for my tri-trip sandwiches and ribeyes.

HOLLYWOOD HILLS — Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, fitness icon Richard Simmons and former “Hulk” star Lou Ferrigno were among hundreds of friends and family who packed an auditorium Tuesday to remember Jack LaLanne. “Jack is now in heaven, and that is going to be very annoying for a lot of people up there,” Schwarzenegger joked. “Because we know what is going to happen. He already has told St. Peter that the wakeup call is 6 in the morning.” LaLanne, known to many as the “godfather of fitness,” died Jan. 23 in Morro Bay at age 96. He is survived by his wife of more than 50 years and three children.

I'm always saddened when I see a front porch with no one sitting on it. I notice them most often as I ride my bike through town, or on the rare long walk. You see so much more of the world when you're not in your car. The overabundance of vacant front porches is made more depressing just before dinner or sunset, times when everyone should stop, sit in front of their house and watch the world go by for a few minutes. Not long ago I was standing in my front yard watching the daughters do the silly things they do, when I was joined by my neighbor Scott and his daughter.

"Menagerie: The Art of Animals" is an exhibition true to its name. The Forest Lawn Museum along with guest co-curator and artist William Stout have assembled a collection of art that depicts animal subjects, including bronze and paper sculpture, animation art and paleoart, produced by more than two dozen artists spanning more than two centuries. Paintings by Los Angeles Zoo resident Rosie the Orangutan and insect wrangler Steven R. Kutcher are a fun contribution to the exhibition, adding a new dimension to the term Animal Art with their depictions and observations.

Regarding the May 13 article “Turf comes up again,” I hope that the City Council is aware that there is something inherently wrong, especially given recent horrific events in the Gulf of Mexico, about resorting to artificial turf manufactured using petroleum products in order to save water and to avoid brown front lawns. In addition to moves by governments worldwide toward solutions by which we can wean ourselves off oil and its related products, there is the issue of climate change and ocean-surface warming associated with weather extremes and species die-off.

Karen and Peter Veloz are living in sustainable luxury in the hills of Glendale. About two years ago, with the help of FormLA, a Los Angeles landscape design company that focuses on sustainability, they ripped out their back lawn and put in hardscapes amid a landscape of California-native plants. The concept behind the design was to create outdoor living spaces, Karen Veloz said, and so the backyard features outdoor seating areas, a fire pit, barbecue and bar, wine cellar and infinity spa pool, or “spool.

It took only 46 years for curiosity to get the better of me. I?ve lived my entire life here, and I?d be hard pressed to remember a day when I didn?t look south and see the big white building with the enormous crucifix sitting on the hill. I see it almost every day as I wind down the freeway on my daily commute. And even though it has literally been a part of my everyday landscape, I had no idea what it was. Knowing it sat atop Forest Lawn in Glendale, I figured it was one of the mausoleums.