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Using agave and succulents, the new landscaping will use very little water. Once established, the plants will self-propagate, filling in the spaces of the planter. [All photos by Lisa Music]On June 1st, the South Fork High School students installed an environmentally friendly landscape design at the Garberville Town Square.
Using agave and succulents, the new landscaping will use very little water. Once established, the plants will self-propagate, filling in the spaces of the planter. [All photos by Lisa Music]
The town square’s board partnered with South Fork’s horticultural class students to replace landscaping in the two large cement planters located in the heart of the plaza. Of three designs submitted by the class, the town square board approved a xeriscape design that focuses on utilizing native plants and succulents that need minimal water and maintenance.
Eleven students from the horticulture class along with their teacher, Rebecca Robles, and parent volunteers, removed the previous landscaping, filling the planters with soil and rock before planting the various succulents that will propagate and fill in the space. Robles said that the planters will need to be watered about once a week for the first month, then every other week the next month, and once a month thereafter until the first rains come in fall. After that, she said, the plants and Mother Nature should take care of the rest.
Robles and a few other South Fork High School teachers stepped up last fall to teach elective classes in addition to their normal curriculum to fill the need while the school was understaffed. Robles has brought her passion for horticulture to South Fork students in her new role. High school senior, Sonya Osborne said, “When she teaches, not only is she teaching you about English or horticulture, she’s teaching you life-long lessons.”
Robles’ daughter Scarlet is also one of her students in the horticulture class. Scarlet explained that learning about horticulture at school was different than being taught about it at home and projects like the Town Square project made the class all the more interesting and rewarding. “[Today’s project] was a really enriching experience…Here, you always want to pay attention,” she explained.
Sophomore Aliya Burns credits Robles with inspiring learning amongst her students, “[Teaching is] so easy and effortless for her. It just makes the whole time you’re with her [and] all of your classes …fun learning.”
For her part, Robles feels lucky to do what she loves. “Sometimes I wonder if it’s real that someone pays me to read great literature and play in the dirt all day,” she said about teaching English and horticulture. Robles explained her connection with her students saying, “When you’re passionate about something, it’s easy to get kids passionate about it, too.”
That passion is paying off for students outside the classroom. South Fork Junior, Elaine Leyva, has parlayed her experience in horticulture class into a job at Tooby Park, crediting the class and Robles with her recent employment.
Senior Caleb Wilks said he was happy to just get outside with his classmates before his days at South Fork are behind him, doing something to help his community.
James Coulter’s dad, Kyle Terrell, was on hand to help with the Town Square project, meeting his teen’s teacher for the first time. Terrell appreciated the opportunity given to the students through the elective class, saying, “It’s important these kids get to know how to take care of plants and give back to their community.”
South Fork High School’s horticulture class, parents and staff.
Garberville Town Square board member, Robie Tenorio said that the students’ design and installation is beautiful, and that the town square is thrilled to be partnering with South Fork High School on the xeriscape landscaping. Tenorio said that in addition to the design and installation done by the students, Randall Sand & Gravel were generous in their help with soil and rock for the project, as well as Sylvandale Garden Supply with the sourcing of the plants.
“Today was a lot of work. I hope they’re proud of themselves, I’m proud of them,” Robles stated after the landscape installation was complete.
Aliya Burns is excited, not just for what the students accomplished on June 1st, but for the future of the landscaping as it fills in and is enjoyed into the future. “For the next years coming, people will get to see the work we did, they may not know we did this, but we’ll know that we did this,” she said.
This article is written by Lisa Music, a local freelance journalist. To reach Lisa about tips, questions or comments, email her at [email protected]
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A group of bright-eyed high school kids and their teacher come up with a plan (approved by the private town square group) to make Garberville attractive but not require a lot of water…And a bunch of local merchants donate. Kids and adults work together and apparently enjoy each other and try to make a small corner of the world better…and the take away for most of you is–they should have done it differently. You know…if this was the first time most of you complained, I might take your concerns seriously, but it is hard to believe that so many of you have such perfect ideas for so many projects and yet so few of people step up to make this place better. (The lack of people willing to volunteer might be related to the level of grief people are giving high school kids…yes, high school kids…for working to make the town square nicer.) Having been involved in projects to improve various places over the years, I can say that we rarely get improvements perfect–almost everything is a work in progress not a finished masterpiece that will never be changed again–but if nothing is done at all, nothing is ever better.… Read more »
The first thing I did was to commend the students efforts, in order not to discourage them. But we mustn’t overlook the fundamentals. We must teach the youth to step smartly, not just trod forward without forethought, consequences be damned… And I know that you meant “roll up your sleeves” figuratively, but in this case, to correct this, it will become a problem, and if it’s not “fixed” right away, there will be many problematic “pups” that will also need to be “nipped” in the bud. Rolling down the sleeves will become what is necessary The sap is toxic, and the thorns are needle sharp. To use your own logic, the time to end this unfortunate occurrence, is right away, not after it becomes a bigger problem, which it certainly will. I can respect where you stand on this, but when you visit the farmers market, where do you sit? Because from “where I stand”, where they have planted this potential “PITA”plant, (pun intended), is right were I normally choose to sit. The tips of that plant is not what I, or anyone else, want to be feeling. My feeling is that it needs to be removed, and replaced with… Read more »
Don’t worry it will be gone soon… A century plant in nature doesn’t get close to 100 years old and will sprout its spike and flower as soon as it musters enough energy. But Jorgensen said domesticated specimens live much longer. In Maya’s case, the conditions of the conservatory have slowed her growth enough to allow her to live up to three times longer.
“They usually flower and then start to die. And it’s 20, 25, you know, maybe 30 years but really very, very rarely a longer period than that,” he said. “But out of habitat, in captivity north of the border, it takes them longer to do that
I didn’t see ya there to help so instead why don’t you get your butt up and help out… For the community. Sincerely, High-school student who actually contributed.
Right I really believe that anonymous poster. And your post doesn’t even make any sense.
He sounds real to me, LOL.
Got nothing to say to Gina?
And during that 2 decades has divided itself like some freakish botanical blob. Don’t walk , run!
Century plants multiply like rabbits…
Pups everywhere in no time…
[edit] are you genuinely oblivious? Reality check, we’re living in a drought. Fruit trees and blueberries my ass.
So the fountain at the town square will be a no go? Talk about a waste.
They had it going last year, and the South Fork Eel River dried up at Dyerville for the first time ever recorded. I discovered that…
I suspect that the new design for “the bed” at the town square had more to do with discouraging the homeless from getting too comfortable there, than actually conserving water…
And there are already many trees that have been planted in the town square.
They just don’t bear any fruit.
Do you even have any fruit trees you have planted? Do you know of what you speak?
I don’t ever water my fruit trees since they have become established.
But maybe there is hope, when that century plant finally blooms, if ever, I hear the flowers are actually edible and tasty.
If we were never made aware of this project how could we have input or helped out? I have plenty to donate in terms of plants, tools, expertise and possibly some time. Was this project publicly announced somewhere and I missed that? I read the local papers and listen to a lot of the KMUD talk shows and read everything on the bullitin boards in GBV but this is the first I know about this project. I don’t get by the sqaure that much so did not even see them working on these changes. I’m all for the kids being involved but am not quite sure I agree with some of the choices made.
I don’t think you were invited. it was a public improvement done as a partnership btw the town council and hort. class. You and your geniusness did not make the list of people to come save the day and ask you if you agree.
That is so well said Kym, what ever happened to “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it.” And I notice lately the norm in complaining about how shitty everything is, but not caring to actually do something about it. The positive comments are getting slimmer. But I see you positive peeps out there! Bless you! I personally don’t pay attention to anyone who won’t use their own name. How about this, if you don’t have the balls to say it using your real name, then either grow a pair, or don’t bother commenting at all.
Thanks for your comment. Really.
It is very good advice.
(I have a lot of respect for you and your husband.)
I will take it to heart.
Thanks for telling it like it is…
The kids and everyone did a great job.
And I like your suggestion…
Instead of a planting a century plant, how about a planting a “pair tree”.
Then we could “grow a pair”, at the town square.
The anti-agave voice of reason isn’t the problem here. Seems our culture is such now that when an opposing view is brought to the table that person’s volunteer resume is suddenly put into question ?
And regardless, suddenly, they are the ones in trouble. Pretty funny to watch.
Not to discourage the students efforts, because that is to be commended, but…
I guess if that doesn’t include humans.
I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news…
That’s a very user unfriendly, dangerous plant. A bad Idea. Sorry. But it’s true.
Whose idea was choosing this species?
The town square? I’m I the only one that thinks that this plant in the location shown is a terrible idea? It lacks common sense.
What could they possibly have been thinking?
It’s very artistic… if you’re trying to draw blood!
It’s just a matter of time before it injures someone badly.
Just look at it in terms of it’s position and dangerous needle sharp points where people normally sit. It’s a total back stabber.
Was this an infamous local business owner’s idea for discouraging, and punishing, the homeless, without even having to use a hose?
It’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Get rid of it right away before someone gets injured and you get sued.
Now if you could get rid of those H2O sucking pot farms…
These young people will have a future in dry-farming, or residential landscape, but when the water is gone, so will be California Farming, and California life, and real estate-flipping in the Golden State…
It’s not about the water.
(You should see the fountains that just go down the drain at the other side of the square.)
It’s about the danger.
Did you really miss that part?
And you claim to be a medical professional?
Cactuses have many good points…
Travel out to Joshua Tree, there’s fuzzy looking plants that will take your skin right off!
Garberville is the way it is… Don’t waste your time trying to change it.
Didn’t you hear, thousands a year are stabbed by century plants. Definitely put up signs warning of the dangers of century plants. Is that a phobia? Fear of century plants?Maybe trim the tips? Hire a security guard to keep people from Going in and trying to pet the plant. Put up chain link fencing to protect the public?
And loose rocks? Don’t want to get caught in the middle of a rock fight. Might be a rockaphobia.. We all need to go around and pick up any dangerous loose rocks we see. I can hear the laughter from the students from here…
Are you hearing their voices, too?
https://plantcaretoday.com/agave-plant-poisonous.html
And I’m not too concerned, it’s probably just the drop-outs that are laughing, or were laughing.
Right, now insult the kids. Way to go big man. If your so concerned make a sign, stand in front of the plant and protest. Town could use a good laugh.
The pro-jabber angle, of course…
Think sap. And the frequent jabs.
The dangerous sap, and the frequent jabs, will be an ongoing, nagging problem.
I am thinking “sap”, as in what a
Do you want to buy ‘a’ vowel?
(I forgot a comma, but it’s to late to edit.)
And just for the record, I wasn’t insulting the kids.
living in fear must suck. i cut up a massive one of these one day. i didn’t know they are corrosive at the time, it wasn’t that bad. i also fell off a roof onto one of similar size in the photo, it wasn’t that bad, nothing duct tape couldn’t fix. there are much worse things out there to worry about, like nut job humans with a poor sense of reality and guns.
You sound like you would make a great youth leader.
You could plant them in your bedroom and bathroom, and in your hallways, even in the nursery.
But especially, especially in the guest room of your air b and b.
And of course, the farmers market, and at the kindergarten.
It will be a learning experience.
Let’s just wrap ourselves with duct tape, for protection, or better yet, for therapy.
That’s who one calls, when the toilet backs up…
I agree, I would have thought twice about putting in a century plant. Also all those rocks?? Even at the Chevron station they have embedded the rocks in cement. Ever wonder why? There are a lot of succulents and ground covers that have beautiful flowers that require very little water – even some herbs for cooking, such as thyme, oregano. Something that gives a little back to the atmosphere. I applaud the kids efforts but just yesterday while working in my garden I was thinking about all I have learned since I became a (serious) gardner at 15. What seemed like a good idea then I would never think of doing now.
Haha, when the homeless revolt those rocks will come in handy!
I read decades ago colleges stopped using rocks for landscaping as they became convenient projectiles in student protests.
Have no fear Guest, the sharp ends will be monitored and cut off, at least that’s how it’s dealt with in other public places. I don’t think all the rocks are a good idea though, wow, really? When some aging hippie gets a bad deal for carrots at the farmers market they might pick up one of those and…oh god no!
The sharp ends have clearly not been removed…
And when and if they are, the sap will present its own risks…
What the f#%k are you talking about?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8143809/
🤔🧐They are dangerous… 🗡️ Get it?
🤔🧐They are poisonous…. ☠️ Get it?
It’s not that tough.
Thanks for the info. We garden a lot and I always thought century plants look cool. I would have planted one sooner or later but now I won’t.
I never liked them. They do have a spectacular bloom. (Occasionally) .
They might have their place, but I just don’t think a public square is the right place…
The more I think about it though, the inhospitable nature of the landscaping was probably intentionally designed to discourage “overnighters” in the beds…
The homeless did tend to sleep in them…
I’m sure that was a big part of the plan.
It was never about drought tolerance, (the town square fountain just goes down the drain), it was about homeless intolerance.
If they were truly just trying to save water, they could have just smoothed them over with concrete. But that would be too conducive to sleeping on.
That is what had to be made impossible.
As to that, I’d say it was successful.
That thought occurred to me, that might be a way to discourage people from sitting there. Anyway, nobody blames the kids, thrg get an “A” for effort. Plant choice review is (or should be) by their adult advisor.
Loved the comment by one boy who just wanted to get outside, I was the same way in high school.
Try this link… Clues abound… Beyond what is very obvious…
https://plantcaretoday.com/agave-plant-poisonous.html
“The desert agave or century plant (Agave americana) is a notoriously toxic and poisonous plant”
“It is safest to assume all parts of the Agave are toxic – leaves, and flower stalk.”
“The moment you are exposed to any species of Agave sap, your skin will begin to blister, from the toxic compounds, and thereafter, the areas having been exposed may be sensitive to sun exposure.”
“It’s also important to note you don’t necessarily have to have contact with the sap to experience severe consequences from an encounter with an Agave.”
“The plant’s thorns and the edges of the leaves are quite sharp and threatening and can inflict serious injuries on their own.”
In addition to physical trauma, you may also experience a severe allergic reaction if you are stabbed by an Agave.
“If you accidentally ingest the raw sap of the Agave, you may suffer liver and kidney damage and even death.”
Ingesting the distilled sap also leads to liver damage and death.
I’m sure that is a possibility as well, not to mention the associated blunt force trauma from motor vehicle accidents, etc.
I have some Hemlock for you. Why are you pushing poison in this plant. Just because it can cause irritation???
It’s the town square…
Do you really think that is appropriate?
Because it’s toxic would you believe?
I’ve got plenty of hemlock already, save yours for yourself.
Maybe you think the hemlock would make a nice accent to the century plant…
instead of saying “This plant” why don’t you tell us what it is.
[edit] the students and amazing teacher worked very hard on this for our community [edit]
Yes that is true and is not being questioned in any way. It’s just that it would have been nice if they had been given plants less unsuitable and less obnoxious for the area, to work with. I realize they did plant other more suitable species of plants, and they too, were from contributions that I also appreciate. And I hope nobody messes with those plants or takes them. My issue is with the century plant itself. I’m not sure why you are turning it into anything else or towards anyone at all. And I am willing and able to contribute more suitable plants for the area. I’m really not sure why so few realize that the century plant is unsuitable for that location. That is just common sense, and is so damn rare these days. It is a public area, designed to be frequented by the public, including children, special needs individuals, including the blind, and pets. Some commenters agree. Most don’t. That is troubling. There is more than one kind of blindness. Why such carelessness? Let’s not learn the hard way what a bad Idea that plant is. Jared Rossman says there have been no known problems, and… Read more »
Typical lib bs. One of the smallest shitholes in the country and you’re worried about drought-conscious landscaping lol. Keep doubling down dipshits, November is just around the corner.
Century plants are horrible. They have 3 inch long spikes and they give birth to about 100 offshoots every season. I ultimately resorted to removing mine which had become massive and dangerous, with a backhoe.
One interesting and cool thing about them is that if you barely cut around the base of the spines , and pull it out it draws a long fibrous portion behind it essentially nature’s needle and thread if you need post apocalyptic suture material….
That might be it’s only positive feature . Century plant is on the list of homestead boo-boos and nightmares which include bamboo, honeysuckle, vinca, lemonbalm and catmint and the cursed Himalayan BlackBerry which , believe it or not luther Burbank introduced in north America intentionally!! Thanks a lot Luther.
There are many other uses for Maguey (Century) also…
Yes, it’s true about the Himalayan Berry, and Luther Burbank.
They are delicious, but what a mistake!
Burbank made some great contributions, but the Himalayan Berry wasn’t one of them.
I still think it would have been a better choice than a century plant, for the Garberville Town Square.
Curious. If the plant is toxic would it make a good suture?
Post apocalyptic times call for desperate measures ? 😆
And the milky substance is an irritant not a poison. If someone was committed to use it as a suture, or for sewing anything , I’d imagine there’s a process to readying that fiber and razer sharp gigantic “needle” for use. Maybe rinsing, trimming and pounding the fiber to make them supple or something like that, idk… Google, or a local acorn-pounding, raw- hide tanning, hippy probably knows.
The plant does have positive attributes, but it must be prepared properly by a very knowledgeable, experienced individual.
I did not realize Century plants are invasive or that they grow to be so huge!
Now I am going to research the Himalayan BlackBerry.
Yep, it is invasive and produces huge impenetrable thickets. Yikes!
Count your blessings if you don’t have Himalayas. It’s a constant battle here.
One that I am losing.
It’s really bad in a lot of places.
Hack them to the ground, and they love it, and bounce back twice as hard.
I don’t use poison, so they have really taken over.
They do make delicious pies and jams, etc.
I have been anti vines in my yards for a long time. I just keep pulling roots until they are gone.
Las Vegas passed a law that limits water use. They are ripping up all of the lawns
Lots of deciduous trees dying in Vegas nowadays. They just are not a good match for the Mohave Desert.
I wish they had made a playground for kids instead of a homeless camp
Good going students. The internet is such an easy medium for people to sit and express whatever about what ever. You did well with your efforts. Best wishes for you and your garden.
The agave was already there we moved it and slowed down the growth
I remember it in the extreme southwest corner of the town square.
I don’t remember it in that bed.
How far was it moved?
These anonymous nay-sayers are not just chicken-sh-ts, but absolutely clueless! The 2 large agave plants are not new: they’ve been in those planters for years! The horticultural class merely re-positioned them on slight mounds, for a little more character in their xeriscape design. They’re actually less likely than before to impinge on anyone sitting on the planter rims —- and we’ve had not one complaint of anybody suffering anything from them in years! ”Guest” and your pitiful cronies: get a freaking life, or just shut up! Thanks to the sweet and hard-working high schoolers for their community effort!
Jared Rossman, thank you for chiming in…
I’ve always considered you a very reasonable man.
What does your insurance company think about century plants?
Here is a link on the invasiveness, etc., of the Century plant… I have posted much other information already, on toxicity, etc.
https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/3851#tosummaryOfInvasiveness
“Category Impact Cultural/amenity Positive and negative Economic/livelihood Positive and negative Environment (generally) Positive and negative Human health Negative”
Please note that the impact on human health is only negative, and not also positive like the other categories…
That’s not environmentally friendly.
Can you honestly say that is a good fit for our town square?
I mean doesn’t it concern us all?
“Because this species spread by seeds, but also vegetatively by bulbils and rhizomes, it has the potential to escape from cultivation and rapidly colonize disturbed sites, roadsides, bare sand and coastal areas (ISSG, 2016). Currently, A. americana is considered a serious environmental weed by the IUCN (ISSG, 2016) and it is listed as invasive in many countries in Europe as well as in China, Japan, South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania, Bermuda, Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia among others”
PS. The outstanding efforts of the students and whoever else that was with them was never in question. Any comment of mine that seemed directed towards the students was in fact not directed towards them, that would be a misunderstanding, but I could see how it was misinterpreted to be other than just a response to another commenter.
I regret the poor choice of words…
The students did a fine job, and are to be commended for there outstanding efforts.
They should be rewarded both in word, and in deed.
Lions and tigers and bears !! Oh my!! Bees 🐝 and wasps flying around in the air. Ants 🐜 on the ground. Spiders 🕷 under the seat in the outhouse. Poison oak by the trail to the swimming hole at the river. Russian star thistle everywhere. Thorns on black berry bushes and roses. There once where trolls under the bridges, now it’s the unhoused. Ever have a grasshopper land on your head? Or a bug 🐛 in your ear. They’ll lay eggs and eat your brain. I’m afraid of lightning coming out of the clear blue sky. There’s so much chemicals in the air the aurora borealis is going to ignite all the atmosphere and end all life on earth as we know it. Really people let’s worry about other things besides this gardening effort .
It would be nice to share this article but, it comes with all the comments. The negative ones make it impossible to be enjoyable.
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