While every day is Earth Day at The Ecology Center, on April 25th from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. they’re opening their doors to the community for a special celebration. Bring your family and friends for the grand opening of the demonstration gardens, plant sale and hands-on educational experiences for all ages.

Grand Opening: The Ecology Center Demonstration Gardens
Come enjoy their unique demonstration gardens! The California Friendly Landscape highlights water efficiency and native plants while their Backyard Oasis provides insights into growing fruits, vegetables and herbs organically at home.

Organic Plant Sale
Just in time for the start of gardening season, they are having a Spring Plant Sale featuring organic heirloom vegetables, herb and flower starts, available exclusively at The Ecology Center. Varieties include: Padron Peppers, Stupice Tomatoes, Turkish Eggplant, Rainbow Inca Sweet Corn, Hummingbird Sage, Merlot Lettuce, to name just a few.

Eco-Education Fun for Kids and Adults
Be a part of the solution. Fun and inspiring activities will be rotating all day, including: seed balls with Earthroots Field School, earthen oven baked goods, plant-based tie dying, stories from the “Earth Bug Crew”, acoustic “gypsy jazz” music, yoga with Yoga Works/Lululemon.

Food ● Music ● Tours of Congdon House
The Ecology Center
32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Telephone:  949.443.4223

Event Link: http://www.emergencblue.com/mailblue-event-surfrider-foundation.html

PRESS RELEASE

Heal the Bay has announced a lively mix of environmental leaders to be saluted May 28 at the group’s annual Bring Back the Beach gala, encompassing the worlds of sports, visual arts and technology.

More than 1,200 guests will be on hand at Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar to recognize the achievements of Mark Attanasio, a Heal the Bay board member who serves as group managing director of Trust Company of the West, and chairman and principal owner of the Milwaukee Brewers baseball club; Catherine Opie, the Los Angeles visual artist whose provocative photographs were recently featured in a midcareer retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum; and Ocean in Google Earth, the online application that allows millions of users to explore underwater landscapes throughout the world.

While working in diverse sectors, these honorees are unified in their commitment to clean oceans and environmental change. The longtime supporters of Heal the Bay have successfully pushed conventional boundaries in their respective fields and worked diligently to protect our natural resources, each embodying the theme of this year’s event: A Sea of Possibilities.

"These honorees have integrated meaningful environmental stewardship into their public endeavors in a natural and compelling way," said Mark Gold, president of Heal the Bay. "Their leadership is an example to all of us who want to make a positive impact by raising awareness and effecting positive change."

In a bid to encourage more sustainable lifestyle choices, Ford Motor Co. has generously donated a fully accessorized 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid vehicle for the event’s always brisk live auction. Elena Ford, the great-great-granddaughter of company founder Henry Ford and current chief of global marketing, is scheduled to be on hand to auction off the innovative Fusion Hybrid, America’s most fuel-efficient mid-size car.

Guests will also have the opportunity view the limited edition Catherine Opie series "Four Seasons of the Bay." Shot from one vantage point in Santa Monica, this four-image work can only be purchased from Heal the Bay.

Akasha, the much-talked-about Culver City eco-restaurant, is catering this year’s gala and will fashion a special menu featuring innovative sustainable items. Other event vendors have been selected based on their commitment to green business practices.

The West Coast’s largest environmental fundraising event has sold out the last four years. Group tables and individual tickets, beginning at $500, are still available at healthebay.org/bbb.