Pasadena weekend: March 20-22

A busy weekend with happenings around water, climate change and native plants. Plus: ongoing and recurring events.

Water. On Saturday, the City of Sierra Madre and the Rotary Club are holding a World Water Day 2015 event. Expect an exposition with water experts, seminars, demonstration gardens, educational workshops and fun.

Climate change. Two organizations are holding climate change events this weekend: On Saturday, the Pasadena chapter of the League of Women Voters is hosting its annual Climate Change Forum; for Sunday, Transition Pasadena has organized a talk titled Carbon Free Prosperity.

Native plants. On Saturday and Sunday, the Theodore Payne Foundation will hold its annual native plant garden tour. Overall, 35 gardens in the Los Angeles area will be open, eight of them in or around Pasadena.

Gardening. On Friday morning the Hahamongna Nursery will host a work day for gardeners that includes planting and information about growing native plants. On Saturday morning, the Eaton Canyon Nature Center will host a Conservation Group work day. Volunteer projects including native planting, trail repair and weed abatement. Advance sign up required. Transition Pasadena's Throop Learning Garden will meet on Sunday morning.

Walks, docent-led. Descanso Gardens (La Canada) is hosting docent-guided seasonal walks on Saturday and Sunday morning. On Friday and Saturday morning, the Arboretum (Arcadia) has docent-led walking tours on the calendar.

Bicycling. On Sunday morning the Pasadena Cyclery will host a ride and clinic for beginner riders just starting out or for riders wanting to cycle more effectively.

Kids. On Saturday morning, the Eaton Canyon Nature Center is hosting a family nature walk. Bring your small children, walking shoes, sunscreen, water and a hat. Also on Saturday morning at the Nature Center: the weekly Nature Tails Story Hour which includes stories, nature walks and puppet shows for children ages 3-5.

Petition. Change.org's petition for a ban of styrofoam containers in Pasadena is still up and active.

Exhibition. As part of the Pasadena Arts Council's AxS Festival 2014, the Armory presents Karin Apollonia Müller's World’s Edge, a photographic exploration of the intersection between the natural landscape and complex urbanization. Ends next summer.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Unless otherwise noted, all events take place in Pasadena. For times, addresses and other details click on the link to the event owner's webpage.

How to compare carbon footprints: Climate Change Forum on Saturday

Do you know how your carbon footprint compares to that of other Americans? Whether you use more or less water, gas and electricity than the average person? On Saturday, the Pasadena chapter of the League of Women Voters (LWV-PA) will co-sponsor a Climate Change Forum where attendees can bring their recent bills and learn to grade their carbon footprint. (For details see the LWV-PA website.)

The forum, which will be held at the Neighborhood Church on Orange Grove, will feature speakers such as the power resource and planning manager for Pasadena Water & Power, Leesa Nayudu, and the director of the California Renewable Energy Initiative for the Nature Conservancy, Laura Crane. Nayudu will discuss how the City plans to generate more power from renewable energy sources. Crane will talk about renewable power sources in the western deserts and their environmental impacts.

Julie Parker, who, as co-chair of the LWV-PA's Natural Resources Committee, helped organize the event, said last week that visitors should also expect "a strong pitch for a carbon fee" that would lower CO2 emissions, grow jobs and stimulate the development of alternative energy solutions. A presentation on the topic by one of the representatives of the local chapter of the Citizens' Climate Lobby, Robert Haw, is also on the agenda.

The Climate Change Forum is being co-sponsored by a number of organizations working toward environmental sustainability, including the recently formed Arroyo Interfaith Environmental Coalition, Transition Pasadena and the Arroyo Seco Foundation. Parker said that she hopes for the event to contribute to a ground swell that will eventually equal the push of lobbyists from the oil companies in strength.

- - - - - - - - - - -

What: Climate Change Forum
When: Saturday, March 21, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Where: Neighborhood Church, 301 N Orange Grove Blvd, Pasadena