Celebrate the 45th anniversary of Earth Day and take part in protecting water resources
Riverside, Calif. - Western’s 8th annual Earth Night in the Garden event takes on a crucial focus highlighting California’s drought. With the Governor’s recent announcement requiring statewide water cutbacks of 25-percent, Western is taking a proactive approach by modifying landscaping outside the Landscapes Southern California Style Garden? (where the event takes place), so attendees shouldn’t expect a lush green lawn. Western, in partnership with Riverside Community College District and Santa Ana Watershed Association (leasing occupants of the building outside the garden) have slowly been killing off the turf, which will soon be replaced by climate appropriate plants.
Despite water shortage challenges, the awarding-winning Earth Night in the Garden is back, creating the perfect opportunity for families to open dialogue about caring for our natural resources. This year the signature lady bug releases will take place inside the garden to accommodate the turf removal project and children can create tiny lady bug boxes to fill up and take home.
Earth Night in the Garden hosts more than 2,000 community members annually and features free give-a-ways, entertainment, interactive activities, crafts, face painting, ladybug releases and more!
VISUALS
• See hundreds of children enjoy ladybug releases and fun activities. Roughly 90,000 ladybugs
will be released inside the garden by children attending the event.
• Drought art exhibit featuring photographs of the impacts of California’s current water crisis.
• Characters roaming the garden: Drippy, Mother Nature, Ribbit the Frog and Busy Bee.
DATE
Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day)
TIME
3 to 7 p.m.
LOCATION
Western’s Landscapes Southern California Style ? water efficiency garden 450 E. Alessandro Blvd., Riverside, CA 92508
SCHEDULE
4 p.m. Ladybug release
5 p.m. Ladybug release
6 p.m. Ladybug release
Western Municipal Water District provides water supply, wastewater disposal and water resource management to the public in a safe, reliable, environmentally sensitive and financially responsible manner.