The Sherman Library and Gardens meets Hollywoodland!

By Chris O’Brien

In 2022 I began collecting acorns scattered on the Hollywoodland roadways while on my daily walks. These were gathered with the purpose of creating a visual, living legacy to celebrate Hollywoodland’s Centennial in 2023.

I started with 100 acorns. That horticultural process was mostly trial and error. Some of the acorns sprouted, some did not, some were meals for hungry squirrels. The survivors grew in pots in our garden, a mini Hollywoodland forest.

When the seedlings were about 6-8 inches tall, I offered them to neighbors and gave some to new families with new babies. I also had a vision of planting the oaks in the 440 acres open space surrounding Hollywoodland also known as the Hollywoodland Gifted Park, given to the city in 1944. Many calls and contacts were made to the City of LA’s Rec and Parks Department, Mayor’s Office and the city’s tree department. The interest was flat by the officials. I finally dropped off a few beautiful specimens to Recreation and Parks hoping they would embrace and plant. To date, no action.

In our past quest for historical facts for our 100th we often interfaced with the Sherman Library and Gardens.

This is a wonderful, quaint research library created by Arnold Haskell in honor of his boss Moses H. Sherman, developer of Hollywoodland. I decided to approach the Library and Gardens hoping to bridge our historical significance. They were interested and joined us in Hollywoodland for lunch and tree pick up, which took place end of January.

Our legacy and history continue!

It is amazing what a small little seed can do to create history, friends and a respect for nature.

Read more in this article in Stu News Newport.

Photo Courtesy: Sabine Jaccaud