Gardens

"VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM: (HUELL) THE TOPIC OF THIS PROGRAM IS GARDENS.

WE ARE GOING TO VISIT 2 VERY BEAUTIFUL AND VERY DIFFERENT GARDENS HERE IN THE L.A. AREA.

FOR GARDEN NUMBER ONE WE HAVE COME TO THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY IN THE SEPULVEDA BASIN, AND WE ARE GETTING A WONDERFUL VIEW OF THE TILLMAN WATER RECLAMATION PLANT.

EUGENE GREENE IS ONE OF THE HEAD GUYS AROUND HERE.

WE SHOULD SET THINGS STRAIGHT: WATER RECLAMATION PLANT IS JUST A KIND WORD FOR SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT?

THAT'S CORRECT, WE PROCESS SEWAGE AT THIS PLANT.

THIS IS BASICALLY RAW SEWAGE OUT HERE?

THAT'S RIGHT; THAT'S OUR AERATION TANKS WHERE MOST OF THE WORK IS DONE IN THE SEWAGE PROCESS ITSELF.

GIVE US A FEW FACTS ABOUT WHAT GOES THROUGH HERE EVERY DAY.

WE COLLECT SEWAGE FROM THE EAST AND WEST VALLEY.

WE PROCESS 80 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY FROM THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY AND RECLAIM IT.

THAT RECLAIMED WATER IS USED HERE AND ALSO ACROSS THE STREET AT THE REC AND PARKS PROPERTY AT THE 3 LAKES SYSTEM.

IT'S TAKES ABOUT 11 HOURS.

IT'S A BIOLOGICAL PROCESS.

THERE'S NO CHEMICALS; IT'S A NATURAL PROCESS.

IT JUST RECLAIMS SEWAGE FASTER THAN NATURE WOULD.

YOU MEAN IT CLEANS IT UP AND MAKES IT USABLE AGAIN?

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND IT DOESN'T SMELL BAD AT ALL.

THERE'S A LITTLE TINGE OF AN ODOR IN THE AIR, BUT OTHER THAN THAT YOU'D NEVER KNOW YOU WERE IN A SEWAGE PLANT.

THAT'S ONE PARAMETER FOR PUTTING IT HERE -- NO ODORS.

WELL, THE NEIGHBORS WOULDN'T WANT THAT CLOSE BY.

LET'S GET ONE LAST LOOK AT ALL THIS SAN FERNANDO VALLEY SEWAGE.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WONDERING WHY WE HAVE COME TO A SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT TO DO A STORY ABOUT GARDENS, THAT'S ALL PART OF IT.

SO WE ARE NOW GOING TO SEE THE TRANSFORMATION BETWEEN THIS AND AN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL GARDEN.

MOST PEOPLE ARE REALLY SURPRISED, AREN'T THEY?

IT'S THE BEST-KEPT SECRET OF THE VALLEY.

WE'RE ON TO THE GARDEN.

NOW THIS IS ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR!

WHAT IS IT WE'RE LOOKING AT?

A 6 1/2 ACRE JAPANESE GARDEN.

DR. KOICHI KAWANA DESIGNED THE GARDEN IN 3 PARTS.

IT'S A DRY ZEN GARDEN AT THE FAR SOUTH SIDE.

AS YOU GO THROUGH THE GARDEN, IT'S A WET STROLLING GARDEN.

AT THE END OF THAT, WE HAVE OUR AUTHENTIC TEA HOUSE AND TEA GARDEN.

IT'S A VERY COMPLEX FORM OF GARDEN, LIKE A WORK OF ART.

SO YOU HAVE RIGHT HERE A FORMAL JAPANESE GARDEN AT THE WATER RECLAMATION PLANT IN THE SEPULVEDA BASIN?

THAT'S CORRECT, IT'S THE BEST-KEPT SECRET.

I'M GLAD YOU'RE OUT HERE.

THE KEY TO THIS IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS WATER, THIS IS RECLAIMED SEWAGE WATER?

THAT'S CORRECT, WE USE RECLAIMED SEWAGE WATER FOR OUR LAKES AND 90% OF OUR IRRIGATION HERE ON THIS SITE.

NOW IS THIS A KEY TO WHAT LIES AHEAD AS FAR AS REUSING SEWAGE?

THAT'S CORRECT, PART OF THE INTENT IS TO SHOW PEOPLE RECLAIMED WATER CAN BE USED MANY TIMES.

USUALLY IT'S USED FOR LANDSCAPES AND INDUSTRIAL, BUT YOU CAN STRETCH YOUR IMAGINATION TO USE RECLAIMED WATER FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT USES.

SO JUST A FEW HOURS AGO, THIS WATER IN THIS BEAUTIFUL GARDEN WAS OVER IN THE SEWAGE PLANT THAT'S JUST A FEW YARDS AWAY?

ABOUT 11 1/2 HOURS AGO, THAT'S CORRECT.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS WITH RECLAIMED SEWAGE WATER, DO THEY?

IT WAS A CONCEPT 10 YEARS AGO, AND AT THAT TIME IT WAS UNIQUE.

IT'S STILL UNIQUE TO FIND AN AUTHENTIC JAPANESE GARDEN USING RECLAIMED WATER TO MAKE IT GROW AND PROSPER.

LOOK AT THIS!

IS THAT A CRANE OVER THERE?

YES, IT'S OF THE CRANE FAMILY.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BRING GOOD FORTUNE TO OUR GARDEN.

OUR DESIGNER WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WHEN HE SAW CRANES JUST FLY IN HERE.

SO WE CAN LOOK AT SOME OF THE GARDENS.

WHERE DO WE START?

THIS WAY.

THIS IS TRULY LAID OUT IN A BEAUTIFUL WAY.

IT'S ALL REALLY ART FORM AND STYLE.

DR. KAWANA CREATED THIS USING DESIGN CONCEPTS.

THIS REPRESENTS THE BEACH AREAS YOU WOULD FIND IN JAPAN.

THEY HAVE MORE GRAVEL BEACHES, AND OUR DESIGNER CREATED TREE BEACH AREAS.

THE WILLOW TREE REPRESENTS A WOMAN.

THE BLACK PINE TREES REPRESENT MEN.

THIS IS SPECTACULAR!

YOU'RE LOOKING AT CRANE ISLAND.

AS WE GET CLOSER, THERE'S A HORIZONTAL PINE THAT REPRESENTS THE WING OF THE CRANE ITSELF.

EVEN THAT IS HIGHLY STYLIZED.

SO EVERYTHING HAS SOME SYMBOLIC MEANING.

I GUESS THAT'S TRUE IN JAPANESE FORMAL GARDENS.

THAT'S CORRECT.

LOOK AT THIS!

HOW MUCH WORK DOES IT TAKE TO KEEP THIS THING IN SHAPE?

IT TAKES 4 FULL-TIME GARDENERS AND A SUPERVISOR TO DO THE WEEDING AND PLANTING.

WE HAVE BAMBOO HERE, AND THAT TAKES A LOT OF TIME JUST TO KEEP THE STYLE.

WE PRUNE FOR STYLE MORE THAN FOR FLOWERS OR COLOR LIKE OTHER GARDENS.

JAPANESE GARDENS ARE REALLY MONOCHROMATIC IN COLOR.

THEY'RE JUST SHADES OF GREEN.

IN A LOT OF OTHER GARDENS, THEY BLOOM THEM FOR SEASONAL COLOR.

WE BLOOM OURS HERE JUST FOR ACCENT OF COLOR.

IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT STYLE.

IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE PRUNING YOUR TREES LIKE BONSAI.

THAT'S CORRECT, WE JUST HAD THE GARDENERS' FEDERATION HELP US PRUNE OUR PINE TREES TO THE BONSAI STYLE.

WE HAVE ABOUT 125 LARGE BONSAI TREES.

THIS IS ABOUT AS BEAUTIFUL A SHOT OUT HERE AS I THINK YOU'LL SEE ANYWHERE IN L.A.

IT'S VERY PEACEFUL AND CALM.

PEOPLE LIKE TO MEDITATE OUT HERE AND RELAX.

AND WE HAVE TOURS WITH DOCENTS.

IS THIS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?

I SEE A TOUR COMING THROUGH.

YES, WE'RE OPEN BY APPOINTMENT.

WE HAVE TOURS WITH DOCENTS.

IT'S OPEN ON TUESDAY, THURSDAY, AND SATURDAY MORNINGS.

WE ASK THAT YOU CALL FOR RESERVATIONS HERE SO WE CAN GET YOU IN GROUPS OF 14 OR LESS SO THAT YOU CAN ENJOY THE TOUR WITH A DOCENT.

THEY EXPLAIN THE MYTHOLOGY OF THIS GARDEN ITSELF.

SO IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC; YOU JUST HAVE TO CALL AHEAD.

HOW IS THE TOUR GOING?

JUST FINE.

I IMAGINE EVERYBODY LOVES THIS.

OH, YES, WE GET SO MANY COMPLIMENTS ON OUR GARDEN.

DO YOU MIND IF I SAMPLE PUBLIC OPINION HERE?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IT'S INFORMATIVE AND WONDERFUL.

DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEA THIS WAS HERE?

NO, I DIDN'T.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL!

THIS IS ALL RECLAIMED WATER, TOO.

UNBELIEVABLE!

WHICH GIVES IT ANOTHER DIMENSION.

HOW DOES THIS STACK UP?

IT'S GREAT.

IT SHOULD BE DONE MORE OFTEN.

DO YOU LIKE IT?

YES, VERY MUCH.

WHAT DID YOU THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE LIKE?

I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE QUITE THIS LARGE.

THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB?

I THINK SO, YEAH.

WELL, YOU'VE GOTTEN A THUMBS-UP FROM EVERYBODY.

I DIDN'T ASK YOU.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

YOU NEVER HAVE ANYBODY WHO DOESN'T LIKE IT?

NO, I HAVEN'T FOUND ANYONE THAT DIDN'T LIKE IT.

DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF REPEAT CUSTOMERS?

YES, I'VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME BACK.

DO THEY TAKE YOUR TOUR OR JUST SIT OUT AND MEDITATE?

WELL, THEY CAN DO THAT ALSO ON OUR OPEN DAYS ON THE 2nd AND 4th WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH.

THEY CAN CALL AND MAKE A RESERVATION, PROVIDED THEY'VE BEEN TO THE GARDEN BEFORE, AND THEY CAN COME ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL PATHS AND MEDITATE.

DO YOU EVER MEDITATE?

YES, I'VE SAT OVER IN THAT ARBOR AND JUST STUDIED MY NOTES.

AND RELIEVED THE STRESS?

EXACTLY; THESE GARDENS WERE DESIGNED FOR FEUDAL LORDS BACK IN THE 18th CENTURY.

WELL, IT WOULD FIT IN PERFECTLY WITH L.A. TODAY.

THE ONLY THING IS YOU'VE GOT THESE PLANES FLYING OVER.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM, AND WHEN WE GIVE THE TOUR, I HAVE TO CLOSE DOWN UNTIL THE PLANES GO OVERHEAD.

IT BRINGS A LITTLE BIT OF 20th CENTURY REALITY INTO THIS WONDERFUL, OLD SETTING.

YES, UNFORTUNATELY.

WE DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT WE GOT.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

I'M GLAD EVERYBODY LIKED IT.

(EUGENE) THIS IS OUR WATERFALL AREA.

DR. KAWANA DESIGNED IT ON 3 LEVELS REPRESENTING HEAVEN, MAN, AND EARTH.

AND IT GOES INTO OUR LAKE SYSTEM.

THIS GARDEN SHOWS ALL 3 STATES OF WATER -- THE VERTICAL FALL WATER, THE HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT, AND THE CALM MOVEMENT IN THE LAKE ITSELF.

DR. KAWANA WANTED TO SHOW ALL STATES OF WATER.

THIS IS RECLAIMED WATER, TOO.

HOW CLEAN IS THAT WATER?

IT MEETS ALL STATE REQUIREMENTS FOR CLEAN WATER TO BE RE-USED FOR INDUSTRIAL OR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES.

SO WE COULDN'T DRINK IT?

AT THIS TIME NO; IN THE FUTURE, THE PLANS ARE YES.

WOW!

THIS IS GREAT!

IT'S ALL STYLIZED, EVEN THE GROUND COVER.

EVERYTHING IS SO PERFECTLY PRUNED.

THAT'S WHY WE CALL IT AN ART-FORM GARDEN MORE THAN A BOTANICAL GARDEN.

THIS IS OUR WATERFALL VIEWING ARBOR.

THIS ONE IS UNIQUE BECAUSE THE WALL FACES THE GARDEN, WHICH FORCES YOU TO LOOK THROUGH THE WINDOW TO VIEW THE GARDEN.

THIS IS A JAPANESE DESIGN TECHNIQUE, SO YOU'RE NOT SHOWN ALL THE GARDEN ALL AT ONE TIME.

THE PATHWAY IS STONE.

WE HAVE BAMBOO IN OUR WINDOW.

WE HAVE STEPPING STONES.

SO YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LOOK THROUGH THE WINDOW?

THAT'S CORRECT, TO SEE THE GARDEN.

SO THE IDEA IS YOU LOOK THROUGH AN INDIVIDUAL SEGMENT OF THE WINDOW?

THAT'S CORRECT, JUST LIKE YOU WOULD SEE A SLIDE.

THIS FRAMES A VIEW OF THE GARDEN.

THE DESIGNER WANTED TO SET UP A VIEW FOR YOU HE THOUGHT WAS THE BEST VIEW FROM THIS POINT.

WHEN YOU COME OUT HERE, THIS IS YOUR SPECTACULAR VIEW.

YOU CAN SEE HOW COMPLEX IT IS.

YOU CAN NEVER SEE THE WHOLE GARDEN ALL AT ONE TIME.

THIS MAKES IT VERY UNIQUE.

I'VE BEEN OUT HERE HUNDREDS OF TIMES, AND IT'S STILL INTERESTING TO ME TO COME OUT HERE.

DO PEOPLE COME OUT HERE AND JUST SIT AND MEDITATE?

ON OUR OPEN DAYS, THEY DO.

ON TOURS THEY GO WITH A DOCENT.

A LOT OF TIMES THEY COME HERE AND LISTEN TO THE WATERFALL.

ON THE EVENING TOURS, SOME DOCENTS BRING THEM JUST TO HEAR THE WATERFALL ITSELF.

ARE YOU ALLOWED TO MEDITATE ON THAT ROCK?

NO, WE ASK YOU TO KEEP OFF THE GROUND COVER.

THAT'S A GREAT ROCK TO SIT AND MEDITATE ON RIGHT THERE.

IN PLATO'S ERA I GUESS SO; IN OUR ERA WE SIT ON BENCHES.

I WA(HUELL) SO NOT ONLY DO YOU FOR SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL GARDEN, BUT YOU LEARN A LESSON IN THE GOOD USES OF RECLAIMED WATER.

WE'RE JUST SCRATCHING THE SURFACE ON WAYS TO REUSE WATER.

THAT'S CORRECT, IT'S AN ISSUE OF THE '90s.

IT'S PERFECT TIMING, AND IT WAS THOUGHT OF 20 YEARS AGO.

THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN.

NOW WE GO TO GARDEN NUMBER TWO.

NOW WE'RE READY TO TOUR GARDEN NUMBER TWO, AND WE'RE STILL IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY.

WE ARE IN SHERMAN OAKS AT A FELLA'S HOUSE NAMED ERNIE LaMERE.

HE CALLS HIS PLACE "SHANGRI-LA VILLA."

I ASSUME THIS IS ERNIE OUT HERE RAKING.

VERY NICE TO MEET YOU.

WE'RE DOING A SHOW ON GARDENS.

WE WANT YOUR GARDEN TO BE ONE OF OUR FEATURED GARDENS.

WOULD YOU SHOW IT TO US?

IT WOULD BE A PLEASURE.

I KNOW THIS IS A SPECIAL PLACE.

THERE AREN'T MANY SHANGRI-LAs.

MY SHANGRI-LA HAS BEEN OFTEN COMPARED TO AARON SPELLINGS' SHANGRI-LA UP IN BEVERLY HILLS.

HE TOOK THE WHOLE TOP OF THAT MOUNTAIN AND CALLED IT SHANGRI-LA.

THIS IS A POOR MAN'S SHANGRI-LA.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE, BUT I WOULDN'T TRADE IT.

THIS ONE'S PAID FOR.

THIS IS GREAT!

WHEN YOU ENTER THROUGH THIS GATE, YOU ARE ENTERING INTO THE LAND OF PEACE AND TRANQUILITY.

OH WOW, LOOK AT THIS!

YEAH, A LITTLE EFFORT WILL GET YOU AN ELEPHANT.

WE'VE GOT TOPIARIES ON THIS SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, AND THE POOL IS ON THE OTHER SIDE.

EVERYBODY SAID, "YOU CAN'T PUT A POOL IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE."

NOBODY CAN EVEN SEE IT.

IF YOU HAVE A POOL IN THE BACK YARD, NOBODY WATCHES THE KIDS.

YOU'VE GOT A FOUNTAIN HERE?

A SUN DIAL, AND SO MANY PEOPLE SAY, "I DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN TELL TIME BY THAT," BUT IT DOES.

WHAT TIME IS IT NOW?

ABOUT A QUARTER TO 1:00.

THIS IS THE ONLY SUN DIAL I KNOW OF YOU CAN SET TO QUARTER TO 1:00.

THE SHADOW FROM THIS CASTS THE TIME OF DAY.

WE'RE NEVER GONNA GET TO THE GARDEN; LOOK AT THIS!

MY WIFE IS THE TOPIARY BARBER.

SHE DID BIG BIRD.

OH, THIS IS BIG BIRD!

LOOK OVER HERE.

IF YOU COME AT THIS ANGLE HERE, YOU CAN GET HIS FACE.

I DIDN'T WANT HIM TO FACE THE STREET BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID IT WOULD LOOK LIKE DISNEYLAND, SO I TRIED TO HIDE HIM.

BUT THE GARDEN YOU WANTED TO SHOW US ISN'T AT YOUR HOUSE?

SO WE'RE GONNA GO SEE ERNIE'S WALK.

IT'S A HALF A BLOCK FROM HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO ERNIE'S WALK, AND HERE'S YOUR RAKE.

WE HAVE NOW WALKED A HALF A BLOCK DOWN THE STREET, AND WE'RE GETTING READY TO VISIT ERNIE'S WALK.

YOU GOT IT.

WHAT'S THE DEAL ON ERNIE'S WALK?

WELL, ERNIE'S WALK IS A 2-BLOCK-LONG STRETCH ALONG THE RIVERBANK THAT HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO A FLORAL PROMENADE.

THAT YOU CONVERTED YOURSELF?

OH, YES, ME ALONE AND NOBODY ELSE.

NOBODY'S TURNED A SHOVEL FULL OF DIRT DOWN HERE BUT ME.

IT'S TAKEN 5 YEARS TO DO IT, BUT IT'S BEEN 5 BEAUTIFUL YEARS.

WE'RE ON THE CORNER OF HOUSTON AND -- AND KESTER.

RIGHT BY THE L.A. RIVER.

WE'RE GONNA GO TO ERNIE'S WALK.

I'VE HEARD THAT THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE.

IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

IT'S A FLORAL PROMENADE.

WHEREVER YOU SEE A BLOOM, I PLANTED IT.

THERE'S 2 BLOCKS OF THIS.

I MADE DIFFERENT ATTRACTIONS ALONG THE WAY TO MAKE IT MORE INTERESTING.

WELL, LET'S GO.

I USED TO GIVE HALLOWEEN SHOWS AT MY HOUSE, 2 NIGHTS OF HALLOWEEN SHOWS.

I USED TO CONVERT MY FRONT YARD INTO A CEMETERY AND FLOODLIGHT IT IN GREEN LIGHTS.

WE HAD MUSIC, GOBLINS, AND EVERYTHING.

WE COULDN'T HANDLE THE CROWDS.

SO HERE'S BOOT HILL?

THERE YOU HAVE BOOT HILL.

THAT'S WHAT USED TO BE IN MY FRONT YARD ON HALLOWEEN.

THIS IS WONDERFUL!

YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL THE TOURISTS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO READ ALL THE EPITAPHS AND TOMBSTONES.

SOME ARE A LITTLE RISQUE, BUT NEVERTHELESS IT'S INTERESTING.

WHAT'S THIS BIG DOG DOING UP HERE?

THAT'S CUJO, THE SAINT BERNARD THAT WENT BERSERK AND CAUGHT THE WOMAN IN THE CAR.

OH, IT WAS A FANTASTIC SHOW!

(HUELL) HERE'S THE ONE THAT'S A LITTLE RISQUE, WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT WEEDS.

(ERNIE) WEEDS ARE A PAIN IN THE GRASS, I'LL TELL YOU!

LOOK, YOU'VE GOT A BIG BOOT HILL HERE.

THIS FELLA HERE, OH, IT WAS HARD DIGGING.

THAT'S AS FAR DOWN AS WE COULD GET HIM.

NOW LOOK AT THIS -- ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT CANNA-LILIES.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW THE NAME OF THAT FLOWER.

AND YOU KEEP 'EM ALL GROWING AND WATERED?

OH, YOU BETCHA!

NOW WE'LL CONTINUE ON DOWN TO ERNIE'S WALK.

DON'T FORGET LADY GODIVA.

I'M NOT SURE WE CAN SHOW THAT.

OH YEAH, EVERYBODY ELSE HAS SHOWED HER.

LADY GODIVA HAS PROBABLY BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED MORE THAN ANY WOMAN IN SHERMAN OAKS.

WITH LESS ON.

THAT'S FOR SURE!

WE HAVE BENCHES ALL ALONG THE WAY.

YOU'VE GOT MAGAZINES OUT HERE FOR 'EM TO READ.

SO YOU KEEP THE FRESH FRUIT RIGHT HERE?

PLUMS, APPLES, ORANGES -- WHATEVER'S IN SEASON.

SO PEOPLE CAN COME AND EAT YOUR FRESH FRUIT AND READ MAGAZINES?

OR YOU CAN SIT HERE AND MAKE LOVE; IT'S ALL THE SAME TO ME.

JUST SO YOU'RE HAPPY, THAT'S THE MAIN THING.

BOY, BOOT HILL JUST GOES ON AND ON.

THAT'S RIGHT.

PEOPLE PUT THEIR PETS TO SLEEP HERE, TOO.

YOU MEAN THEY USE THIS AS A PET CEMETERY?

YES, BUT IT GENERALLY ISN'T KNOWN.

I THINK THERE'S A LAW AGAINST THAT.

AND WE'RE JUST RIGHT UP NEXT TO THE RIVER?

YEAH, THE WATER'S RIGHT DOWN HERE.

WHEN WE HAD OUR BIG STORM IN FEBRUARY 1992, THE WATER WAS 18 INCHES HIGH WHERE WE'RE WALKING NOW.

AND WE WALKED RIGHT PAST THIS.

THIS IS GREAT.

HE'S GOT MORE FRESH FRUIT AND MAGAZINES AND A PILLOW HERE SO YOU CAN JUST RELAX AND ENJOY YOURSELF.

RIGHT, AND IT'S ALWAYS IN THE SHADE.

AND WE HAVE SO MANY LITTLE KIDS.

ON AN AVERAGE DAY, WE HAVE 50 PEOPLE GO THROUGH HERE.

HERE'S YOUR FLAG FLYING.

OLD GLORY HAS TO BE HERE.

WHEN THE VANDALS HIT, THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO OLD GLORY BECAUSE SHE'S PADLOCKED TO THE FENCE.

YOU HAVE VANDALS?

OH, WE'VE BEEN VANDALIZED 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN 3 MONTHS.

THEY THROW EVERYTHING IN THE RIVER.

ALL THIS FURNITURE GOES IN THE RIVER.

SO YOU HAVE THIS FOR THE LITTLE KIDS?

THAT'S RIGHT, AND THEY ENJOY THE SWINGS.

BY PUTTING THE UMBRELLA THERE, THEY'RE ALWAYS IN THE SHADE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE SHADE HERE IN THE VALLEY.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE COMFORTABLE AND READ AND EAT FRUIT, YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE SHADE.

HERE'S YOUR FIRST LITTLE GARDEN.

I WAS TRYING TO SAVE THAT LITTLE SPRUCE TREE THAT SOMEBODY GAVE ME.

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BLUE SPRUCE I FOUND HERE ONE MORNING IN A POT, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT.

I CARVED SOME STEPS UP THE HILL, 4 SETS OF STEPS ALONG THE WAY BEFORE WE GET TO THE END OF ERNIE'S WALK IN CASE YOU WANT TO CUT OUT TO YOUR CAR.

SOME PEOPLE ONLY WANT TO DO HALF OF THE WALK ONE DAY AND DO THE OTHER HALF THE NEXT TIME THEY COME DOWN.

HERE'S ANOTHER BENCH AND PILLOW.

YEAH, AND WE HAVE A -- BOY, THIS JUST GOES ON AND ON!

WE HAVE WATERING HOLES FOR DOGS, AS YOU'LL SEE DOWN HERE.

THEY'VE GOT TO HAVE FRESH WATER.

THE DOGS KNOW WHERE EVERY ONE OF THESE ARE, AND EVERY DOG SEEMS TO HAVE HIS FAVORITE HOLE.

I THINK THERE ARE 4 OF THESE ALONG THE WAY.

AND THIS IS A PATH FOR STROLLERS AND WHEELCHAIRS.

SO YOU'VE GOT IT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE?

I HAVE A REAL HANDICAP ACCESS AT THE FAR END, BUT THIS WAS THE ONLY ONE WE HAD FOR A WHILE.

IT WAS ALL RIGHT FOR STROLLERS, BUT FOR WHEELCHAIRS IT WAS TOO NARROW.

YOU'VE GOT LITTLE PALM TREES HERE?

YEAH, THOSE NEED A LOT OF PRUNING; THEY GROW SO FAST.

YOU HAVE A BULLETIN BOARD HERE.

YOU'D BE SURPRISED WHAT YOU'LL READ ON THAT BULLETIN BOARD, GOOD AND BAD.

SO PEOPLE COME UP HERE AND LEAVE MESSAGES TO EACH OTHER?

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT'S FOR, OR IF THEY HAVE SOMETHING THIS IS THE COOLEST SPOT IN SHERMAN OAKS.

IT'S ON THE BEND OF THE RIVER, AND THAT CREATES A BREEZE.

IT'S ALWAYS COOL, I GUARANTEE YOU!

IT'S THE COOLEST SPOT IN SHERMAN OAKS.

THIS IS A PIECE OF NEEDLEWORK OUT OF A SIZZLER'S RESTAURANT.

THEY WERE REMODELING AND THEY THREW EVERYTHING OUT.

SO YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THINGS?

THEY'LL THROW ALL THIS IN THE RIVER.

I'D LIKE TO CATCH THE VANDALS.

YOU CALL ME WHEN YOU CATCH 'EM, AND I'LL COME HELP YOU.

IF I WASN'T ON TV, I COULD SAY WHAT I'M GOING TO DO WITH 'EM.

HOW DID THIS ERNIE'S WALK GET STARTED?

THIS USED TO BE A GHETTO DOWN HERE, A REAL GHETTO.

FOR 30 YEARS PEOPLE WOULD DRIVE UP HERE AT NIGHT, THROW THEIR TRASH OVER THE SIDE OF THE CURB.

IT WAS SOLID TRASH FOR THE 2 BLOCKS THAT I HAVE CLEANED -- OLD CAR PARTS, MATTRESSES, OLD BOXES.

BUMS WERE LIVING IN THE BOXES.

FINALLY I DECIDED IF I DIDN'T DO SOMETHING, IT WOULD BE OVER ON MY STREET THE NEXT THING I KNOW.

SO I MADE 100 PHONE CALLS TO DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS.

FINALLY I GOT THE RIGHT CALL IN, AND THEY SENT OUT 2 TRUCKS AND 12 GUYS.

IT TOOK US 2 DAYS TO PICK UP ALL THE TRASH OUT OF HERE.

I PROMISED THEM IF THEY WOULD DO IT, I WOULD HELP THEM TO KEEP IT CLEAN FROM THEN ON.

AFTER WE HAD IT ALL CLEANED UP, I STOOD HERE AND LOOKED UP AND DOWN, AND I THOUGHT, BOY, THAT WOULD MAKE A NICE PROMENADE DOWN HERE, NEVER DREAMING THAT I WAS GOING TO PLANT ANY FLOWERS.

ONE DAY WHEN I WAS GARDENING IN MY OWN YARD, INSTEAD OF THROWING THE PLANTS IN THE TRASH CAN, I GOT THE IDEA: THESE PLANTS BELONG DOWN TO THE RIVER.

AND NOW YOU HAVE ERNIE'S WALK.

HOW MANY YEARS AGO WAS THAT?

5 YEARS AGO.

AND WHAT IS SO AMAZING ABOUT THIS WHOLE PLACE IS THAT WE'RE RIGHT OFF THE 101 FREEWAY RIGHT AT THE 405.

HERE'S THE BIG RIVER, AND HERE'S THIS WONDERFUL PLACE.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE A LITTLE HIDDEN GEM.

YEAH, PEOPLE REFER TO IT AS AN OASIS AND A LITTLE BIT OF PARADISE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR INVITING US OVER TO SEE YOUR BEAUTIFUL GARDEN AND ERNIE'S WALK.

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE EXPECTED, BUT THIS HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.

IT'S ALWAYS A LITTLE MORE THAN EVERYBODY EXPECTS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT'S A PLEASURE.

THERE YOU HAVE IT, AND THIS HAS BEEN OUR GARDEN SHOW.

WE HAVE VISITED 2 VERY SPECIAL GARDENS IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY.

CAPTIONED BY THE LLOYD E. RIGLER & LAWRENCE E. DEUTSCH CAPTIONING CENTER AT KCET.

I'LL COME BACK SOME NIGHT.

COME WHEN THE MOON IS OUT.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAN HAPPEN DOWN HERE WHEN THAT MOON SHINES UP THAT RIVER AND THOSE MOON BEAMS ARE DANCING ON THE WATER.

MAN, IT PUTS ME RIGHT BACK IN MY TEENS.

"VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM: