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I leave clusters of rudbeckia stalks and gangly clumps of side oats grama.

My grama, who just turned 90 in September, wholeheartedly agrees, arguing that it's life's most simple and unassuming pleasures that keep her so upbeat and optimistic.

Other recent blooms include a native grass called needle grama, brittle creosote, desert senna, Acton encelia or brittlebush, and big galleta grass.

With some luck, Kaiser said, next year nature will launch its own recovery as big galleta, black grama and other native perennial grasses start poking through the ashen ground.

Landscaping has begun, with newly planted California fan palms, blue grama grass and other greenery along Fairfax Avenue.