THE COASTAL GARDENER:

One of the most recognizable and well-known horticultural icons of our area was vandalized recently, and the residents of the community of Corona del Mar want to know why.

For the past 15 years, 12 jumping, diving and frolicking topiary dolphins have been a landmark of this beach community, greeting residents and visitors as they pass along East Coast Highway at the intersection of Marguerite Avenue.

Recently, the lead dolphin was apparently vandalized, pushed to the ground by some thoughtless person or persons. Roots were pushed out of the ground, and branches were broken.

When city staff discovered the damage the next morning, they provided emergency CPR, immediately righting the 7-foot juniper sculpture and securing it in an attempt to avoid the inevitable.

After inspecting the damage Thursday of this week, I can’t be certain whether the plant will survive. The foliage still looked surprisingly green, but it is too early to tell for sure what its fate may be. We all hope it will survive; otherwise, the dolphin pod will soon be without its leader.

Over the years, Corona del Mar resident volunteers, known locally as the “Dolphin Ladies,” have adopted the topiaries. They painstakingly groom, feed and tend to them, almost as if they were the real thing, often seen from the ocean bluffs just a few short blocks away. They even decorate them seasonally, applying Santa hats during Christmas and American flags on the Fourth of July.

The decorations, which recently included Easter baskets, have occasionally divided the residents. But a recent online poll garnered 178 responses, and 65% of the community weighed in that they prefer the decorations, while only 35% thought the dolphins would be better “in the buff.”

As most locals know, the dolphins are playfully arranged as if they are leaping and diving in and out of the ocean. In fact, Roger’s Gardens Landscape General Manager Tim Fiskin and I have been working with city staff and local business leaders to re-landscape the area beneath the twelve ocean mammals.

The landscape proposal, if approved, will mimic the dolphin’s natural habitat of blue ocean and silvery waves.

If accepted, the remnants of rosemary and agapanthus currently surrounding the dolphins will give way to a watery blue-gray ocean of succulents including Senecio mandraliscae, Echeveria elegans and others.

At the base of each dolphin would be a cluster of several taller plants called Astelia “Silver Spear.” This plant’s spiky habit and contrasting silvery-white color, almost metallic, would give the appearance of a splash of water rising out of the blue ocean below.

Over the past few years, the Corona del Mar Business Improvement District has been working tirelessly to enhance the downtown area along East Coast Highway and create a lush village atmosphere, somewhat akin to what you might see in Carmel or even in parts of downtown Laguna Beach. The topiary dolphins, extensive hanging-basket gardens, additional street-side landscaping, benches and more would all be ingredients of this new village atmosphere.

Meanwhile, due to an episode of certain thoughtlessness, our local Corona del Mar dolphin pod on East Coast Highway may soon be one less.

A police report has been filed, and anyone with information regarding the destruction of the dolphin topiary is encouraged to contact the Newport Beach Police Department at (949) 644-3681.

Information can also be reported to the department’s 24-hour anonymous tips hotline at (800) 550-NBPD.

Preparing for the worst, the Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce — at (949) 673-4050 — is accepting donations toward the possible replacement of its lead dolphin.

RON VANDERHOFF is the Nursery Manager at Roger’s Gardens, Corona del Mar