GARDEN THEMES
These are suggested themes for the sub-gardens of our project.
Throughout the Garden, special viewpoints are being identified, and gathering places (patios or gazebos) are being provided for group meetings, picnicking, chess games or relaxation. Seating, water features, garden art and sculptures are being strategically located and displayed throughout the Garden.
Plants that attract Butterflies and Hummingbirds are being planted in every corner of the Garden. More are added every month.
- Garden Headquarters and Library: Located at the peak of the Garden, this space is being utilized as the core of our educational program where classes may be held when inclement weather prohibits the use of the nearby Ceremonial Garden or other outdoor areas.
- Desert Garden: This Garden features Palms from arid regions; Cacti and Succulents; Aloes and Agaves; dry climate trees and flowering shrubs; as well as many other wonders appropriate in an arid climate.
- Oasis in the Desert: Designed and installed by Bryan Morse
- Medicine Wheel: from Native American tradition. Designed and built by Bryan Morse
- Dry Stream Bed
- Aloe & Agave Collection: Designed and installed by Bryan Morse
- Opuntia Collection Designed and installed by Bryan Morse
- South African Garden: There is an incredible variety of exotic plants native to the South African Sub-Continent. Among others plants this Garden features two Sausage trees, a variety of plants from the Protea family and a large variety of Cycads. Designed and installed by Bryan Morse
- Madagascar Garden:Featuring many of the unique plants native to this isolated island. Designed and installed by Bryan Morse
- Prehistoric Garden
- ‘Cycads of the World’ Garden Designed by John Voss and Bryan Morse, built by Bryan Morse
- Wollemia Nobilis- Wollemi Pine: One of the world's oldest and rarest trees
- Blue Cycad Garden: A collection of plants with Blue foliage that helps them acclimate to the harsh climate of their origin.
- ‘I Raggi Crescenti di Amore’ Patio: Created by Bryan Morse, this artistic patio was created with fields of different colored Idaho Quartzite, natural rock and inlaid pebbles.
- Mediterranean Garden: This Garden features plants native to the Mediterranean Region which is very similar to the ecosystem of San Diego County
- Gazebo: A Rose covered Gazebo with benches and an ocean/sunset view . Designed and built by Bryan Morse
- Pond: Home to Lia Strell’s ‘A Golden Torsion’ sculpture and our Lotus plant . Designed and built by Bryan Morse
- Ceremonial Garden: This garden is intended to be an intimate public space of Dymondia lawn providing optimal viewing of events, outdoor classes, children’s story hour, and weddings.. Designed and built by Bryan Morse
- Sharon Kern Culinary Herb Garden: Whimsical Culinary sculptures by artist Phillip Galshoff, a patio with tables and umbrellas and hundreds of culinary herbs Designed by Naomi Stein and Bryan Morse, built by Bryan Morse
- Bill & Naomi Stein Medicinal Herb Garden: A wide variety of Medicinal Herbs around a descriptive sign. Designed and built bu Naomi Stein
- Labyrinth: Recreating the classic Cretan Labyrinth that dates back to 1200 B.C., the Labyrinth has been constructed of decomposing granite paths enclosed by planted earthen mounds. It is anchored by Anthony Amato’s sculpture named ‘Broken Link’ Designed and built by Bryan Morse
- ‘Chanson Joyeuse’ Patio: Created by Bryan Morse, this artistic patio was created with Idaho Quartzite, natural rock and inlaid pebbles, glass and amethyst.
- Poet’s Patio:
- Grape Arbor: Designed and built by Bryan Morse
- ‘Mouth of Truth’ sculpture by Bryan Morse. Legend has it that those who are not truthful and place their hand inside the mouth shall have their hand severed.
- Futrell Patio: Patio honoring our former Board President John Futrell
- Restroom
- Pan Asian Garden: Created to be a serene environment suggestive of peace and tranquility. It will surround a placid pond fed by a stream which courses down from the Garden Headquarters. It will also include the below listed elements. Designed and built by Bryan Morse
- Bamboo Collection: The north slope features many of the largest bamboos found in South East Asia as well as a forest of Japanese timber Bamboo
- Tea House: (coming soon)
- Pond & Stream: (coming soon)
- Traditional Bridge element: (coming soon)
- Zen Garden: (coming soon)
- Tibetan Prayer Flag Patio: Situated in deep shade and surrounded by Oldhamii Timber Bamboo this is a great place to pause or meditate as you explore the Garden
- Lanterns (coming soon)
- Buddha Sculpture
- Shishi-odoshi- scare the deer (coming soon)
- Jungle Garden: The Jungle Garden will include a stream, waterfalls, a lake, and fern grotto surrounded by magnificent tropical trees and palms.
- Upper Jungle Garden
- Palapa & Lawn Area: Shady and serene, this area is a great place for a picnic or a small gathering Designed by Todd Cure’ & Bryan Morse
- Upper Pond & Patio: Just inside the entrance to the Upper Jungle Garden is the source of the stream and a nicely shaded bench. Designed by Bryan Morse and Todd Cure’ built by Bryan Morse
- Pond & Patio: Below the Palapa you may discover turtles in this Lilly covered pond. Designed by Todd Cure’ & Bryan Morse and built by Bryan Morse
- Sub Tropical Garden: The Subtropical Garden features many of the beautiful and colorful plants that create a tropical garden feel yet thrive in North County.
- Easter Island sculptures Original Art created by Bryan Morse
- Lower Jungle garden
- Jungle Lake & Stream: (coming some day) Designed and built by Bryan Morse
- Jungle Shade Garden: To the west of the future Jungle Lake is the Jungle Shade Garden. It features large Staghorn ferns and many of the Jungle floor plants that require full or filtered shade in our climate. Designed and built by Bryan Morse
- Tropical Fruit Garden: Fruit comes in many varieties that are unusual and in some cases amazing. This garden focuses on displaying and educating our community about the wide variety of choices available to us. Designed and built by Bryan Morse
- Ivy’s Roses on Southeast Fence Line: Heritage Rose Collection Designed by Ivy Bodin, built by Bryan Morse
- California Natives: This area features plants native to the site and to Southern California at large. Designed and built by Bryan Morse
- Australasian Garden: This Garden is themed on the plants native to Australia, New Zealand Tasmania Lord Howe’s Island and Norfolk Island. This Garden is located adjacent to the Garden House and spans the space east to the Garden Entry . Designed and built by Bryan Morse
- Conifer & Fern Garden: (coming soon)
- Fern Garden
- Moss Garden
- Camellia Trail
- Ivy’s Roses on Northeast Fence Line: Heritage Rose Collection. Designed by Ivy Bodin, built by Bryan Morse
- Welcome Garden: This Garden is build around a thirty foot Obelisk which is anchored in natural rock formations. It shall also one day feature a small babbling brook cascading down into a placid pond. This garden features a selection of some of the more interesting plants found in the other gardens. .Designed by Todd Cure’ & Bryan Morse and built by Bryan Morse
- Reception Lawn: Behind the Garden Headquarters, this area is used for intimate dinners, weddings and Yoga Classes Designed by Bryan Morse and Todd Cure’, built by Bryan Morse
- Event furniture Storage Sheds Designed and built by Bryan Morse
- Children's Garden: This Garden will include interactive water elements, gongs, bubble machines, a music garden, and abstract climbing sculptures and more
- Incredible Edibles: An interactive teaching Garden for introducing children to what foods may be grown in our climate Designed by Todd Cure’ & Bryan Morse, built by Bryan Morse
- Lowe’s Patio: Gathering & Teaching Patio Designed by Todd Cure’ and Bryan Morse
- ‘Tail Spin’ Kite Patio: Gathering of intimate groups Designed by Bryan Morse & Todd Cure’
- Jeffrey Stein Children’s Music Garden: Interactive Garden with large instruments Designed and built by Naomi Stein
- Butterfly Teepee: A netted Teepee covered with Passion Fruit vines to attract all types of Butterflies. Designed and built by Bryan Morse
- Totally Tubular: Sinuous series of concrete tubes for Children to play in and crawl through. Designed and built by Bryan MorseDino Digs: Play on the Dinosaurs for a Jurassic experience
- Water Play Patio: A place for Children to delight in water play (coming soon) Designed by Bryan Morse
- Nest- Living Structure: Woven live Willow trees create three dimensional nests for Children to explore. (coming soon)
- Dr. Seuss Garden: (coming some day)
- Restroom
- Butterfly Reflexology Patio (coming soon)
- Earthship: Educational Center constructed of recycled materials such as bottles, tires, found objects with a living green roof (coming some day)
- Rock Snake: (coming soon)
- Human Sundial: Stand in the correct position and your shadow will tell you what time it is. Designed and built by Ann Little and Bryan Morse
- Madagascar Garden:This island off the eastern coast of Africa has been biologically isolated for millennia and features many plants unique to this island alone. Designed and built by Bryan Morse
- Baobab Tree sculpture by Robert Rochin inspired by the majestic Baobab trees of Madagascarr.
- Future Retail Center including: (coming)
- Gift Shop
- Coffee Shop
- Retail Nursery
- Art Gallery
- Garden Maintenance Area
- Lot I Designed and built by Bryan Morse
- Shade Houses
- Greenhouse
- Outdoor Propagation area
- Storage Containers
- Lot II (coming)
- Restrooms
- Offices
- Employee Locker Room
- Equipment Maintenance Garage
- Employee Parking
- Green Waste Recycling Container
- Long Term Expansion
- Parking Garage: Semi Underground shared use with the Moonlight
- Pyramid shaped Conservatory: with multi levels underground to house and display the most sensitive and rare plants in our collection.
- Underground Garden Headquarters/Staff Offices/Education Center/Research Laboratories
- Additional Space?
Garden Open Daily 7:00-5.00 Monday-Friday; 10:00- 5:00 on weekends
Admission is $5.00 for non-members; admission is Free with Membership
Days that the Gardens are CLOSED
Directions to the Gardens (760) 945-3954 email:info@altavistagardens.org
Alta Vista Botanical Gardens is a 501(c)3 Not For Profit Corporation
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