# Alta Vista Botanical Gardens

Alta Vista Botanical Gardens is a botanical garden in Vista, California, United States, established in 1999.

## History

Alta Vista Botanical Gardens were established in 1999 by the Botanical Garden Foundation, a nonprofit organization to construct gardens on city-owned land in Vista. In November 2005, the gardens' board of directors adopted a new plan created by Todd Cure', Bryan Morse, and Ron Holloway, for a collection of garden spaces and gathering spots and the Vista City Council unanimously approved the plan.
Various people contributed to the design and growth of the gardens.

## Wildlife

The North American Butterfly Association deemed the gardens a butterfly habitat and the National Wildlife Federation designated them a certified wildlife habitat. As part of this certification, the operators have pledged to keep them chemical pesticide-free. Over the years the gardeners have planted thousands of milkweed plants, the host plant for the monarch butterfly. A large part of the Jungle Garden is dedicated to a subtropical food forest for butterflies and birds.

## Zones

The gardens have 17 different zones.
* Australian Garden
* California Natives Garden
* Ceremonial Garden
* Children's Garden and Discovery Trail
* Culinary Herbs Garden
* Garden Labyrinth
* Jungle Shade Garden
* Lower Jungle Garden
* Mediterranean Garden
* Medicinal Herb Garden
* Pan-Asian Garden
* Prehistoric Cycad Garden
* Rare Fruit Garden
* Reception Garden
* South African Garden
* Upper and Lower Ponds and Gardens
* Welcome Garden

## Art

Below is a list of artists whose art features in the gardens.
* Melissa Ralston: Tail Spin (2009), Blessing Tree (2010)
* Charles Bronson: Sea Breeze (2009), Born to Run (2010)
* Steve Bundy: Calla Lily (2009)
* Anthony Amato: Broken Link (2009)
* Lia Strell: A Creative Bloom (2009), Golden Torsion (2011), Sacred Ginko (2015)
* Buddy Smith: mosaic table top (2009)
* Mindy Rodman and Paul White: Miro Kite (2010)
* Benjamin Lavender: Kite of Paradise (2010)
* Fritzie Urquhart: The Constellation Tree (2010)
* Bryan Morse: Chanson Joyeuse patio (Joyous Song) (2010), I Raggi Crescenti di Amore patio (Expanding Rays of Love) (2010), Three Easter Island Statues (2012), "Mushrooms" (2012), "Tree of Life Bench" (2014) The Mouth of Truth (2015) A replica of the Mouth of Truth, created by Bryan Morse
* Robert Rochin: Piano Pebble Chime (2010), Baobab Tree (2014)
* John Dole: Arborescence (2011)
* Morris Squire: Lamed (2011)
* Phillip Galshoff: Five whimsical sculptures grace the Sharon Kern Culinary Herb Garden Chef "D", Shari Chef, Penelope Hoop, Silly Boy Trey, and Flying Chef (2012)
* Dan Peragine: Transpersonal (2013), located just below the Cycad Garden
* Anne Little: Human Sundial (2014) and over forty mosaic signs created with a grant from the Kenneth A. Picerne Foundation
* Quilted Glories of the Garden - Linda Bannan: "Horse Sculpture", Melanie Chang: "Banana Leaves", Carol Clarke: "Water Lily", Lendia Kinnaman: "Dragon Fly", Carole Lee: "Kite Tail Sculpture", Cheri McClow: "Front of the Garden House", Sue Ramos: "Succulent" (2015)
* Ricardo Breceda: Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops, Velociraptor, Scorpion, Two Giraffes, Agave, Spinosaurus, Serpent (2015)