Alta Vista Gardens Blog

Our upcoming Pan-Asian Garden...

2012-02-14T05:22:00.000-08:00

We have begun planning for the new Pan-Asian Garden at A.V.G. If our plans are big enough, anything may happen...

Here is a short video of one possible outcome.

Installing the Culinary Garden Art

2012-02-12T06:11:00.000-08:00

Sculptures in the Culinary Garden

2012-02-11T17:25:00.000-08:00

Today in the Garden, a crowning addition was added to the Sharon Kern Culinary Herb Garden. The sculptures were added. All interested parties gathered this morning at 10:00 a.m. to ooh and aah at the sculptures and then shift them around here and there until everyone was happy.

Here are a few photos taken just after the installation was completed.

Flying Chef up close

Penelope Hoop

Chef 'D'

Shari Chef

Silly Boy Trey

Flying Chef

The World in Photos...

2012-02-11T16:51:00.000-08:00

Really Quiet Extraordinary

Life of Flowers

2012-02-08T05:09:00.000-08:00

This has everything: It's short (2 minutes), beautiful, and a terrific stress reliever!

Use it often during election years....

Gardens reign atop hill in Vista's Brengle Terrace

2012-02-04T09:51:00.001-08:00

Bryan Morse walks through the Labyrinth in the
Mediterranean Garden. — Charlie Neuman

Union Tribune 2/4/2012
Written by Nathan Scharn

In Touch with Nature; Alta Vista Gardens showcases plants and a lot more

Few visitors to the botanical gardens in BrengleTerrace Park actually pay the requested $2 entry fee, but that doesn’t botherAlta Vista Gardens president and chief executive Bryan Morse. He’s just gladpatrons are enjoying his latest venture.

“Right now I’m just happy to havepeople come,” Morse said. “It’s like my life mission to make botanical gardens.It’s what I need to do.”

Alta Vista Gardens is his secondstint into this calling. The first was the Pikake Gardens in Valley Center.

The cylindrical collection box witha sign saying “Stop” and “Pay here” are easy to miss, nestled in the rocks andplants beneath a canopy of eucalyptus branches near the entrance. It collectsabout $25 a week, Morse said, less than it costs to order and install it.

Steps away from the entrance is theChildren’s Garden, which includes a marimba-like instrument, a whale drum and atuned instrument that looks like a massive Connect Four game, played bydropping pebbles into the holes.

“It’s one of the last free things todo in North County,” said Claire Hyde while visiting the garden with her baby,Layla, on her back and her 2 1/2-old daughter, Lydia. “Well, it’s a $2 donationwhen you come in, but you can be here for hours and pack a lunch.”

Lydia lay face down in pebbles whileher mother talked about the garden.

“It’s really one of the only places in Vistawhere you can take your toddler and let them run around and not really worryabout it,” Hyde said. “(Lydia) just likes to discover the trails, swim in thepebbles. It’s not a good day unless you go home from here filthy.”

Sculptures are mixed in with theplants in the 14-acre garden, because they belong together, Morse said.

Alta Vista’s Mission is to bringtogether people, nature and art.

Morse, who goes barefoot in thegarden “to connect with the soil,” points to an unlikely little plant, whichresembles a tropical version of Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree, as perhaps thegarden’s most rare: the wollemi pine. It’s genetically identical to its plantancestors from when dinosaurs roamed the earth 200 million years ago, he said.

Mustard weeds line the paths,reflecting Morse’s plan to undermaintain rather than overmaintain, “so it justfeels right.”

Claire Hyde, carrying7-month-old daughter Layla, plays the whale

drum with daughter Lydia at theJeffrey Stein Children’s Music

Garden at Alta Vista Gardens in Brengle Terrace Park.— Charlie Neuman

Everything at Alta Vista Gardens isdone naturally, Morse said.

“Here, we’re totally organic,” hesaid. “We’re a nature habitat. We don’t use any chemicals at all. We don’t useany bug spray. We don’t use fertilizers unless they’re 100 percent organic.Everything is done that way. That’s why we have more hummingbirds and morebutterflies and more ladybugs and everything else. The nature is coming to theplace.”

The gardens are also home to abustling rabbit population, which Morse speculates is probably what attractedthe coyote family that are regulars at Alta Vista.

The cactus garden, still strewedwith sandbags to prevent erosion, is one of Alta Vista’s new features, and oneof Morse’s many touches since taking over 18 months ago. Others include theJungle Shade Garden, the Cycad Garden, the Labyrinth Garden, a Culinary HerbGarden and the Garden Pond.

And he’s not stopping. “I’mdriven like a crazy person,” he said.

Morseplans to expand the garden’s pond system to have water cascade down a hill,stopping at an existing goldfish pond before ending at a tropical lake. He alsohopes to add soon a South African garden, Pan Asian garden and a conifer ferngarden, among others.

Bythe time that happens, Morse wants to have installed a more visible entry feecollection kiosk.

AltaVista gardens leases from the city the land atop the hills at Brengle TerracePark for $1 a year.

Thegarden operates on dues from its 150 members, donated plants and materials andrevenue from a pair of cell towers on-site.

Written by Nathan Scharn

Kids in the Garden February 11

2012-01-25T10:33:00.001-08:00

Celebrate the Sculpture Garden with us!

2012-01-22T10:41:00.001-08:00

Come Join Us for a fun filled event in the Garden

For Directions to the Garden

Find out more about the Stefani Stevens Band

Find out more about Curiosity Catering

Street Art

2012-01-20T14:51:00.001-08:00

Street Art comes in many forms and it can be extremely powerful. Here are a few examples

Wisteria in Japan- Breath Taking

2012-01-18T05:56:00.000-08:00

Nature has its own way of expression beyond imagination

10 Tips for Planting a Butterfly Garden.

2012-01-13T15:30:00.001-08:00

10 Tips for planting a butterfly garden.

Create a wind barrier. Cassia, citrus, birch, sumac, privet, cherries, and plums are among the trees that are nectar and host plants for a wide range of butterflies.
Butterflies are nearsighted, plant large groups of flowering plants that butterflies can see from a distance.
Daisy-like flowers, including asters, blanket flowers, coreopsis, cosmos, coneflowers, black eyed Susan’s, and zinnias are all butterfly favorites.
Butterflies need water for salt and valuable trace nutrients. Add rocks to a birdbath so butterflies can drink without getting wet.
Set out a large flat rock in a sunny area where butterflies can warm-up on cooler mornings.
Attract humming birds and butterflies with tubular and trumpet-shaped flowers like hibiscus and daylilies, and phlox.
Adult monarchs use milkweeds as nectar plants and host plants. There are over 100 types of milkweed that will attract monarchs, from wild milkweed to showier types, with purple, orange, or red flowers. Milkweeds contain a chemical that protects monarch caterpillars by giving them a bad taste.
Swallowtail butterflies prefer plants in the umbel family for larval hosts. These include parsley, dill, carrots, and fennel. Swallowtails will also use citrus plants.
Herbicides and pesticides can be harmful to butterfly larvae. Avoid using pesticides like Bt that target caterpillars specifically.
Bigger caterpillars make bigger butterflies. Caterpillars are voracious eating machines, capable of eating the leaves off of an entire plant.

Additional Tips for Building an Awesome Butterfly Garden

Adding flowering nectar plants is a great way to attract beautiful butterflies to your yard. A lot of properties are visited by butterflies that are just passing through. Planting a large mass of colorful nectar plants encourages butterflies to stay longer, instead of quickly passing by looking for a better habitat that provides what butterflies instinctively need. A butterfly’s main mission is to mate and lay eggs on appropriate host plants, while sustaining themselves on flower nectar and water from small puddles. Butterflies generally produce four or five generations of adults a season. These adults generally live between two to six weeks, but the last generation will return to Mexico for the winter. Monarchs are famous for their yearly migration, but almost all butterflies move south to warmer areas. In the last months of summer, as the days get shorter, all the nectar that the butterflies eat is converted into fats that are stored on the butterfly’s body. During the cooler, shorter days of winter the reproductive systems of males and females go dormant, until they are reawakened in the spring. This rest period conserves energy allowing the butterflies to survive for many months longer then they would normally. Early-blooming nectar plants are especially crucial in the spring when butterflies leave their wintering-grounds, racing to mate and lay eggs before they are programmed to die. Butterflies are very picky about which host plants they will lay eggs on. Most butterflies have one preferred group of plants they will use. Under normal circumstances female monarchs will only deposit their eggs on milkweed plants, if milkweed is not found the female will most likely die without laying any eggs. This is why it is so important to provide host and nectar plants that are attractive to butterflies.

Alta Vista Gardens has planted hundreds of Milkweed over the past two years. This month we started germinating a new crop of Milkweeds that will be planted this spring. If you visit A.V.G. you will find Milkweed planted around the perimeter of the Children's Garden; in corners from the Arid Garden to the Jungle Garden; from the Culinary Herb Garden to the Pan Asian Garden to the Labyrinth... Basically, everywhere! Alta Vista Gardens is a Certified Butterfly Habitat. One of our goals is to provide a year round shelter for as many species of Butterflies as possible. Come visit us over and over to experience the life cycles of our Butterflies!

Ice Music at Somerset House

2012-01-11T06:43:00.000-08:00

This unique winter experience featured live music by acclaimed Norwegian composer and instrumentalist Terje Isungset using instruments of pure ice such as ice horns, an iceophone and ice percussion brought from the mountains of Norway. Using these fragile instruments, some carved from ancient glaciers, Terje gave three concerts a day together with the Norwegian singer Lena Nymark in the intimate setting of an urban igloo or geodesic dome on Somerset House's River Terrace.At other times throughout the day an ethereal sound and video installation animated the space. The Idea of North, commissioned by Opera North Projects, saw Terje Isungset join forces with Phil Slocombe from Lumen to create a distinctive experience evoking the lands far to the North. Using rare archive film and footage, Phil’s intricately patterned, often mysterious imagery combined with Terje’s intensely physical soundscape created purely from ice.

Ice Music at Somerset House from THIRD CHANNEL on Vimeo.

The Importance of a Tree

2012-01-08T07:58:00.001-08:00

VISTA: Alta Vista Gardens blooming in Brengle Terrace Park

2012-01-08T06:39:00.000-08:00

Monarch butterflies, exotic plants, ponds and waterfalls can be found at Alta Vista Gardens in Brengle Terrace Park in Vista. JAMIE SCOTT LYTLE | jlytle@nctimes.com

North County times January 7, 2011 story by Cigi Ross
Over the past 18 months, the garden at the top of the hill in Brengle Terrace Park has been blooming.
Alta Vista Gardens,which is managed by a nonprofit group with the same name, sits inside a 13-acregated area in the city-owned park.

Plans for a botanical garden in Vista go back more than 35 years,and a nonprofit formed in 1999 to oversee the project.

When the group started, it had fewer than 10 members. Now thereare more than 120 dues-paying members and 11 people on its board of directors.

Bryan Morse, the president and CEO of the group, walks through thegardens with bare feet. He can name most of the plants spread throughout thevarious themed areas because he planted most of them.

"Everything's a work in progress," he said last week.

The garden has a $2 entrance fee, collected at a nondescript polenear the gate. Morse said the garden collects about $25 each month from thefee.

"It should be $25 a day," he said.

He said the nonprofit hasn't enforced the fee because when it wasimplemented a year ago, there wasn't much to see.

Now, things are different.

In the past two years, the garden has grown to include children's areaand jungle-themed section. A desert-themed garden is under way and a courtyardfeatures an herb garden and patio.

Dozens of walking trails have been added.

"On a clear day, you can see Catalina Island and San ClementeIsland," Morse said while standing in the labyrinth garden last week,where rosemary, lavender and sweet pea bushes will one day grow tall enough tocreate a maze.

Milkweed is planted around the gardens in an attempt to attractmonarch butterflies. Morse said fruit plants are also abundant, which bring inwildlife, including coyotes, roadrunners, quail, snakes and a variety of birds.

A small pond is home to about four baby turtles, Morse said.

Chairs and tables are spread throughout the various gardens.

"I believe there should be furniture in the gardens, sopeople can come and sit and enjoy," Morse said.

Everything in the gardens is done in an attempt to further thegroup's mission, Morse said.

Morse has served on the Alta Vista Gardens' board since 2003, whenthe group changed its name from Vista Botanical Gardens after plans changed andalmost all of its board members resigned.

Then-President Mardy Darian, a widely respected botanist, hadoriginally pitched the idea of an elaborate tropical forest at the garden site.

He resigned after disagreements with Vista City Council members.

"We wanted a new identity and a new mission," Morsesaid.

Alta Vista Gardens rents the land in Brengle Terrace from the cityfor $1 per year, Morse said.

"They're getting all this (work) done for free," hesaid. "They didn't expect us to succeed and move so fast."

Chuck Crist, operations manager for Vista's public worksdepartment and a liaison for the gardens, said the city collaborates with thenonprofit on event planning, but the group largely runs the garden on its own.

He said the gardens are a good addition to Vista's park space.

"The gardens are exceptional in the type of plant material(they have)," he said. "It's not generic. It's very much in line withthe quality botanical garden you'd want to develop."

Morse said the nonprofit sold a rare cycad plant for about $50,000to pay for the fence around the garden.

Morse said the nonprofit operates on a $75,000 annual budget. Hedeclined to give a value to the work done in the garden, but said the group hasspent hundreds of thousands of dollars and that the value of the plants is significantlymore than that.

He said that the nonprofit spends more than $1,000 per month onwater, and hopes to buy equipment this year.

"Everything's thought out," he said. "It's allbudget, budget, budget. Getting enough money to do anything is really hard.There's much more we wish we could afford to do."

Morse said the type of plants and decorations are driven bydonations.

"Once in a while, I get lucky," he said.

Morse said the group has about 120 members, which costs $45 peryear for an individual or $60 for two people.

"Not many people know" about the garden, he said."We haven't done a good enough job" getting the word out.

Mayor Judy Ritter said the group has done an outstanding job.

"What they've done has way surpassed what was done before thenew group took over," Ritter said, adding that the nonprofit sponsors events forfamilies throughout the year. "It's turning out reallybeautifully."

The gardens are open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Call staff writer Cigi Ross at 760-901-4067 or follow her onTwitter @nctvista.

How will Climate Change affect the planting zones of the U.S.A.

2012-01-06T16:19:00.000-08:00

A Changing Climate Is Changing Plants

A change is in the air – and the water and land. It’s climate change and it affects weatherpatterns, drought and flood conditions, variations in temperature, and otherfactors. These changes are subtlyimpacting plant and tree growth world-wide. Did you know that some plant species are blooming earlier? And others are actually migrating from theirtraditional growing and planting zones?

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ison the fore-front of climate change research and impact assessment. Through collaboration with the AmericanPublic Gardens Association and Longwood Gardens, their research will inform publicgardens on changing conditions that may affect the plants we cherish.

We’ve allheard of climate change, but what does it really mean? Simply put, temperature changes are affectingour climate, which is affecting our weather. This means different locations will have snowier winters, hottersummers, heavier rainstorms and longer dry-spells. This means the weather patterns we grewaccustomed to are now changing.

Helping your Plants Survive the Winter Weather

2012-01-06T05:25:00.000-08:00

With the cold temperatures of winter comes the possibility of frost, which can damage the plants in your landscape. While most plants usually leaf out again when the weather warms, some plants don't fare as well.

Frost damages plants when the foliage loses moisture faster than the plants can replace it. This can happen because the soil is dry or because the water or moisture in the ground normally available to the plant is frozen. But most frost damage can be prevented by understanding and following a few basic principles.

There are definite warning signs that can help determine the possibility of a hard frost. If you notice low temperatures (45° or lower at 10 p.m.), a clear sky, little to no breeze, and dry air at bedtime, bring any potted plants that might be at risk into the garage or at least under a porch roof or eaves.

For plants in the ground (and outside potted plants), make sure the soil is moist when frost is expected. Moist soil holds and releases more heat than dry soil, which will help create a more humid environment around the plant when the frost pulls moisture from the foliage of the plant. Never hose down a plant in the morning after a frost. Allow the plants to thaw naturally and gradually, or you may rupture the plant cells in the leaf tissue.

There are products that can help prevent frost damage. Spraying frost-tender plants with an anti-transpirant such as Anti Stress® 2000 will help provide 2-6 degrees of extra insulation from the cold by reducing the amount of moisture a plant gives off. Anti-transpirants are non-toxic and dry clear.

If you don't already have mulch around your plants, add a 2-3" layer of mulch or top dressing. This helps the soil retain moisture and stay warmer, as well as giving the roots some insulation from the cold.

Another protective measure is to cover tender plants with burlap or plastic. DeWitt® N-Sulate is a great reusable fabric as well. This can help prevent frost damage by providing an extra 2-6 degrees of protection. Make sure to fasten the material you use securely over frames or stakes so that it does not touch the plant; otherwise it will transfer the cold directly to the plant. Remove any covering during the daytime to allow the plants to absorb sunlight.

Wait to prune frost-sensitive plants until after the danger of frost has passed and new growth has started. If your plant is injured, leave the damaged foliage on the plant so it will act as a protective layer to the foliage beneath. Trimming the plant too early may stimulate new growth that can be damaged by further frosts. You may also end up pruning out more foliage than is necessary; some of that dead-looking foliage may still be alive. When you do prune, the idea is to let the frost damage guide the pruning. Prune only the areas that are not showing new growth.

If you have any questions about which plants to protect, just ask a garden expert. He'll be happy to help you make sure you're equipped properly to fend off the damaging effects of frost.

Labyrinth Group

2011-12-30T06:39:00.000-08:00

We wish to start a group to support the growth, education and usage of a Labyrinth as a meditative tool in the Vista area. This Labyrinth is located in Alta Vista Gardens and was completed earlier this year. It needs to be energized by people who walk it regularly with intention; kept clear of debris and weeds; and it also needs signage that informs new people to Labyrinth what it is all about.

If you are interested, please meet with Penny Stephens in Alta Vista Gardens, 1270 Valle Terrace, Vista, 92084, at the Labyrinth on Sunday, January 15^th, 2:30 p.m.

You can reach Penny at pstephens@altavistagardens.org or 760-390-3072

A Walk Through: Alta Vista Gardens

2011-12-28T15:22:00.000-08:00

A walk through Alta Vista Gardens in Brengle Terrace Park located in Vista, California. This is a video dedicated to someone special to me. The shaking is intentional. Published December 8th

Firewood Fundraiser

2011-12-27T15:24:00.000-08:00

No Need to Comment...Just Share It

2011-12-26T06:29:00.000-08:00

Sunset at Alta Vista Gardens

2011-12-21T06:14:00.000-08:00

Sunsets at Alta vista Gardens are becoming incredible... this is what our board member Nancy Jones captured this week

A.V.G. offers to Sell Carbon Credits

2011-12-21T05:04:00.000-08:00

Looking for a way to offset your company's carbon footprint? By underwriting our planting efforts at Alta Vista Gardens you may earn some hard to get carbon credits and community good will at the same time.
To become involved and for more information write to info@altavistagardens.org

The beauty of pollination

2011-12-19T05:34:00.000-08:00

We all depend on each other. From TED Talks

Socotra Island: A Different View off the Coast of Yemen

2011-12-17T05:49:00.001-08:00

Dracaena draco-Dragon Tree

Those Doctor Seuss trees are real, and they can be found at Socotra Island. Just off the coast of Yemen, over millions of years, life on the archipelago of Socotra evolved in interesting ways.
This isolation means the plant and animal life have had millions of years to evolve in their own unique ways. A third of the plant species here are found nowhere else on Earth. Among the most striking and usual plants found on the island is the dragon tree, a Dr. Seuss-like umbrella tree that bleeds red sap.

Dendrosicyos socotranus- the Cucumber Tree

What a Wonderful World!

2011-12-17T05:24:00.000-08:00

What a Wonderful World that we live in...

Holiday Decorating Magic!

2011-12-16T09:32:00.000-08:00

This is how the big guns do it...

See how the World Searched with Google's 2011 Zeitgeist

2011-12-16T06:19:00.000-08:00

GRANOLA ON A PERFECT DAY

2011-12-11T07:24:00.001-08:00

Submitted by Nancy Jones

The sun was shining and the views were clear from our hilltop when a happygroup of kids learned how to make granola from Miss Mary (Chef Klibs) today.
Mary's magic included adding honey to hot water; adding bark (cinnamon), roots(ginger) and seeds (nutmeg) for flavor; tossing in almonds, sunflower andpumpkin seeds for crunch; stirring in the rolled oats; then baking for half anhour. We even got to learn about bees and handle the wax honeycomb that Ms. Lenorebrought in.
Thank you Bryan for providing the oven for our session in the Palapa!
While the granola was baking, we toured the garden to get reacquainted with theChildren's Garden and dinosaur/turtle sand pit, and of course the MusicGarden's enchanting instruments. We admired the new pond and Golden Torsionsculpture; we discovered the cycad collection from the time of dinosaurs, andnew tables at Bryan and Donnas' patio. The labyrinth rocked with our kids'happy voices.
We thank all the families who found time to join us today and hope you willjoin us next year on January 14th for our next session.

Ivy's Photos of Holiday Cheers.

2011-12-06T05:11:00.001-08:00

Here are some more photos of our Holiday Cheers event supplied to us by our other event photographer, Ivy Bodin

Holiday Cheers at A.V.G.

2011-12-04T06:08:00.001-08:00

Our annual Holiday Cheers party was last night. As usual, our very own Gail Stram put together a classy event with great food, wine and ambiance. Chef Klibs was on hand to help with the preparations and this year, she whipped up some soups to help keep us all warm.
Our 2011 honoree was Dennis Kern. We were thanking him for his incredible contribution to Alta Vista Gardens by making it possible for us to build the Sharon Kern Culinary Herb Garden next to the Garden Headquarters.
Our Board member Art Logan was on hand to take some photos, here is what he sent me last night.

New pond with sculpture

'Golden Torsion'

Lia Strell with her sculpture

Dennis Kern is awarded the 2011 'Spirit of the Garden' Award for his contributions to A.V.G.

Dennis Kern and daughter Vicki

Dottie awards Don Nelson a lifetime membership

'Golden Torsion' at night

Sharon Kern Culinary Herb Garden nears completion

Big Oil Threatens the Spirit Bear Coast

2011-12-02T05:57:00.001-08:00

Watch and sign on to protect the last remaining Spirit Bears. We say NO to big oil. Won’t you?

Kevin Bacon calls attention to a proposed pipeline and supertanker traffic that would endanger the world’s last 400 Spirit Bears in British Columbia.

To sign a petition to help stop the destruction of this endangered area, Go Here

The Most Unique Sculpture Garden of the World

2011-11-26T17:44:00.001-08:00

This is the most unique Sculpture Garden on the Plantet. Please see a short (2.44 min.) video of Jason de Caires Taylor underwater sculpture garden

'Golden Torsion' Over Vista

2011-11-23T20:13:00.001-08:00

Finishing touches are added to the Alta Vista Gardens' Ceremonial Garden new pond that is graced by the Lia Strell sculpture 'Golden Torsion'

A.V.G. crew member adds the finishing touches around the new pond

'Golden Torsion' installed at A.V.G.!

2011-11-22T05:55:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, Bryan Morse and the talented artisans of Expanding Horizons teamed with artist Lia Strell to deliver her sculpture named 'Golden Torsion' and install it in the center of the new pond that has been under construction in the Ceremonial Garden at Alta Vista Gardens.

The Board of A.V.G. hired Expanding Horizons to build the pond after it was send out to bid and Expanding Horizons submitted a bid that was substantially lower than the competition. In addition to being the lowest bidder, Expanding Horizons included a footing for the sculpture and an intricate water fountain around the sculpture's base in their price.

Delivering the sculpture

Lia Examining the sculpture before installation

Installing the post

Moving the outer piece into place

Adding the center piece

Installed!

Ceremonial Garden Construction Continues!

2011-11-17T06:34:00.001-08:00

This week the construction of the Ceremonial Garden at Alta Vista Gardens took a huge step forward! The talented artisans of Expanding Horizons have installed the the parts, and yesterday poured the concrete in the new pond just to the west of the Garden Headquarters. Featured in the center of the pond, and surrounded by water jets will be A.V.G.s newest sculpture acquisition- 'Golden Torsion' by the talented artist Lia Strell who also created the sculpture 'A Creative Bloom' which is on display in our upper Jungle Garden.

Pond ready for concrete

Concrete arrives

In the process of installing concrete

Finished concrete: sculpture will be installed in visible foundation in the center of the pond

Golden Torsion by Lia Strell

The Splendor of Trees

2011-11-17T06:20:00.001-08:00

TREES

ByJoyce Kilmer (1886-1918)

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree..
A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by people like me,
But only God can make a tree.

Trees, God's gifts to us...

Kids in the Garden November 12, 2011

2011-11-13T07:43:00.001-08:00

by Nancy Jones

We just managed to squeeze our class in - with a little snack and play time in the Music Garden too - before the rains started seriously! We enjoyed making art in our beautiful natural setting!

Today we planted narcissus bulbs and rose-scented geranium cuttings. THANKS to Ed Fitzgerald for providing compost which was our planting medium today.

Our 13 kids created their individual projects using a collection of recycled materials, making jet packs, animal cages, drifting snow and ghost binoculars, using their imaginations with only a little taping and tying help from adults. Hint for the holidays: a 50 cent roll of tape, scissors and markers are great starters for hours of creative fun using recycled materials!

Be sure to join us at our next Kids in the Garden class on Saturday December 10 at 10 am for making tasty granola with Miss Mary (Chef Klibs). Be sure to call for a reservation so she has enough food. We will be INSIDE the Garden House. Sometimes there's even time for a nature walk during or after her cooking class! Tell your neighbors and friends and bring them along!

Einstein- the Thought of the Day...

2011-11-12T05:32:00.001-08:00

The New 7 Wonders of Nature

2011-11-12T05:27:00.001-08:00

Seven finalists have been announced: the Amazon in South America; Halong Bay, Vietnam; Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil; Jeju Island, South Korea; Komodo, Indonesia, Puerto Princesa Underground River, the Philippines; and Table Mountain, South Africa.

The results are provisional, based on the first count of votes, and were chosen from 28 locations spanning the globe.

Table Mountain

Table Mountain and the city of Cape Town, South Africa, are seen on April 2, 2010, from Blouberg Beach on the city's outskirts. Table Mountain on Nov. 11, 2011, was named a provisional finalist in the New 7 Wonders of Nature contest.

Puerto Princesa Underground River

Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn, center, sits with New7Wonders Foundation President Bernard Weber, third from right, and Director Jean-Paul de la Fuente, second left, on a boat as it passes under a mushroom-shaped rock formation Oct. 23, 2011, inside the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park at Kabayugan town, in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, western Philippines. The 5-mile-long Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Komodo

A Komodo dragon searches the shore area of Komodo island for prey. Indonesia’s Komodo National Park, which includes the islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar as well as several smaller islands, was founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon.

Jeju Island

Jeju Island in South Korea is one of the New7Wonders of Nature announced Nov. 11, 2011. The results are provisional until voting can be independently verified.

Halong Bay

Tourist boats are seen Dec. 8, 2007, anchored in Halong Bay on the northeastern coast of Vietnam. Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam, and features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes.

Amazon

Lake Condor, located deep within the Amazon jungle, reflects the sky August 20, 2001, in Peru. The vast Amazon Rainforest is 1.4 billion acres and is located within nine nations.

Iguazu Falls

Water flowing over Iguazu Falls leaves a cloud of mist between Brazil, foreground, and Argentina, background, as the sun sets Aug. 12, 2009, over the Iguazu National Park.

The people have spoken. Millions of voters from around the world have cast their ballots for seven sites to be included in the New 7 Wonders of Nature list.

The Power of Words

2011-11-10T14:50:00.001-08:00

This is Powerful, Please Watch!

Simple building. Stonehenge Reloaded by only one white man!!

2011-11-08T05:55:00.000-08:00

Wally Wallington has demonstrated that he can lift a Stonehenge-sized pillar weighing 22,000 lbs and moved a barn over 300 ft. What makes this so special is that he does it using only himself, gravity, and his incredible ingenuity.

Words of Wisdom

2011-11-07T07:04:00.001-08:00

Extraordinary Toroidal Vortices

2011-10-28T05:07:00.001-07:00

Thanks to my fellow Board Member Kevin Norton for turning me on to this. It really is quite extraordinary!

Earth Day- Every Day; Even the Tiniest Things Matter

2011-10-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

Even the Tiniest Things Matter. Please join in to help keep this planet safe for us to live on.

The Life of Flowers

2011-10-19T05:45:00.000-07:00

Life of flowers from VOROBYOFF PRODUCTION on Vimeo.

The Medicine Cabinet in Your Kitchen – Ten Top Common Healing Herbs and Spices

2011-10-09T17:39:00.001-07:00

With the Sharon Kern Culinary Herb Garden growing closer to completion, our thoughts are turning more toward the uses of herbs, here is some useful information...

1. CAYENNE - Cayenne pepper has wonderful cardiovascular benefits, including lowering blood pressure. Famed herbalist Doctor John Christopher noted that a couple of teaspoons of cayenne pepper never failed to stop a heart attack in only minutes. When added to food, cayenne increases appetite, improves digestion and relieves gas, nausea and indigestion. It also thins phlegm and eases its passage from the lungs.

2. GARLIC - Garlic is a natural antiseptic and powerful cancer fighter with numerous other health benefits. It helps lower cholesterol, reduces plaque, lowers blood pressure, and lowers the risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Garlic is also effective against digestive ailments and diarrhea.

3. TURMERIC - The curcumin contained in turmeric provides powerful anti-cancer properties, especially for smokers and past smokers. Curcumin has clinically proven anti-inflammatory effects, including significant beneficial effects in relieving rheumatoid arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Turmeric is also packed with antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E, and may help prevent cataracts.

4. CINNAMON - Cinnamon contains a compound that kills a variety of illness causing bacteria, including the E.coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureas. Research shows that cinnamon can also stop the growth of the Asian flu virus. Cinnamon helps lower blood pressure and helps regulate menstrual cycles. In addition, cinnamon has a tranquilizing effect that helps reduce anxiety and stress

5. OREGANO - Oregano is a powerful natural antiseptic. It contains 19 chemical compounds with antibacterial actions as well as four compounds that soothe coughs. In addition, oregano helps soothe stomach muscles, making it a good digestive aid, and it helps lower blood pressure.

7. FENUGREEK - Fenugreek seeds help treat diabetes, lower blood sugar and lower bad cholesterol. Fenugreek also helps maintain good metabolism, prevents constipation, purifies the blood and helps flush out harmful toxins. Fenugreek seeds and leaves are good for increasing breast milk in lactating women.

6. GINGER - Ginger is a wonderful digestive aid which stimulates saliva flow and digestive activity, settles the stomach, relieves vomiting, and eases pain from gas and diarrhea. Ginger is also effective as an anti-nausea remedy. Researchers have found that ginger is more effective against motion sickness than the most commonly used over the counter medication. Ginger is also used as a pain reliever and it helps lower bad cholesterol.

8. BASIL - Basil is an herbal carminative which can relieve gas and soothe stomach upsets. Research has also indicated that basil helps prevent aging.

9. CLOVE - Oil of clove is 60 to 90 percent eugenol, which is a potent pain deadening anti-microbial. Clove has earned the official endorsement of the FDA as an effective stopgap measure for tooth pain. Clove also helps lower blood sugar by helping the body use insulin more effectively. Cloves was also found in one study to speed healing of dreaded cold sores.

10. BLACK PEPPER – Black pepper is one of the oldest and most commonly used spices. It has a stimulating effect on the digestive organs and produces an increased flow of saliva and digestive juices. Black pepper can help relieve indigestion as well as flatulence. It also helps improve absorption and utilization of curcumin, which the body normally does not absorb very well.

The above list barely scratches the surface of all the wonderful healing herbs and spices nature has provided for our “kitchen medicine cabinet”. For many more examples see:

UCLA: Medical Use of Spices

Fun at the Fall Fun Festival continues

2011-10-09T16:27:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the photos that Art has submitted, more are to come.. click to enlarge

Fall Fun Festival- a full day of FUN!

2011-10-09T04:46:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Our Board member Ivy Bodin checked in last night with the first crop of photos from the event. Here is what Ivy saw... You may click on any photo to see a larger image.

A visit to Glacier Gardens in Juneau, Alsaka

2011-10-01T06:33:00.000-07:00

This month one of our Board Members, Ivy Bodin visited a private botanical garden in Juneau, Alaska named Glacier Gardens. You may visit their web site for more details

Here are some of the photos that he took...you may click on any photo to enlarge it.

And yes, those are trees that have been planted upside down!

An Extraordinary Musical Instrument

2011-09-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

You have to love the engineering and the imagination put into this! Read this first, then watch. This incredible machine was built as a collaborative effort between the Robert M. Trammell Music Conservatory and the Sharon Wick School of Engineering at the University of Iowa. Amazingly, 97% of the machines components came from John Deere Industries and Irrigation Equipment of Bancroft, Iowa. Yes, farm equipment. It took the team a combined 13,029 hours of set-up, alignment, calibration, and tuning before filming this video but as you can see, it was well worth the effort. It is now on display in the Matthew Gerhard Alumni Hall at the University and is already slated to be donated to the Smithsonian. Just so you are a little prepared, balls (hundreds if not thousands during the performance) come out of a tube, hit an object (remember - tractor parts) and sometimes multiple objects before going back into another tube. Of all the balls you will see, NOT ONE hits the floor!!

Nature is more incredible than fiction!

2011-09-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

Pictures of the universe from the Hubble Telescope.

A few views of our Galaxy captured by the Hubble telescope. You may click on the photos to enlarge them

Mystical Didgeridoo Music in the Children's Garden

2011-09-16T16:24:00.000-07:00

Had you visited Alta Vista Gardens last Wednesday afternoon; and had you ventured into the Children's Garden as one family did in the middle of the demonstration, you might have heard the mystical sounds of a didgeridoo blended with the gleeful squeals of young children as they experimented with dozens of different instruments on display.

Wine Tasting Bash!

2011-09-11T05:16:00.000-07:00

Critics are unanimous!

By all accounts the Saturday evening Wine Tasting Fundraiser at Alta Vista Gardens was a huge success!

The food was wonderful and innovative in the breadth of it's variety, the wines were superb and the company eclectic and in great spirit.

Members and visitors came from as far away as Santee and San Diego to the south, Valley Center & Ramona to the east and as far away as Mountain View (near San Jose) to the north. Attendance exceeded expectations by quite a bit. The music of Tokeli and her accompaniment was great and added to the festive mood of the evening.Here are a few photos of the event!

To see all of the photos, visit our web site!

A Grand Day in the Gardens!

2011-08-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

On a superb sunny day the Kids in the Garden class met with Miss Mary and made sourdough bread to go with the Little Red Hen story.

With full tummies, they loved their hike through the Gardens with Farmer Jones. The turtle was found at the pond and new corners with brand-new plantings were discovered.

Israel was hard at work on the Culinary Garden rock walls and Bryan was giving a tour to Ananda.

A family was reveling in the Music Garden and walking the grounds.

Bryan declared cotton as the newest plant of interest and shared the monarch caterpillars munching diligently on the passion vines.

Good times!

Photos and text by Nancy Jones

California Natives at Alta Vista Gardens

2011-08-14T08:39:00.000-07:00

Alta Vista Gardens has an expansive collection of California Natives spanning almost eight acres of the property.

All photos were provided by Board Member and Artist Ivy Bodin.
Ivy writes...

“It is Spring finally in Vista and with a benevolent season of rain; plants, especially natives, are coming alive as they do here in April. With nature’s bounty there is a wondrous show of San Diego native plants at Alta Vista Gardens. A stroll through the undeveloped back side of the gardens will show you a great variety of blooming plants. The cultivars have probably been in place undisturbed for many years. Your walk should take you from the Children’s Garden along the backside designated trail to below the pond and labyrinth and around to the backside of the house. The natives are tucked in amongst the rocks and hollows along the way. Right here in Alta Vista Gardens we have a natural native plants habitat and garden throughout the acreage in an arrangement that horticulture could hardly duplicate.”

To see all of Ivy's photos, visit our web site California Natives Page

Wine Tasting @ A.V.G.

2011-08-05T06:18:00.000-07:00

The Board of Alta Vista Gardens would like to invite you to join us on September 10th at 4:00 p.m. for this special event which will be hosted at the Garden House by us in conjunction with Aging Vines.

As a special favor to us Aging Vines will be opening up their cellars to a select few and serving multiple selections of red and white wines as well as Champagnes from around the world .

A tax deductible donation of only $15 for members and $20 for non-members includes samples of a wide variety of Wines and Champagnes as well as hors d oeuvres specially prepared by Chef Klibs.

This year, as a special treat, entertainment will be provided by Tokeli with her very own brand of World Groove music (for more about Tokeli see previous post below).

Last Year this event sold out!

Tokeli Brings High Energy Music and Dance to Children's Garden!

2011-07-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

Kids in the Garden danced and were entranced by the spell of Tokeli, our guest teacher for July 9 in the Alta Vista Children's Garden.

Tokeli's "Sing the World" class was focused on Brazil, the samba, and everyone - even the adults - moved to the beat and performed to samba music. They played instruments made from recycled materials made at the June Kids in the Garden class. After learning the basic samba moves and parading around the Music Garden, Tokeli directed the children to be ducks (pato), geese (ganso), and swans dancing to the strong samba beat of "O Patu," a familiar song from Joao Gilberto.Tokeli has her Masters in Drama, has taught high school drama, and loves working with children, gathering them in for new active experiences. She also performs jazz with her eponymous Tokeli Band.Tokeli will be teaching a four-session series in September that will delight every dance and music lover.

Reserve space for your child for her Wednesday 4 pm sessions by e-mailing her at tokeli@tokeli.com. "Sing the World" Classes will be September 7, 14, 21, and 28. Fees are a very reasonable $5 per child per hour session; the four-week series will culminate in a performance of the dances and songs. Tokeli will also be offering "Sing the World" sessions at the Fall Fun Festival on October 8, 2011.We hope you'll join us!

Impressions of A.V.G. Revisited

2011-07-09T19:16:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know that I can do anything that I apply my mind to. This doesn't necessarily mean that I will always get it right the first time. My first video was just too much!
This one is a bit slower and includes people. I like it much better than the first.
Also, it is 40% shorter.
I hope that you enjoy it.

Have You Walked Around A.V.G. Recently?

2011-07-07T12:36:00.000-07:00

When was the last time that you took a walk around the Garden? We have been working hard to Grow our Garden and it shows! In the past twelve months the area under cultivation has increased five fold. This ten minute video will give you a small glimpse of what there is to see at A.V.G.

Impressions of Alta Vista Gardens by Bryan Morse

Summer Solstice Celebration @ the Labyrinth

2011-07-01T06:28:00.000-07:00

The Summer Solstice was celebrated this year (for the first time) with a ceremony and a walk through the A.V.G. Labyrinth.

Penny leads ceremony

A.V.G. docent Penny Stephens hosted this event and began the evening with a discussion about the history of Labyrinths and an orientation of the compass points with their associated connection to the four classical basic elements of Earth, Water, Air and Fire. The event was attended by multiple board members and Docents as well as friends and others.

Docent Carole Lee is cleansed with smoke from burning Sage

Entering the Labyrinth

Walking the Labyrinth

The A.V.G. Labyrinth was designed and built by Artist/Contractor and Board President Bryan Morse

Photos were submitted by Board Member and AVG Docent Ivy Bodin

The Hidden Beauty Of Pollination [VIDEO]

2011-06-29T06:07:00.000-07:00

Here is an incredible TED video (ideas worth spreading) about the beauty of pollination submitted to us by one of our members Darlene Lubkay.

Thanks Darlene!

THANK YOU to Vista Magnet Middle School Eighth Graders!

2011-06-08T14:52:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Nancy Jones

Alta Vista Gardens would like to thank 200 graduated eighth grade students from Vista Magnet Middle School for their 300 hours of community service on Monday and Tuesday, June 6 and 7.

Each day, 100 students hiked up from their downtown campus on the new Vista Conservancy Trail along Buena Vista Creek to Brengle Terrace Park and Alta Vista Gardens at the top of the hill, accompanied by their teachers and parents.

Their free workday field trips were sponsored by Woman’s Club of Vista, introducing students to the Botanical Gardens and sharing the Gardens' history and unique plantings.

At Alta Vista Gardens, eager students delved into their tasks in the Children’s Garden – digging weeds, clearing dead trees, planting strawberries and watering. When the dust settled, the Children’s Garden looked better than ever! Bright geraniums, roses, and lion’s tail can again be enjoyed by all.

Energetic students also gathered rocks for retaining walls, raked weeds and spread mulch on hillsides to beautify the Garden.

Informative tours were provided by Nancy Jones to encourage students to participate as volunteers and to appreciate the history and development of the Gardens.

We thank cooperating VMMS teachers Ms. Hagen-Holt, Ms. Markey, Ms. Jacobsen, Ms. Last, Ms. Temelman, and Mr. Henderson for their supervision and support of this successful project.

Parent Maria Wilson, our fantastic organizer, made the connections, provided tools and ensured delicious lunches were delivered to make our day a success! Ice-cold watermelon was the perfect dessert!

We appreciate our dedicated AVG docents who led the hours of work projects: Penny Stephens, Carole J. Lee and Ed Fitzgerald, along with AVG President Bryan Morse.

Schools are invited to enjoy field trips or set up community service workdays at Alta Vista Gardens. Contact farmerjones@altavistagardens.org for details

Patty Waite Retreat@ AVG

2011-06-05T14:26:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Just wanted to thank you guys for helping us create such a wonderful day for our group! And did you order that weather too?? Amazing!! Everyone LOVED the gardens - don't think any had ever been there before. They were all very interested and some picked up brochures. Some asked about visiting with their kids. I thought it was free, but I'm seeing on the website about a $2 fee. When and where do they pay that?? Is that for each person? What about kids?

A Forrest of Bamboo?

2011-05-27T06:18:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken last weekend by Bryan Morse at the Tree of Life Walk Garden that he created a few years ago in Valley Center, CA. The Bamboo in this photo is believed to be Phyllostachys vivax which is a variety of running giant timber bamboo. The A.V.G. clump of Phyllostachys vivax was donated to us by Ralph Evans of Bamboo Headquarters and planted last fall in the Jungle Garden. If you are interested in Bamboo, you really should visit Ralph, he has one of the largest collection of varieties of Bamboo in California.

Pikake Garden Revisited

2011-05-25T17:31:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Morse the Designer & Builder of Pikake Gardens

Desert Garden

Protea Garden

For those of you who remember Pikake Gardens, on May 13th of last year I was allowed into Pikake for the first time in many years. I took hundreds of pictures and uploaded them into a Flash slide show on my Eco Designs and Landscapes web site. For those of you who have been to Pikake, you may want to go and take a look, perhaps to remember the Garden as it was.

I loaded all of the photos that I took that day; the good and the bad. Some areas such as the Protea Gardens and the Arid Garden have grown beyond expectation and are more glorious than ever. The Pan Asian Garden has been very well maintained and the water in the two large ponds is crystal clear so that the Koi are shown off very well. The Rose Garden is Incredible! Almost overwhelming!

The Jungle Garden on the other hand looks under watered. The plants are stressed and the ponds are no longer circulated. The bottom or large pond was down one foot in elevation.

The slide show can be found HERE. It is a Flash slide show. If you are using a 64 bit operating system, you need to open the slide show in a 32 bit version of Internet Explorer or a different browser to watch it.

Prayer Garden

The Rose Garden

The Jungle Garden

Entry to the Pan Asian Garden

Water Geyser Patio Fundraiser

2011-05-23T12:49:00.000-07:00

Water Geysers Patio at the Singapore Botanical Gardens

We are trying to raise money to build the Water Geysers Patio in the Children’s Garden. $15,000 is needed to build this wonderful feature.

Please Donate to help make this happen

Sacred Circles

2011-05-22T20:04:00.000-07:00

Instructions for Life in the New Millennium from the Dali Lama:

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you loose, don’t loose the lesson.

3. Follow the three Rs: Respect for self. Respect for others, responsibility for all of your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone each day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

A Tree Dies in Jordan

2011-05-18T06:19:00.000-07:00

The Oak tree is Jordan's National Tree
Photo: Ahmed Mestarihi

Earthweek reported on May 13, 2011 that...

A Jordanian oak tree that had provided shade to weary travelers since the time of the Crusades has died, reportedly the victim of careless development. The Jordan News Agency Petra reports the 750-year-old tree was at the western entrance of the northern village of Samou’. There, it is said to have attracted merchants

and soldiers during nearly seven centuries of the Ottoman Empire.

Residents say a local developer carried out reckless excavation beneath the tree’s canopy, leading to the trunk’s eventual decay. Late efforts by the local agriculture department to save the arboreal relic failed, leading to branches that once cast 540 square feet of shade at midday to finally wither and fall to the ground.

by Steve Newman | Universal Press syndicate

This is what I find to be newsworthy... Bryan Morse

Compost Critters, Centipedes and Carrots - Oh, My!

2011-05-15T07:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a delightful day in the gardens! Fourteen kids came to the Kids in the Garden class and were able to harvest potatoes, pea pods and carrots. They discovered that compost is alive with critters like sowbugs, worms, earwigs and green fruit beetle larvae! Digging out of the bottom of the "Magic Box" (Ms Lenore's new name for our compost bin), they filled buckets with new soil, planted corn and carrots, and watered all of the veggies. They washed up the harvested carrots and enjoyed chomping through their sweetness.
After the hands-on gardening time, they learned about habitats and what animals need to survive. On their tour of the Gardens with Farmer Jones, the first for most of the kids and their families, they were captivated by the beauty of the views from the top of the hill and the graceful sculptures set among the plantings. Our kids captured photos which they hope to share here on the Blog.
Our continued thanks go to Ms. Lenore and Ms. Virginia who love connecting to our kids in the outdoors. We're sharing our love of gardening with the next generation!

Butterfly in the Garden

2011-05-13T15:20:00.000-07:00

Photo by Winifred Meiser

Here's a photo from the 2011 Earth Day Festival at Alta Vista Gardens. It was taken (of course) in the "Bugs, Birds & Butterflies" Children's Garden. Enjoy! and don't forget to stop and chase a butterfly now and then.

Earth Day at Alta Vista Gardens

2011-04-25T06:54:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

All will agree, this year Alta Vista Gardens outdid themselves. We have transcended the event to a new level!
What follows below in three different posts, are some of the photos from the event.

Click on the picture to make it bigger!