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.[2] In November 2005, the gardens' board of directors adopted a new plan[3] 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.[4]
Various people contributed to the design and growth of the gardens.[5][6]
Wildlife
The North American Butterfly Association deemed the gardens a butterfly habitat and the National Wildlife Federation designated them a certified wildlife habitat.[7] As part of this certification, the operators have pledged to keep them chemical pesticide-free.[8] 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.
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)
Robert Rochin: Piano Pebble Chime (2010), Baobab Tree (2014)
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)