
Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden
Membership Application
Location: The 2/3 acre Garden is located in Polliwog Park on Peck Avenue, just north of Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Hours: Open to the public daily, 8:00 am until sundown Admission: Free
Mission: Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden is a non-profit public education organization dedicated to promoting earth-friendly gardening techniques, encouraging the use of California native and drought-tolerant plants, and conserving our natural resources.
What's New? Seven educational interpretive signs were unveiled during an appreciation and dedication ceremony March of 08...
The seven, two-foot
by three-foot state-park quality interpretive signs were installed in late
November of 2007. Together they offer an
educational self-guided tour through the garden covering topics such as California
Friendly Plants, Mulch and Compost, Water: Where it Comes From and Ways
to Conserve, Our Mediterranean Climate, Creatures of the
Garden, How to Create a Wildlife Habitat and History of the
Garden.
Spring
Class & Bus Tour Schedule 2008
All
classes meet at the MB Botanical Garden and are FREE, but prior registration
is required. The bus trip to the Maloof
Foundation is full.
Call or e-mail Julie Gonella to reserve a spot at one of our other free classes: 310-546-1354 or Julie@manhattanbeachbotanicalgarden.org .
Container Gardening
with Natives
April
12,10-11 am
Jon
Bell, instructor, Annie’s Nursery
Having
no yard or minimal outdoor space doesn't mean you can't plantCalifornia natives at home. Ceramic,
plastic, or concrete pots, galvanized tubs, wooden wine boxes, old
wheelbarrows, bathtubs, and practically anything else you can dream up provide
excellent means for starting a container garden. You can create botanical
beauty, restore a little ecological balance, and bring winged friends to
your corner of the world. Jon Bell of Annie's Nursery will show you how
in this hands-on demonstration.
Water Saving
Irrigation Technology
April
19,10-11 am
Mike
Garcia, instructor, Enviroscape
Review
the latest in water conserving irrigation products. Smart Irrigation
controllers, environmental sensors, high efficiency rotator sprinklers, and
drip irrigation are all readily available to help you reduce water usage.
In addition to these products, some best management practices will also
be discussed. Interactive displays and product literature will be
provided. Bring your old irrigation timer
and receive a free “climate-controlled” timer from the West Basin Water
District.
Water-efficient
Pondless Waterfalls
April
26,10-11 am
Mike
Garcia, instructor, Enviroscape
Water
features are fast becoming one of the most popular garden enhancements. This class will cover how to build a lovely water-saving
structure similar to the one in the Botanical Garden. Mike Garcia is an award winning water feature
expert who will share his vast knowledge and provide tips for successful
installation.
SORRY, TOUR FULL Maloof
Museum
andNative Gardens Tour
May
3,8:30am-3:30 pm
$15
for members; $40 for non-members
Tour
Master Woodworker Sam Maloof’s hand-built residence, adjoining woodshop and
California-friendly gardens located in the San Gabriel Mountains. This custom tour will feature Maloof’s famous
rocking chairs, settees, cabinets, tables and music stands as well as several
acres of native gardens. Be prepared to
walk and stand for about 2 hours and leave time to visit the gift shop. A box lunch and transportation in a luxury
motor coach is included.
*Thanks to Chevron for providing the luxury
coach to theMaloof
Museum andNative Gardens.
Insects: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
May
10,10-11 am
Gretchen
Renshaw-Zwissler, instructor
Are
you a little squeamish about bugs in your garden, squishing or spraying
everything in sight? You may be eliminating insects that turn into beautiful
butterflies, or food that could attract colorful birds to your garden. Learn how to identify the good ones and what
can be done about the bad ones in an eco-friendly manner. Find out what those ugly ones have to offer
and what their purpose is in nature. If
you would like to have a specific insect identified, bring it to class in a
sealed plastic bag.
Reiki in the Garden
May
17,10-11 am
Sheri
Hein, instructor
Learn to practice Reiki, an ancient hands-on healing art
that brings harmony to the body, mind and spirit. Surrounded by the serenity of the Garden, this
simple yet effective healing practice can relieve pain and anxiety, increasing
one’s sense of well-being.
Let’s
Talk Trees
May 24,10-11
am
Ann Barklow, Certified Arborist
Confused about theManhattan Beach tree ordinance? If your tree needs pruning, how much should you cut? Join certified
Arborist, Ann Barklow and take a walk through the trees inPolliwog Park
and the Botanical Garden and learn all about their care. You will learn how to recognize a hazardous
tree limb or tree; best pruning practices; and what you need to know about the City’s
tree ordinance.
*** No
Prior Registration Required for these Classes
*** Sunday Morning Bird Watch at Polliwog Park
March 2; April 6, 13, 27; May 4, 11, 25—8am
Bob Shaman, Wild Birds Unlimited
Weather permitting, even on Mother's day. Meet Bob on the corner ofManhattan Beach Blvd andRedondo Ave. at8:00 (or join for coffee beforehand at
the Coffee Bean inManhattan
Village at7:30 a.m.) ---anyone is
welcome. Binoculars and walking shoes are recommended.
*** Composting in
the Garden
May
3,10-11 am
Lisa
Ryder, instructor
Composting...Nature’s way to recycle your trash into
a treasure for your garden. Learn how to set up a composting or worm
bin, and how simple it is to recycle many organic materials (yard trimmings and
food waste) while creating free organic fertilizer right in your own backyard.
The class is free, open to the public and reservations are not necessary.
Composting and worm bins are available for sale to Manhattan Beach
residents.
*** Earth-Friendly Gardening Techniques
Fridays 9:30 – 11:30am
Maintenance Directors, Ann Barklow, Gretchen
Renshaw Zwissler, Mimi Andersen and Julie Gonella
Get a personal tour and learn about earth-friendly
gardening. Learn proper techniques for
weeding, raking, mulching, trimming, beneficial pest management and more. Meet other community members who support the
Garden and receive a free bag of mulch for your own garden.
Other Garden Updates...
Special Plant : Sages and California Lilacs are blooming profusely now. Not only do they smell good, they attract tons of wildlife to the Garden.
Composting: 2008 classes - May 3, July 19, October 11. All classes are held on Saturdays, starting at 10:00 AM. Classes are free and
open to the public. Discounted compost bins and worm bins will be available for
purchase to MB residents. For questions call Lisa at (310)874-2499.
The Garden's new BLOG: http://www.manhattan-beach-botanical-garden.blogspot.com Post your thoughts about the Garden, or what critters you've seen, or plants that impressed you.
MBBG: 1. Maintains a public demonstration garden which:
* Conserves fresh water by irrigating with reclaimed water, growing California native and drought-tolerant plants and using mulch to deter soil evaporation and weeds
* Minimizes contribution to the waste stream by recycling and composting green waste
* Attracts and accommodates local wildlife
* Is free of toxic chemicals and fertilizers
* Accommodates the public with ADA compliant pathways, a drinking fountain, and restrooms close by in Polliwog Park
2. Disseminates information about resource conservation, the Garden and local gardening projects and news via:
* Publications such as informational brochures and a bi-monthly newsletter The Gardener's Grapevine
* 7 educational interpretive signs providing a self-guided garden tour
* Website
* Formal garden tours
* Workshops and lectures
* Displays at events and local library
Handy Resources on Native Plants and Creating a Nature Habitat:
WEBSITES…
Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers
and Native Plants: www.theodorepayne.org
California Native Plant Society: www.cnps.org
BOOKS…
California Native
Plants for the Garden By Carol Bornstein, David
Fross and Bart O’Brien
Designing California
Native Gardens By Glenn Keator and Alrie
Middlebrook
Western Garden Book By Sunset
Native Treasures By Nevin Smith
Care & Maintenance of Southern California Native Plant Gardens By Bart O'Brien, Betsey Landis, Ellen Mackey
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