Three hundred years ago, much of the Southern California landscape consisted of native drought-tolerant vegetation growing in open spaces and living in balance with native animal and insect species. Today, almost all of the gardens in the South Bay survive with the help of substantial irrigation, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides.  The concept for the Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden is to demonstrate the use of plants suitable for our small gardens and yet able to live in equilibrium with our natural climate and soil type, thus requiring little additional irrigation and no fertilizer or pesticides.

     In the early part of the 20th Century, the site on which the Botanical Garden lies was used for farming and greenhouse acreage.  Originally established as a public garden by the Neptunian Women's Club in the 1960's, the area needed a make-over by the late 1980's.

     In 1992, a collaborative effort by members of VOICE (Volunteers and Organizations Improving the Community's Environment), the Manhattan Beach Rotary, Chevron, and a group of local landscape professionals produced an idea for a garden on the site with an emphasis on resource conservation.  After nearly a year of planning and design, "Gardens in the Park" (named after the city's Concerts in the Park summer music series) gained approval from the city and school district to proceed.

      In 1994, the name was changed to the Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden.  Also that year, the first work day was held and volunteers began preparing the site for conversion to an earth-friendly habitat.  A group of 30-40 people worked diligently to clear the weedy, overgrown area, taking out huge garbage bags of material.  New paths were laid out and the Garden's design was roughed out.

     In late 1995 the "Bird and Butterfly Habitat" was the first themed area to be completely planted.  Other areas that followed included the "Meditation Garden" and the "Matilija Poppy Hillside" in 1996.  Plants native to California as well as some from similar Mediterranean climates were installed.  In 1997 the Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden established its own nonprofit status, no longer under the auspices of the VOICE organization.  MBBG became a California non-profit corporation and has since been recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c) (3) corporation.

     Years of fund-raising culminated in the completion of walkways in 1999.  The "Children's Garden of Discovery" and a "Wildflower Meadow" were planted in 1999 as well, and the 30-seat Chevron Amphitheater was constructed in early 2001.  On Earth Day, April 2001, the Garden officially opened to the public.

     Since the official opening, the overall ecology of the Garden has improved so dramatically that dozens of bird species, many lizards, and a multitude of beneficial insects have returned.  This success enabled the Garden to earn a designation of "Certified Wildlife Habitat" by the National Wildlife Federation.  

     Volunteers have continued to maintain the Garden and thanks to a variety of sponsors, donors, and groups there have been yearly enhancements.  So far, six Eagle Scout projects have been completed including benches, a 12'x12' wooden deck and a composting toilet for work-day volunteer use.  Other recent improvements include a shade structure over the amphitheater and a drinking fountain.  In 2007, Garden planners were awarded grants from the Metropolitan Water District and West Basin Municipal Water District to create seven interpretive signs.  Now installed, these 2'x3' state park quality signs provide an educational self-guided tour covering these topics:  California Friendly Plants, Mulch/Compost, Water-Where it Comes From & Ways to Conserve, Our Mediterranean Climate, Creatures of the Garden, How to Create a Wildlife Habitat and History of the Garden.