By TR Robertson
The walkways were filled with vendors, the music and smell of food on the grill could be found in the Ceremonial Garden and the sound of children having a great time could be heard in the Children’s Garden as Vista’s Alta Vista Botanical Garden celebrated Earth Day on Saturday. Over 25 vendors provide a wealth of information about their products and how individuals could do their part in protecting the environment. Those who visited also had the opportunity to wander the .7 miles of trails running through the 14-acre park and seeing the array of plants and vegetation in the different areas. The Earth Day festivities kicked off at 9 am with an Arbor Day tree planting, along with the City of Vista, by the Bocce Courts of Alta Vista.
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The Children’s Garden area was a popular spot where volunteers helped explain and demonstrate the different activities available for the children to try out. The activities included Mother Earth Noodle Necklace making, Erath Day Rock painting, Bubble Baskets, Dig It! Worms, Planting Bulbs, Happy Earth Trash Sorting and making Origami Birds. Peter Kuchinsky, on the Board of Directors for Vista Irrigation District, once again instructed the children and parents on how to make Origami Birds. Groups like Vista High Character Leaders helped with other activities. Close to the amazing metal serpent, built by sculptor Ricardo Breceda, Vic Moraga entertained those attending with a selection of songs.
In the Ceremonial Garden, beginning at 11:00 am, different music and performing groups were on stage. This area began with the Monte Vista Elementary Ukulele Crew, followed by the Mission Meadows Kid’s College Dance, with two teen bands filling out the performances. The band were Robot Kitty Band and Hungry Band.
Those entering Alta Vista Botanical Gardens could sign up for door prizes, winners announced later in the day. The Garden Shop was open, with Ann Little providing information and selling items like turtle food to feed the turtles in the pond. Food for sale was prepared by Amigos de Vista Lions Club members, and a snow cone vendor was nearby.
The following is a list of most of the vendors, in somewhat order of what visitors saw in the gardens as they entered, along with contact information about the vendor. For several no contact information was available.
- Vista Irrigation District – www.vid.org – Lots of information including the save water landscape contest they provide.
- Encina Wastewater – www.encinajpa.com – provided information on their storm drain project
- Cards & Craft
- San Diego Bird Alliance – www.sandiegobirdalliance.org.
- Black Hat Bakery – instragram.com/blackhatbreads/ a selection of sourdough bread
- Farm Fresh To You – www.farmfreshtoyou.com
- Purs-Evere – leather handbags
- Childrens Choice Academy – www.childenschoiceacademy.net
- House of Candles – www.houseofcandles.com
- Tree Care for Birds – www.treecareforbirds.com
- Woman’s Club of Vista – www.thewomansclubofvista.org
- Cross Roads – decorative crosses
- Alta Vista Botanical Gardens – www.altavistabotanicalgardens.org – donated and plants grown at the gardens for sale
- Odd Egg – instragram SWCODDEGO – designed stone eggs
- Gervais Creations – Facebook.com/gervaiscreations , unique home décor and yard art
- Girl Scout Troop 1570 – information about California’s Native Pollinators
- Dr. Hope’s Children’s Books – www.drhope.com
- Vista Silver Star Foundation – www.vistasivlerstar.com
- Scenthound Vista – www.scenthound.com – a new dog groomer coming to Vista close to Sprouts
- Rare Fruit Growers North San Diego Chapter – www.growrarefruit.org
- EDCO Disposal – www.edcodisposal.com
- Vista Community Clinic – www.vistacommunityclinic.org
- I Love a Clean San Diego – www.cleansd.org
- North County 350 – www.sandiego350.org – a grassroots climate movement
- City of Vista – www.vista.gov – wastewaterquality@city of vista.com – information about the free tree giveaway, the free mulch & compost giveaway, a bike map of Vista, an E-bike safety training program offered
- Surfrider Foundation – www.surfrider.org – information and demonstration of the plastics in our ocean
Another successful Earth Day celebration at Alta Vista Botanical Gardens and a reminder that Every Day is Earth Day.
