The Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden will unveil its new interpretive signs, which describe the garden and its mission, on Friday, March 7 at 4 pm held at the Garden.
The signs, which further establish the garden as an educational earth-friendly habitat, were funded mainly through grants from West Basin Municipal Water District and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Garden donors also helped fund the project. The signs were written, developed and designed by volunteers.
According to MBBG President Julie Gonella, the installation of the si gns will mark another significant milestone in the Garden’s development. “When the founders began planning this environmentally friendl y demonstration garden in 1992, they had no idea how long it would take to create or how much it would cost. After thousands of dollars and volunteer hours it was opened to the public i n 2001, but without any signage many visitors have wondered what it was all about. Now, they will know.”
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.
The public is invited to the celebration which will be held at the Garden located on the west side of Polliwog Park (on Manhattan Beach Blvd.) off Peck Avenue. Water district, city, county and state officials are expected to attend and major donors will be recognized. Refreshments will be served.
Note: Special thanks to Jim Catella for doing an excellent installation job!
