It’s not surprising a garden as beautiful as this attracts all kinds of wildlife. It is a wonderland of flora: ponds with hydrophytes (aquatic plants); beds of plants with edible leaves, seeds and fruit; tall trees with wide branches for scampering and nest building; lawns of soft grass, and hillsides of mustard green and alyssum .
On a quiet morning stroll through the Garden you are bound to catch rabbits and squirrels darting in and out of holes. In the upper layer of trees, multitudes of birds chatter as they enjoy the view. Coyotes leave scat to let us know they were about. These are the Garden’s most common inhabitants. But if you’re lucky you can see so much more.
Here are some creatures to keep an eye out for.
A family of Red-eared Slider turtles has made a home in Ceremonial Garden Pond. On warm days, they bask on sunny rocks and take dips in the water. They seem to enjoy putting on a show, especially for young audiences.
The turtles are omnivores and eat mosquitofish and algae growing in the shallows. Sliders often live 40 years and can lay thirty eggs at a time. They will be at home here for a while!
I caught sight of this group of mallard drakes promenading in the Australian Garden one rainy spring afternoon. They may have stopped by, mid-migration, for a rest.
They were a glossy green and gray with a wonderful raspy quack.
They too have a varied diet, enjoying insects and worms along with seeds and water plants. The lady mallards lay clutches of 13 eggs. It would be fun for the Gardens to be home to a brood of ducklings!
Here’s yet another sly fellow, the Western Fence Lizard. He can be observed on rocks and tree stumps soaking in the sun.
The tan to black coloring is a great camouflage and, if you flip him over, his belly is blue. Good luck with that though, he has a way of quickly and efficiently disappearing into the brush.
They are bug eaters: spiders, beetles, crickets. Females lay 17 eggs at a time. No wonder they are so plentiful!
And now, my favorite fellow, the elusive California Greater Roadrunner. You might have to look at the pictures twice to see him; he is a perfect match to the rocks, soil and shade.
In the Garden you will come upon him, unexpectedly, zipping across a path in front of you. Tail bobbing, meep, meep!
I had to chase this one down to take pictures and, I can tell you, he’s fast!
He is most definitely a carnivore, supping on snails, snakes and lizards. The females lay groups of 6 eggs known as a “race” of roadrunners. That is an apt name!
Visit the garden for the flora, stay a while to watch for the fauna. All included in the price of admission!
Welcome to Alta Vista Botanical Gardens! We are fourteen acres of designated gardens, walking trails, works of art and community gathering areas. We invite you to come and explore our beauty!
Garden Open Daily 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Monday-Friday 10:00 AM- 4:30 PM Weekends
Garden will be Closed Wednesday December 25, 2019 and Wednesday January 1st, 2020. Happy Holidays!
Admission $5.00 for non-members $3.00 for children 3 to 12 years old 2 and younger are free
Alta Vista Botanical Gardens is a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit Corporation
