Pollinator Gardens

 
 

Connecting pollinator habitats…

Native habitats are critical for preserving biodiversity.  Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds depend on the ever-dwindling plants to support their breeding and migration.  Some, like the El Segundo blue butterfly and the Monarch butterfly, depend on very specific plants to support their lifecycle.  And local birds depend on the seeds and insects that are attracted to and sustained by native plants. 

At South Bay Parkland Conservancy, this is an important part of our mission. Thanks to our passionate members and supportive community we have been able to complete the following and hope for many more in the future.

These pollinator gardens will:

  • Establish more patch habitats for butterflies and pollinators. Key locations in the South Bay will help link other parks like the Wilderness Park habitat to the Esplanade Bluff Garden, recently renovated by SBPC.

  • Provide educational opportunities for students year-round including leadership, maintenance (watering, weeding), learning about butterflies, and even provide opportunities for analysis of plant biodiversity.

  • Help beautify areas of the school grounds as well as make them functional and an integral part of the community habitats.

Native and pollinator-friendly plants are carefully selected by SBPC experts to create the right environment for the plants and the pollinators to thrive. Here are some of the plants you may see in pollinator gardens.

 
Image of student watering new plants in the pollinator garden

ALTA VISTA elementary

SBPC Board Member Aga ChenFu worked with Alta Vista Principal Karin Sato, to connect the work that community volunteers have been doing in the South Bay area with the students at elementary school. Thanks to a Butterfly Garden Grant the school received, Principal Sato saw an opportunity to support butterflies and pollinators at the school site as well as create an opportunity for education and student engagement.

The Alta Vista Butterfly Garden ( in phase 1 of 3 phases as of January 2022) now helps connect the breeding butterfly habitat throughout the South Bay. Wouldn’t it be amazing if all the area schools had a dedicated butterfly garden for educational purposes and to further connect patch habitats for butterflies and pollinators?

 
Image of girl scouts planting at Fort Lots of Fun

Fort lots-o-fun

Girl Scout Troop 8045 worked to give new life to an old Milkweed patch at Fort Lots-o-Fun in Hermosa Beach. They wanted to do their part to help bring back the Monarch butterfly. The troop met with SBPC President Jim Light to learn more about the amazing Monarch butterfly and the importance of establishing “over-wintering” areas in our community.

On the right, is planting day for the Girl Scout Monarch Butterfly Garden at Fort Lots-o-Fun in Hermosa. 66 native pollinator plants, chosen by the Scouts, were planted in two hours. Hermosa Beach Councilmember Justin Massey was helping too and presented each of the girls with a City pin.