Esplanade Bluff Garden

The Esplanade Bluff Garden Event in Redondo Beach.

The Esplanade Bluff Garden Event in Redondo Beach.

Esplanade Bluff Garden Restoration

The Esplanade Bluff Garden is located west of the Esplanade, between Avenue A and Knob Hill Avenue, on a small piece of property owned by the County of Los Angeles, which overlooks the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Although the parcel had some drought-tolerant landscaping, it was not being adequately maintained and it did not provide habitat for California native species. In 2020, the South Bay Parkland Conservancy (SBPC) saw this site as an opportunity to support native wildlife and pollinators by transforming the garden into a hybrid native garden, with an emphasis on pollinator-friendly plant species.

As a founding member of the El Segundo Blue Butterfly Coalition, the SBPC reached out to the County of Los Angeles to inquire about transforming this parcel into “patch habitat” that would help connect breeding butterflies, such as the El Segundo Blue Butterfly, throughout the South Bay. Thanks to the leadership of Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, the County agreed to issue a Right-of-Entry permit to the SBPC to plant and maintain the garden - their only request was that the garden remain evergreen. As a result, native plant species were selected to retain the garden’s beauty year-round (much native habitat dries out in the summer) while also serving  as an example of what can be done in our own gardens and public spaces to support California native species.

Everyone wants a beautiful garden, but it’s particularly rewarding to also have a garden that is full of life. So, take a seat, enjoy the beautiful Pacific, watch the garden grown and come alive, and contemplate what southern California could look like if we incorporate a new native plant paradigm that includes the birds, the bees and the butterflies in all of our landscaping planning. Curious about a specific plant? Take a look at this resource.

SBPC would like to sincerely thank the County of Los Angeles and Janice Hahn for their cooperation and grant funding for this project, Cal Water for additional grant funding, and the residents of the South Bay for their generous donations. The SBPC appreciates the confidence you put in us to make this project come to fruition.

Below: Members of SBPC at the Esplanade Bluff Garden; Initial proposed plan below, restoration work in progress, recent photos and Ribbon Cutting (photo credit: SBPC and Diana Andrew)

 
“I walk from RAT beach to the R.B. Pier each day. A highlight of my daily walk is spending at least 5 minutes each day in front of the wildflowers at the top of the Esplanade. The profusion of flowers (and the birds and butterflies they attract) brings me serenity and joy. I love to watch the changes. Thank you for bringing joy to my life each day.”
— Diana Boyce

Take Action - Plan Your Native Garden

Certify an existing garden, or learn how to turn your existing land into a native habitat

Native habitats:

  • Are critical for preserving biodiversity. Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds depend on it!

  • Require little or no watering and they eliminate the need for fertilizers and pesticides.  

  • May receive incentives (from water districts and some municipalities) to replace your grass lawn and convert or eliminate your irrigation system.

  • Researching your plants, planting your yard provides a great learning experience 

  • Maintaining, observing, and enjoying your native habitat provides hours outside away from the stress

Help establish, expand and link habitats for pollinators like the El Segundo blue by joining our Certified California Native Habitat program and converting your yard to a California Native Habitat! 

PROJECT PLANT PALETTE

Our mission at SBPC is native habitat connectivity and that includes habitat planted on private land! If you are interested in planting any of the natives you’ve seen at this project site, please reference the below list.

Image of SBPC plant palette for the Esplanade Bluff Garden

Restoration Timeline

Most recent first

  • April 26, 2022 - Ribbon Cutting celebration

  • June 2021 - Interpretive signage in progress.

  • May 2021 - Site preparation, irrigation, soil amendments, and initial plantings completed.

  • Oct-Dec 2020 - Fundraising campaign launches, plan revisions; media coverage in the Daily Breeze and The Beach Reporter and in Voyage LA

  • July -Sept 2020 - Meeting with LA County and fundraising strategy; media coverage in On the Avenues October 2020 Issue

  • Feb - May 2020 - Development of initial plans and grant applications

  • Nov 2019 - Jan 2020 - Approval from Beaches & Harbors Commission to maintain the Bluff Garden area; initial survey of the land

How You Can Help