Visiting Huntington Gardens in March -the Entry Garden

  I took a whole lot of photos. A whole lot. I had business in Orange County and en route from Carpenteria to my OC hotel I was able to meet up with Denise for a Sunday morning visit to Huntington Gardens. I'm not sure how many years it had been since my last visit here, but I'm thinking it had to be at least 20. I left Southern California in 1986  and my journeys to the Huntington beyond that point mostly involved the rose garden -that was the era that marked  height of my rose collecting fervor and public rose gardens were always on my agenda, especially this one. I still have many roses in my garden but I have stopped buying them  (until I find Lady Hillingdon ) and a quite few  have been removed to make room for other plants. I was far more intent on the Cactus garden on this day and in any case it was still too early for the roses.

 This post will highlight the entry garden, which is actually designated The California Garden. This is the 6.5 acre foyer, most of which requires no admission and features California natives and other dry-adapted plants from Mediterranean climates around the world. I found it to be seriously beautiful and one of the best of it's genre that I have seen. I had a limited time window and did not spend as much time in this part of the garden as I would have liked-I am already thinking about the logistics of a possible  2019 winter visit.






 You can see South Africa and Australia are well represented




  This is what happens to Eucalyptus 'Moon Lagoon' if you let it go .


 And here we are just beyond the 'paywall' . Just look at it. And don't we all need a rill ?








 This meadow was adjacent to the rill garden, on the other side of the path. A summer-dry style prairie.



 Sometime in the next few weeks I hope to share more of this world class garden.

Comments

  1. I'd love a rill! I also love the California Garden. Although it's a bit different every time I see it, it always speaks of the value of massing and repeating plants, a lesson I hope I'll learn one day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am trying so hard to repeat plants . I feel like I'm doing better, but a small garden has it's challenges is that reguard . And a rill ! My number one want that I can't do. All I need is 100 grand.

      Delete
  2. WHAT! a landscaping,beautifully planned and arranged assortment of plants and pots,succulents look so cheerful in those startling pots.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you ever travel to California this is a place you must see.

      Delete
  3. Oh, lovely! Yes, we do all need a rill.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I didn't realize you were such a Huntington stranger! I haven't been back since the remodel that produced The California Garden/entry garden. I'm jones'n for a winter 2019 visit as well...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would not be a lie to say I've been in Chicago more than I've been in the LA area over the last 10 years. Santa Barbara wins on down-south trips every time !

      Delete
  5. Thanks for the reminder I need to visit The Huntington Gardens. One day I'll make it there. Hmmm I really love that last photo with the house and a grass-like meadow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think this area (in the last photo) was really interesting . I'm not even sure what the design goal was , but I loved it and did not take enough photos there. Next time !

      Delete
  6. Another rill-needer here.

    Glad you got to visit--they've been doing great work in the garden the past few years. I'm very fortunate to be able to visit fairly often.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Coastal Maine Botanical..The Childrens Garden

A New Focal Point !

Arty Garden